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- Maryland, USA -

 

The Prince George’s County Police Department has charged Corporal DAVID ACOSTA (pictured), a Canine Section officer, with a total of four counts of animal cruelty stemming from the mistreatment of two dogs assigned to him.

 

An initial press release by the police, announced that ACOSTA had been charged with three counts of animal cruelty, one of which is a felony, in connection with the mistreatment of a two-year-old bloodhound named Daisy. In an update, police advised that ACOSTA is additionally facing a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty in reference to a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois named Spartacus.  

 

According to police, on July 14, 2024, the department suspended ACOSTA “for an unrelated incident.” As part of that suspension process, Daisy and Spartacus were removed by two Canine Section handlers. After the furvictims were picked up, “the handlers observed injuries related to an e-collar on Daisy’s neck. She was brought to a veterinarian for treatment. Daisy also had other medical conditions that required medical care”, stated the release.

 

The Internal Affairs Division then launched an investigation that ultimately resulted in the charges being filed against ACOSTA.

  

Police said that ACOSTA joined the Prince George’s County Police Department in 2006. He’s  currently assigned to the Special Operations Division. He will be suspended without pay.

 

Meanwhile, Daisy and Spartacus have been permanently removed from ACOSTA’s care and have been reassigned to two veteran handlers within the section. Thankfully, Daisy is fine and the police said she is back at work.

 

Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said in a statement: “This situation involving Daisy is appalling. She is a part of the PGPD family. I expect that all of our handlers treat their canine partners with the utmost care and concern. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first incident of animal mistreatment in the 60-year history of the Canine Section. We have now put new policies into place with the intention of this being both the first and last. This investigation is in the early stages and will be thorough. I too want to know how this occurred. In the meantime, I’m glad to report that Daisy is doing well and back to work. Bloodhounds play a crucial role in our agency’s service to the community, primarily with assisting in searches for missing people.”

 

This remains an active internal investigation. Anyone who has information relevant to this investigation is urged to contact the Internal Affairs Division at (301) - 516 - 5721. Thank you!

  

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Prince George’s County Police Department. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

  



 

 
 
 

- North Carolina, USA -

 

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 32-year-old MATTHEW SCOTT NEAL (pictured), dog trainer at East Carolina Retrievers.

 

In a video posted on the department’s Facebook page, Sheriff Jackie Rogers said that at 12:30 a.m. of Wednesday, July 31, 2024, deputies executed a search warrant at NEAL’s residence and business on 2967 Ash Davis Road in Pink Hill.

 

Sheriff Rogers said that with the assistance of the Lenoir County Animal Control unit, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Control unit, and Duplin County Animal Control eleven (11) dogs were removed from East Carolina Retrievers and “are now in protective custody.”

 

NEAL was charged with animal cruelty in two different counties. In Lenoir County, he was hit with nine felony counts of cruelty to animals and received a $45,000 secured bond.

In Duplin County, NEAL was charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and received a $2,000 secured bond.

 

WITN News reports that the felony charges stemmed from an investigation into a video showing a “man beating a dog near a mobile kennel.”

 

According to the arrest warrants obtained by WITN News the following are the explicit details of the animal abuse allegations:

 

· Used a shock collar on a female yellow Lab type dog named Maggie “until her eyes were bloodshot.”

· “‘Punch with his handsand held down the shock collar remote ‘for an unreasonable amount of time’” on a male Lab type dog named Tucker.

· “Hit a puppy with a PVC ‘heeling stick’ 52 times.”

· “Choked a yellow lab type dog.”

· “Shocked a black lab type dog ‘until she vomited’.”

·“Beat ‘Tucker’ a black lab type dog.”

· “Beat ‘BoBo’ a black lab type dog.”

· “Drag and beat a Shorthair Pointer named ‘Bullet’.”

· “Shocked a black lab type dog ‘for an unreasonable amount of time’.”

 

In thanking all the agencies involved that assisted with this case, Sheriff Rogers also expressed his gratitude toward the community and said: “We would also like to thank the citizens and the incredible residents who have come forward and made statements to make today’s arrest possible.”

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and WITN News. Links included. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 


NEAL’s mugshot shared from the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office






 
 
 

- Florida, USA -

 

Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers are reaching out to the public for assistance in locating the lowlife that on the night of Sunday, July 28, 2024, threw a defenseless puppy out of a car window near Rosebud Avenue and Highway 90.

 

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) worked together to rush the female 6-month-old puppy to Emerald Coast Veterinary Hospital.  

 

PAWS said the furvictim was found “injured and neglected” and “received a critical blood transfusion.” As PAWS explained, the pup “urgently needs medical attention to have a fighting chance.”

 

The sheriff’s office called the incident an “unreal act of cruelty.” A witness told the sheriff's office that the puppy was thrown out of a gray Chevrolet Blazer.

 

If you have any information regarding this monstrosity against a defenseless breathing being, please get in touch with Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers. You can call them at 863-TIPS (863-8477) or you can download the P3 Tips App. Alternatively, if you want to submit your tip online, please click here. Thank you!

  

As you can imagine, PAWS is in desperate need of donations to face the puppy’s medical expenses. If you wish and can afford to help, please click here. Thank you!

  

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from PAWS’ Facebook post.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

 




 
 
 

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