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JILL LEA HOUCHENS arrested on 146 animal cruelty/neglect charges - Dead animals found in a freezer

- Arizona, USA -

 

The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 56-years-old JILL LEA HOUCHENS (pictured).

 

In a media release, the sheriff's office said that an investigation into HOUCHENS was launched on February 6, 2024, after receiving a report of animal cruelty at her residence.

According to the initial report, there were deceased animals inside a freezer as well as several live animals being kept in unsanitary conditions.

 

On February 9, 2024, officials executed a search warrant and once inside the residence, deputies and Animal Control Officers found several animals living in extremely poor conditions.

As stated in the release, the areas where the Voiceless Victims were being kept, were “filled with feces and there was no clean area for the animals to stand.”

There was little to no water available for any of the animals and no food left out. 

 

In total, officials removed from the property twenty-four (24) animals, including five (5) dead ones. Eight of the rescued furvictims “required medical attention for several issues including but not limited to embedded nails, infections, and severe matting. “

 

The rescued animals are being held as evidence until this case is adjudicated.

 

On the afternoon of Monday, February 19, 2024, deputies arrested HOUCHENS, of Hereford, and booked her into the Cochise County Jail on twenty-seven (27) felony counts of Animal Cruelty/Neglect and one hundred and nineteen (119) misdemeanor counts of Animal Cruelty/Neglect.   

 

According to the media release, HOUCHENS “has reportedly been known to operate an animal rescue and provide pet sitting services in and around Cochise County.” 

 

AZ Central reports: “A spokesperson from the Sheriff's Office told The Arizona Republic that Jill Houchens was previously employed by the Cochise County Sherriff's Office but has not been employed by them for over six and a half years. They told The Arizona Republic she runs her own ‘rescue’ called Zoeys Ranch and pulls from Sierra Vista Shelter.”

 

The investigation is ongoing.

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

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.

 

 

HOUCHENS’ mugshot shared from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office





 
 
 

ALANE SUZETTE MALTESE and ROBERT ANDREW MALTESE arrested for beating and stabbing a blind dog

- Arkansas, USA -

 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested 60-years-old ALANE SUZETTE MALTESE and her husband, 54-years-old ROBERT ANDREW MALTESE (both pictured).

 

On the morning of Friday, February 16, 2024, deputies were dispatched to Tara Road in Lincoln after a resident, Ms. Regina Thompson, called to report that her blind 16-year-old Pomeranian had been beaten with a metal object by her neighbor, ALANE SUZETTE MALTESE.

 

Ms. Thompson told deputies that she went out to her car when she heard yelling coming from the road. She looked and saw her dog standing in the road. According to Ms. Thompson, ALANE SUZETTE MALTESE ran from her yard towards the dog with a metal bar-like object and started cursing them. She then threatened to kill the dog and Ms. Thompson.

Ms. Thompson said that MALTESE then grabbed the dog, beat him/her with the metal object, and took him/her into her house. Ms. Thompson said that after that, MALTESE got into her vehicle and fled.   

 

Deputies interviewed a neighbor regarding the incident. The neighbor said he saw ROBERT ANDREW MALTESE walking outside with the dog, stuffing the furbaby into a trashcan and then stabbing him/her with a pitchfork. According to the neighbor, the dog could be heard “whelping and moaning” while being stabbed. The neighbor further said that MALTESE then proceeded to get the dog out of the trashcan, stuffed him/her into a bucket, and took him/her into the house.

 

At that point, deputies questioned MALTESE and he said he did not know what was going on. He told deputies he woke up to the yelling between his wife and Ms. Thompson. MALTESE denied his wife was beating Ms. Thompson’s dog. He claimed the dog was not inside his home and that he/she was safely chased from their home to Ms. Thompson’ s home. However, when deputies requested to search his home, MALTESE refused.

 

Deputies then called his wife on the phone and she said that she was on her way to Colorado and refused to answer the deputies’ questions.

 

A search warrant was obtained and served. Deputies found the dog still in the bucket that had an airtight lid on it. The Voiceless Victim was still alive but severely injured. Corporal Jake Hart with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office wrote in his report that the bucket was hidden underneath a cabinet “with a large water jug in front concealing it.”

Deputies returned the dog to Ms. Thompson who rushed him/her to the vet.

 

Deputies determined that the metal object used to beat the dog was the flat side of a machete. The machete and pitchfork were collected as evidence.

 

MALTES was placed under arrest and his wife was located at a church where she was taken into custody.

 

The veterinary report revealed that the dog had a fractured skull, fractured ribs, fractured front leg, and lacerations to the bone of the leg. Due to the severity of his/her injuries, the furvictim was sadly euthanized.

 

ALANE SUZETTE MALTESE is accused of first-degree terroristic threatening, aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, and theft of property.

ROBERT ANDREW MALTESE is accused of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, tampering with physical evidence, hindering apprehension or prosecution, and theft of property.

 

Authorities did not disclose the furbaby’s name, so I took the liberty of naming him/her Blossom for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

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 Washington County Sheriff’s Office


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JASON MILLAR arrested – One dead dog and twenty-six live animals in poor condition found at his home

- New Jersey, USA -

 

On February 10, 2024, detectives from the Galloway Township Police Department were dispatched to a property in the 100 block of Zurich Avenue to conduct a follow-up investigation regarding an animal complaint.

 

Detectives met with 23-years-old JASON MILLAR (pictured), who identified himself as the animals’ guardian.

 

As detectives were inspecting the living conditions, they found one cat and twenty-five dogs

“living in poor conditions with insufficient access to food and water,” said police in a media release. Sadly, detectives also discovered a deceased dog.

 

Animal Control was called in and assisted with removing the furvictims from the property.

 

MILLAR was placed under arrest on cruelty to animals charges and released on a summons pending a future court date. Police said additional charges are still pending, as the investigation is ongoing.

 

I have contacted the Galloway Township Police Department to inquire about all of the Voiceless Victims and with regard to the furbaby who was found deceased, I was told: “….we do not have a name or breed available; however, the dog was sent for a necropsy.  We are currently awaiting the results.”

 

The cat and dogs who were rescued from the property “are doing well and have been placed at local shelters.”  Galloway Township Police Officer Dan Weigle (pictured) adopted one of the dogs, a female Newfoundland named Moo (pictured).

 

No additional information was released.

 

I took the liberty of naming the deceased dog Heart for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

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.

 


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