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CHRISTOPHER MORALES senselessly shot a dog in November 2024 – No charges filed yet

- Florida, USA -


On the evening of November 30, 2024, deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to Crooked Stick Drive in Viera in reference to a male who had shot a dog.


Upon arrival, they found a 1½ -year-old male Goldendoodle named Maui lying on the sidewalk. Maui had suffered an apparent gunshot wound and was accompanied by his guardian Audrey Cecil.

Maui was taken to the Rockledge Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital where he received emergency care to save his precious life.


An initial investigation conducted at the scene revealed that Maui had been shot by CHRISTOPHER MORALES, aka TOLEDO MORALES, a local resident who had left the scene and called 911 to report that he shot a dog in the neighborhood. MORALES claimed the dog had tried to bite him (Where did I hear that before?).


In a Facebook post, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey published MORALES' call to 911. A male can be heard saying: “I was walking my dog and a dog came out of nowhere, rushed towards me and my dog and almost hit me and I shot it and killed it.”


Sheriff Ivey said that according to MORALES' statement, he was walking his dog on the side of the sidewalk across the street from the Town Center Dog Park when a loose dog, Maui, got off his leash, came across the street, and then ran at him and his dog. MORALES claimed that Maui started barking and charging aggressively and ran at MORALES and his dog. MORALES stated that he positioned himself between his dog and Maui, which caused it to circle around MORALES and his dog. MORALES went on to say that Maui jumped at him and he was forced to shoot him out of fear of what Maui would do to him or his dog. MORALES advised that immediately after the shooting, he went home and called law enforcement.


Investigators then interviewed Audrey and she stated that as she and Maui were walking back home after leaving the dog park, Maui escaped out of his leash and ran toward a male who was walking his dog. Audery told investigators that in her opinion, Maui only wanted to play with the other dog as he is known to be very playful. Audrey admitted she was unable to control Maui and acknowledged that Maui did in fact circle MORALES while she was trying to gain control of him but she was unable to get him before he was shot. Audrey did not even have the time to tell MORALES that Maui was friendly.


After Maui was shot, Audrey asked MORALES why he shot him and he answered that Maui was going to attack him.


Maui underwent surgery and thankfully it was successful. The furvictim is expected to fully recover and according to Audrey’s update posted on her Facebook account on December 5, 2024, the precious pup is back home with his family.


Sheriff Ivey said that during the course of the investigation, it was determined that MORALES is legally allowed to carry a firearm and that MORALES at no time pointed the firearm at Audrey “or anyone during this incident.” Well, anyone except Maui!


Sheriff Ivey pointed out that regarding this incident, there were numerous grossly inflamed comments littering social media with an abundance of half-truths that were driving the emotions of the community.

He stressed that agents in this case did an extremely thorough investigation and advised that the case will be presented to the state attorney's office for review and determination can be made as to if any criminal acts were committed during the incident.


I want to know why MORALES did not fire a shot in the air.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from updates provided by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.


Maui’s pictures shared from Audrey’s Facebook account





 
 
 

KYLA LANE RIVARD and HEATHER LYNN DRASS arrested–1 dead dog and over 30 found in squalid conditions

- Florida, USA -


An incident that happened back in July 2023, led to the recent arrests of 26-year-old KYLA LANE RIVARD and 45-year-old HEATHER LYNN DRASS (both pictured).


According to the affidavit, on July 11, 2023, Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) received a call from an anonymous person about three abandoned dogs at a residence on 230 East Silver Star Road in Ocoee. The caller also stated that one of the dogs may be dead and that no one else wanted to call because they feared RIVARD and DRASS. The caller went on to say that Senior Animal Services Officer (SASO) Duncan advised the caller that five days prior, Animal Services had been at the residence and officers did not see any dogs in distress or neglected.


The caller then stated that there may be twenty more dogs inside the residence with no food or water and some dogs were in the yard in large kennels.


The following day, on July 12, 2024, Animal Services Officer Espinosa went to the residence in question and saw thirteen dogs outside in kennels and an RV trailer that had dogs barking inside. ASO Espinosa knocked but no one responded.


Later on that day, a different Animal Services Officer, ASO Duggins, went to the property and his attempts to call DRASS, one of the owners, were unsuccessful. He was unable to leave a message on DRASS’ voicemail.


On July 13, 2024, ASO Espinosa returned to the residence accompanied by SASO McCracken and they noticed that the trailer was emanating “a strong smell of urine and feces.” The officers also heard dogs barking inside.


According to the affidavit, “There was an extension cord running through one of the windows near the door and SASO McCracken and ASO Espinosa were able to view through the crack in the window. SASO McCracken saw dog crates stacked on top of one another standing in their own urine and feces. There was no fresh water or food available for the animals, along with no fresh air or ability to get any exercise." SASO McCracken walked to an area where tents were set up and again called out with no response.


The Orange County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and deputies responded to assist.


Meanwhile, SASO McCracken tried to call RIVARD and DRASS on their phones with no luck.


The trailer had an unlocked door so the officers entered and found eighteen dogs inside. The affidavit stated that the dogs were “observed to be in filthy conditions without access to clean fresh drinking water or food. The dogs were housed in wire cages stacked two and three high allowing urine and feces to fall into the bottom row of cages.”

There was trash all over the floor and that made it difficult for the officers to walk freely and inspect the trailer.


Given the condition of the dogs and the fact that officers were unable to contact RIVARD and DRASS, it was decided to remove the dogs for an animal cruelty investigation.


As officials began to remove the dogs, SASA McCracken heard “a dog jumping and barking from inside a closed shower stall that was blocked with a plastic dog food bin filled with dirt.” When SASO McCracken opened the door to the shower, he found two dogs. Sadly, one of the two dogs, a male Chihuahua mix, was deceased. The deceased furvictim was sent to the University of Florida for a necropsy.


At some point, a woman arrived at the scene and told officers that she was a friend of RIVARD’s. The woman stated that in the past, she had donated dog food to RIVARD and added that RIVARD was rescuing dogs.


SASO McCracken later met with RIVARD’s grandmother whom I will refer to as McK.

McK told officers that she was the owner of the property and that she had not been there for a while. She also told officers that there were no dogs inside the home and gave them consent to check.

Inside the home in one of the bedrooms officers found a bearded dragon inside a glass terrarium.

Officers then removed the bearded dragon along with the thirteen dogs who were inside the outside kennels.


SASO McCracken received a call from Animal Services who advised that the deceased furvictim tested positive for Parvovirus along with four other puppies. Sadly, one of those four puppies passed away upon arrival and was sent to the University of Florida for a necropsy. The other three puppies were released to RIVARD’s mother, Ms. Miles, who was instructed to seek immediate veterinary care.


According to the affidavit, Ms. Miles took the three puppies to Oakland Veterinary Emergency Clinic and “declined treatment due to the high cost.” She then took the three puppies to Oviedo Emergency Veterinary Clinic. There, she surrendered one of the puppies to Dr. Carlson for continued care, and she was strongly advised to hospitalize the other two puppies so that they could receive fluids, anti-nausea medication, and antibiotics. Ms. Miles declined the medications due to the high cost and was only given the antibiotics.


Ms. Miles took the two puppies and went back home. She called Animal Services and asked whether Parvovirus could be treated at home since it was caught early. She said she was “not prepared to pay thousands of dollars in fees for hospitalization and did not realize that they would need it.” Ms. Miles went on to say that she did not want to be responsible or be contacted for anymore of the “dog business”. Ms. Miles stated that she had never been involved with the dogs before, that the dogs were solely her daughter’s concern and that she only stepped up to prevent euthanasia.


RIVARD and DRASS were charged with five counts of aggravated animal cruelty, twenty counts of animal cruelty, and twenty counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water, or exercise; abandonment of animals.


DRASS was arrested on November 11, 2024, and she will be arraigned on January 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.


RIVARD was placed under arrest on December 18, 2024, and online records show she was released from the Orange County Jail.


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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us. 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.


RIVARD’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Orange County Sheriff's Office

DRASS’ mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Lake County Sheriff's Office




 
 
 

YER VANG and CHUE LONG YANG arrested-Hundreds of abused animals removed from a Grady County property

- Oklahoma, USA -


On December 11, 2024, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) assisted the Grady County Sheriff’s Office with the rescue of hundreds of animals from a multi-species cruelty case.


It started out as an investigation that the sheriff’s office launched back in October 2024, into a possible illegal marijuana grow at a property on County Road 1430 in Ninnekah.

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess dispatched his narcotic unit but what investigators discovered was a much more distressing reality.


Sheriff Boggess said the approximately four acres property was covered in animals who were all in poor condition.

Cats, companion birds, dogs, fish, goats, and a pig were found to be severely neglected.


Investigators then executed a search and seizure warrant. Responders and veterinarians from Operation Kindness and Black Beauty Ranch, which is a Humane Society of the United States sanctuary, also assisted on-scene.


In a press release, HSUS said that when law enforcement and rescuers arrived on scene, “temperatures were below freezing.” Officials were “greeted by shivering rottweilers, shih tzus and pit bull-type dogs, chained and tethered outdoors with inadequate protection from the elements and no apparent access to food or water.”


Most of the cats and dogs were underweight, with protruding hips and rib bones, and several dogs had untreated injuries.


The press release further stated that the pig had no apparent access to food or water, and the goats had water “but it was frozen solid.”


In an outdoor pool there were over twenty koi, but with the water being so murky, they were not visible to rescuers upon initial inspection. Throughout the property and the garage, officials also found various types of smaller fish.


According to HSUS, “Companion birds including parrots, parakeets and finches were inside a garage in filthy, barren cages with no environmental enrichment. Veterinarians immediately noted one of the parrots had large patches of missing feathers, apparently self-inflicted and likely due to boredom and stress.”


In an outbuilding on the property, officials found caged roosters and hens. More of them were also found in makeshift pens. The HSUS explained that these animals were “identified as gamefowl, a term used to describe birds raised for the purposes of fighting and selectively bred to be aggressive with other birds.”

Veterinarians noted that many of the game fowl were underweight and suffering from apparent neglect.


According to court records, although investigators spent weeks trying to get 38-year-old YER VANG and 41-year-old CHUE LONG YANG (both pictured), to follow a veterinarian’s recommendations, they disregarded the advice.


The cats, companion birds, dogs, fish, goats and the pig were removed from the property and taken to undisclosed locations to receive in-depth veterinary exams and much-needed care.

THE HSUS said that “due to the risk of spreading infectious diseases to commercial flocks and lack of placement options, gamefowl rescued from suspected cockfighting situations typically are not able to be adopted out.” In view of this, sadly, veterinarians on site euthanized the innocent hens and roosters.


VANG and YANG were arrested and charged with eighty-one felony counts of animal cruelty which also include owning birds for fighting. The pair’s five children were taken into state custody and VANG and YANG were additionally charged with child neglect. Sheriff Boggess said more charges are expected.


The duo are due in court in January 2025.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Humane Society of the United States. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should such sources report an update.

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.


Mugshots shared from the Grady County Sheriff’s Office


Pictures shared from the Humane Society of the United States




 
 
 

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