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Nearly thirty dogs and puppies rescued from severe abuse and neglect in Polk County

Updated: Nov 13, 2024

- Missouri, USA -


On November 8, 2024, the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued twenty-eight puppies and dogs from a property in Polk County.


The rescue is the result of multiple visits to the property and repeated efforts by the Animal Cruelty Task Force to work with the property owner to improve the dogs’ care.


The ACT investigator warned the property owner that the animals may be removed if their health and environment didn’t improve. However, despite the warnings, when the ACT investigator returned to the property to check on the welfare of the dogs, most recently thirty days ago, it was apparent that their wellbeing and safety worsened. At that point the Polk County Sheriff removed the dogs under a warrant and placed them in the care of HSMO.


The Voiceless Victims had no access to food or water, and were tethered to heavy chains, which limited their movement and ability to seek shelter.

According to the HSMO, many dogs were found severely underweight and many others were found injured.

Sadly, many dogs were also found deceased.


In a press release, the Humane Society of Missouri said the dogs, who are of various breeds and breed mixes, were taken to “HSMO’s Macklind headquarters in St. Louis to receive health evaluations and emergency veterinary treatment.”


HSMO President Kathy Warnick said: “These dogs lived in horrific conditions, and had we not intervened, many more may not have survived. We are grateful for the cooperation of the Polk County Sheriff and their assistance in helping us rescue these animals from such dangerous neglect before their conditions worsened or they died. Now that they are safe, community support is critical to ensure these dogs receive the care and treatment they deserve and a new chance for a better life with a loving family.”


On December 4, 2024, a disposition hearing will determine whether HSMO will assume legal custody of the dogs. As explained in the press release, “If awarded custody, HSMO will make the dogs available for adoption after they have been given a clean bill of health by the veterinarians and evaluated by the animal behavior team. As the animals recover – medically and behaviorally – they will be made available for adoption on a case-by-case basis.”


Meanwhile, the HSMO is requesting the community’s help with more supplies such as “blankets, towels, sheets, comforters, newspaper and of course toys!! New or used are both very much appreciated!”

For their Amazon Wish List, please click here. Thank you!


I have emailed the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to see whether any arrests were made in connection with this case and at the time of writing, I have not received a response.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Humane Society of Missouri. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.





 
 
 

RYAN MICHAEL KIECKHAEFER accused of repeatedly torturing his parents’ puppy over a two-week period

Updated: May 15

- Colorado, USA -


⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains details some of you may find distressing⚠️

 

On the morning of October 7, 2024, Officer Naik with the Grand Junction Police Department received an anonymous tip about a puppy who was being abused at a home on 2930 Highway 50.

 

According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, the tip revealed that 23-year-old RYAN MICHAEL KIECKHAEFER (pictured), “was severely abusing and torturing a three-month-old Pitbull puppy at the property over a period of two weeks.”

 

The tip further advised that KIECKHAEFER was using fentanyl (a potent synthetic opioid drug) before torturing the puppy. The affidavit identified the furvictim as a gray Pitbull puppy named Nova.

 

The reporting party provided a video which Officer Naik reviewed. This revealed KIECKHAEFER inside the garage of the home in question, pulling Nova with a leash towards the security camera. In the video KIECKHAEFER “can be heard making statements out loud, but Officer Naik was unable to understand what he is saying due to the audio quality.”

 

The video goes on to show KIECKHAEFER raising the leash with his hand, causing the collar to pull against Nova’s neck. This action lifted Nova off the ground, forcing all her weight against the collar. At this point, while Nova is in the air, KIECKHAEFER swings her back and forth by the leash, and Nova can be heard whimpering throughout.

 

KIECKHAEFER then starts spinning the leash while hanging Nova in the air, causing the leash and collar to wrap tighter on Nova's neck. The furvictim can be heard whimpering louder as KIECKHAEFER starts to spin the leash. At one point, KIECKHAEFER spins Nova rapidly  before releasing the leash, causing Nova to fall to the floor.

 

Nova appears to be understandably scared and is cowering. Her rear is lowered and she walks slowly towards KIECKHAEFER with her tail very low to the ground. KIECKHAEFER then immediately yanks the leash up, causing the collar to pull against Nova's neck again. KIECKHAEFER bends over and pulls Nova to his face and says something to her. He proceeds to strike Nova's small head with the handle of the leash while continuing to hang her in the air.

 

After reviewing the video, Officer Naik and Officer Tafoya responded to the given address and made contact with Mrs. Kieckhaefer, KIECKHAEFER's mother.

 

Mrs. Kieckhaefer revealed to the officers that she was the one who submitted the tip and the video and advised that she had many more showing KIECKHAEFER's behavior and actions towards Nova. Mrs. Kieckhaefer also said that her husband witnessed their son physically throwing Nova to the ground on October 2, 2024, and that prompted them to review their house surveillance video.

 

Mr. Kieckhaefer told the officers that one of Nova's teeth was permanently damaged, as a result of their son using pliers to break the tooth. He then went to get Nova and showed her tooth to the officers.

 

When Officer Naik returned to the station, he reviewed additional videos that Mrs. Kieckhaefer provided.

 

The affidavit contains only a summary of the actions that Officer Naik saw KIECKHAEFER committing toward Nova between September 25, 2024, and October 2, 2024.

 

In more than one video, KIECKHAEFER was seen pulling Nova by a leash, and then quickly yanking the leash in the air, causing Nova to hang with the collar pulling on her neck. KIECKHAEFER can also be seen quickly spinning the leash around, causing the collar to tighten upon the neck.

 

In other videos, KIECKHAEFER can be seen restraining Nova by a leash and collar and forcefully spraying her with a garden hose. KIECKHAEFER did this on several occasions at night and during the day. As Nova tried to walk away, KIECKHAEFER grabbed the leash, pulled her in, and continued to spray her. Nova can be heard whimpering while this happens.

 

Additional videos showed KIECKHAEFER holding Nova on the ground and spraying the hose directly into her face and ears.

 

One of the officers reported: “From watching multiple videos, it can be observed that Nova is aware of what is going to occur when Ryan picks up the garden hose, based on previous actions from Ryan. Nova sits very still and does not want to approach Ryan while he is holding the hose, to the point where Ryan has to physically pull Nova closer to him. There is a video where Ryan places Nova in a dog kennel, and then walks into the kennel and continues to spray Nova with the garden hose.”

 

A video from the evening of September 25, 2024, showed KIECKHAEFER in the yard of the home throwing Nova against a metal chain link fence by the leash.

In the video he holds Nova by the leash and the poor soul can be heard whimpering. KIECKHAEFER then walks Nova into the backyard where he suspends her in the air by the leash before dropping her to the ground and forcefully holding her there.

 

The video goes on to show KIECKHAEFER grabbing a garden hose with which he repeatedly strikes Nova as she was crying in pain.

 

KIECKHAEFER was not done and continued to torture Nova by spraying her at close range and later unmercifully spraying her while she was helplessly hanging in the air.

 

On the same evening, at a different time, a video caught KIECKHAEFER throwing Nova by the leash, hanging her in the air by the leash while violently spraying her in the face. At some point, KIECKHAEFER holds Nova to the ground and sprays the hose directly into Nova's small mouth.

 

On the evening of October 7, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for KIECKHAEFER. He was taken into custody and charged with aggravated animal cruelty.

 

Online arrest records show that KIECKHAEFER is being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility.

KIECKHAEFER’s next court date is set for October 15, 2024, at 8:15 a.m.

 

Although Mesa County District Attorney Daniel P. Rubinstein provided me with a copy of the arrest affidavit, he declined to share Nova’s pictures as this is a pending case.

 

A response to my email from the Grand Junction Police Department advised that Nova “sustained serious injuries” and she is still with the Kieckhaefers. 

 

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the affidavit provided to 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.

 


For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!

 

KIECKHAEFER’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office




 
 
 

DERRICK GLENN YOUNG accused of stealing a puppy and dragging him behind a bike causing him injuries

Updated: Aug 7, 2024

- Oklahoma, USA -

 

The Ardmore Police Department arrested 34-year-old DERRICK GLENN YOUNG (pictured).

 

On July 23, 2024, Officer O'Hanlon was on North Washington when he saw a male, later identified as YOUNG, riding a bike and dragging a small white dog on a leash behind the bike.

 

According to the report obtained by Voice For Us, “The dog appeared to be a puppy and appeared to be in distress.” The officer reported that the puppy was trying his best “to keep from being dragged.”

 

While Officer O'Hanlon fought against traffic trying to catch up with YOUNG, he saw that several times the leash would get tight, and the puppy would stumble forward to stay on his feet. Furthermore, according to Officer O'Hanlon, YOUNG “never looked back to check on the dog.”

 

Eventually, the officer was able to stop YOUNG at the intersection of 8th and A NE.

 

The puppy was sitting down panting very hard and holding his back paws up by using the back elbows. His feet were shaking as if in lots of pain and were dripping blood on the roadway. The outside temperature was in the low 90’s so the road was still hot to the touch.

Officer O'Hanlon reported that when he looked at the puppy’s feet, he saw that “on the back feet the skin was worn off and that was where the blood was coming from. The pads on all four feet were swollen, hot and very hard due to the trauma and hot pavement. When I pushed on the front pad, the puppy cried out in pain.” Officer O’Hanlon then told YOUNG to take the puppy across the street to the shade and YOUNG was going to make the puppy walk across so the officer made him carry the puppy.

 

Officer O’Hanlon retrieved a bottle of water and gave some to the puppy who was understandably eager to drink. “As soon as he finished, he lay on his side and stretched his feet out and tried to sleep”, stated the report.

 

The officer then called in Animal Control so they could take the puppy to the animal shelter.

 

When the officer told YOUNG that he was going to take the puppy, YOUNG did not seem to care and said that he had gotten the puppy the night before.

 

A couple of hours after Animal Control had picked up the puppy, Officer O’Hanlon went to the shelter to check on him and learned from staff that the pup had already been returned to his guardian whom I will refer to as Ms. C.

 

Reportedly, Ms. C. had adopted the puppy from the shelter on June 4, 2024, after he was born on March 31, 2024.

 

Staff at the shelter told Officer O’Hanlon that Ms. C. called them on July 22, 2024, and asked them whether her puppy was there because he was no longer in her backyard.

Thankfully, when the puppy was bought to the shelter by  Animal Control, staff called Ms. C. at work to give her the good news so she took off work and went to pick her furbaby up.

 

In a written statement provided to the police, Ms. C. said that on the afternoon of July 22, 2024, she put the puppy in the backyard to play and when she went to check on him after about 30 to 45 minutes, he was gone. She checked the gate and the fence and could not figure out how he had gotten out. The gate was shut and there were no holes in the fence.

 

The Carter County District Attorney’s Office has filed against YOUNG one felony count of cruelty to animals and one felony count of grand larceny.

 

The Ardmore Police Department kindly provided me with the puppy’s pictures whom they referred to as Binder.

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official documents provided to 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.

 

 

YOUNG’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Carter County Sheriff's Office.




 
 
 

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