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JONATHAN ALBERTO BENITEZ allowed his puppy to die after being caged in the sun without food or water

Updated: Mar 31, 2023

- Florida, USA -


“I am disgusted by people who abuse those that are defenseless.” That is how Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno began a press conference regarding the SENSELESS and PREVENTABLE death of an innocent dog.


Sheriff Marceno said that on the morning of Tuesday, March 28, 2023, his deputies were called to a home on Bryan Avenue North in Lehigh Acres about a dog in distress.


A disabled resident in a wheelchair saw the dog but was unable to physically help, so they alerted the sheriff’s office.


Upon arrival, deputies found a 7-month-old 60 lbs. English Bulldog mix named Oreo.

Oreo was in the backyard in a tiny cage that prevented him from moving, turning around, or lying down. The voiceless victim “was forced to stand the entire time,” said the sheriff.


According to Sheriff Marceno, Oreo was left alone in the cage for six long hours in direct sunlight without food or water. “His cries for help were unanswered and Oreo tried to chew his way out of a metal cage. Oreo was found dead with his teeth still biting the cage still trying to chew out,” recounted sheriff Marceno.


Lee County Domestic Animal Services used an infrared thermometer to record the area around Oreo which was 127 degrees. Oreo’s internal temperature was too high to read on the thermometer. “He fought until his last breath. A gut-wrenching view of torture and a cruel death for a helpless animal”, added the sheriff.


31-years-old JONATHAN ALBERTO BENITEZ (pictured), arrived at the scene and told deputies he put Oreo inside the cage in the backyard because “he didn’t want the dog to tear things up.”


I wonder if BENITEZ’s mother put him in a tiny cage in the backyard as a child because she did not want her son to “tear things up”!


BENITEZ was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty. Sheriff Marceno said that he and State Attorney Amira Fox feel the same about animals and they will work together to see that BENITEZ gets the fullest extent of the law. Meanwhile, BENITEZ, society’s vomit, is out free. He was released the day after his arrest.

Online records show that he is scheduled to appear in Lee County Circuit Court on May 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.


Sheriff Marceno said the case remains active and Oreo’s remains will be sent to the ASPCA for a necropsy.


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

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



BENITEZ’s mugshot via Lee County Jail.


Oreo's pictures kindly provided to Voice For Us by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.


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WENDY BREWER, owner of Dogs Rock Rescue, and DEANALYN REIGN, facing animal cruelty charges

- Georgia, USA -


After deputies with the Heard County Sheriff’s Office arrested WENDY BREWER, owner of Dogs Rock Rescue, in connection with what authorities are calling a “horrific case of animal abuse”, they have now also arrested Dogs Rock Rescue's associate 56-years-old DEANALYN REIGN (both females pictured).


BREWER was arrested after officials executed a search warrant on Thursday, August 25, 2022, and found evidence of animal cruelty and abuse at two locations on Fir Road in Franklin.


Nearly 200 dogs were removed from both properties and it took the collaboration of a dozen agencies, including animal control and animal rescue from Carroll, Cherokee, Coweta, Forsyth, Meriwether, and Troup counties. The Atlanta Humane Society was also on the scene to assist.


Many of the dogs were sick, hungry, and dehydrated. They were in cages walking around in their own filth. Sadly, many others were found dead.


FOX 5 Atlanta reports that “A van used to transport some of the dogs for a weekend adoption event was found on the property still packed days afterward. It had never been unloaded.”


According to authorities, some of the dogs are gaining weight and their health conditions are improving. Lt. Dan Boswell with the Heard County Sheriff's Office said that sadly, some of them will have to be euthanized.


About fifty of the dogs rescued from hell, were placed in the care of Friends of Heard County Animal Control DOGS which has a normal capacity for only fifteen dogs so you can only imagine all the help they need to face this hardship. Staff are also in desperate need of volunteers to interact with the dogs.


In a Facebook post the nonprofit wrote that “All dogs have been given DAP, Rabies, bordatella, and flea/tick prevention. **All have been dog tested and are wonderful with other dogs!”


If you wish and can afford to donate or are interested in volunteering to care for the dogs, please, visit the nonprofit’s Facebook page. Thank you!


In regard to REIGN, Lt. Dan Boswell told FOX 5 Atlanta that she has a criminal past for animal abuse in Alabama. For that case “She was given two years probation (…) and some classes that she had to take.”

But that’s not all. In fact, that same year in Connecticut, REIGN “was stopped on Interstate-95 by Connecticut state troopers. And they recovered 20 dogs--correction, 30 dogs--that were stacked in crates inside a van”, added Lt. Boswell.


As I was Googling REIGN, I came across two old articles about her.

One was published by WTVM on February 10, 2015, titled: “AL woman found guilty of animal cruelty.”

According to the article, on February 5, 2015, after a two-day trial, a Lee County Jury found REIGN guilty of five counts of cruelty to animals in the second degree. At the time, REIGN was the owner of Southern Dogs Rescue.

Reportedly, in December 2013, a Lee County resident reported to the Lee County Sheriff's Office and Lee County Animal Control that there were several dogs on some property located in the 400 block of Lee Road 4 in Auburn who appeared to have been abandoned and neglected.

Officials found 20 dogs in fence kennels who appeared to be malnourished and starving to death. There was no food in the kennels and the water was stagnant and green. The furbabies were also walking around in their own feces and mud.

Dr. Buddy Bruce's Veterinary Office examined the dogs who also had health issues such as intestinal worms.


As I always say, animal abusers are toxic and toxic people do not change, they only change their victims!

Furthermore, weak laws, merciful judges, and disgraceful prosecutors who accept plea deals continue to allow tragedies like these to happen and as always at the expense of INNOCENT ANIMALS!!!!


As for BREWER, she was initially charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and abandonment. Authorities later added two counts of aggravated animal cruelty.


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

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.





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PATTY ANN BOOTH and CODY ANTHONY KARNES arrested after 28 cats were removed from their home

- North Carolina, USA -


Following an investigation, 64-years-old PATTY ANN BOOTH and 33-years-old CODY ANTHONY KARNES (both pictured), have been charged with cruelty to animals.


In a news release, Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes said that on or about June 7, 2022, deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control were asked to assist Broadway Police Department with an animal complaint at a residence on 101 Burgess Circle in Broadway.

During the course of the investigation, probable cause was established to obtain a search warrant which was then executed on June 30, 2022, by the Broadway PD, Cape Fear Rural FD, and Lee County Emergency Management, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control deputies.


The search led to the discovery and removal of 28 cats.

Sheriff Estes said the “felines were seized and taken to the Lee County Animal Shelter for holding until the legal disposition of the animals can be determined by the courts.”

Warrants were also obtained for the arrest of BOOTH and KARNES who were taken into custody on July 1, 2022.

The pair were each charged with:

2 counts of cruelty to animals

2 counts of failure produce rabies vaccinations

1 count of improper disposal of dead domesticated animals

Both BOOTH and KARNES were given a $5,000 unsecured bond.

They are scheduled to appear in court on July 7, 2022.


The Lee County Sheriff's Office expressed gratitude toward all the agencies involved with this investigation, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office for the use of their animal trailer and equipment which is being used to house the cats, and the community that had stepped in by making “significant donations for the care of these precious animals.”


I have emailed Sheriff Estes to inquire about the well being of the cats removed from the property and requested elucidation about the charge “improper disposal of dead domesticated animals.”

If I get a response, I will post an update.


BOOTH and KARNES’ mugshots have been added to the Animal Abuser Registry maintained by Voice For Us.


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

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



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