Los Angeles Department of Animal Services investigation leads to animal cruelty conviction
Los Angeles, CA, May 18, 2016 – The deputy city attorney for the City of Los Angeles, Michelle McGinnis, charged a suspected puppy abuser, the defendant, with one count of animal cruelty. The case went to trial and resulted in a guilty verdict on April 11, 2016, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services announced.
The defendant was sentenced to five days in county jail, 300 hours of community service and placed on three years of probation. She must attend 52 weeks of animal cruelty counseling and is prohibited from owning, possessing, maintaining, caring for or living with any animals for five years.
The investigation first began when the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services received a call about a puppy with an injured foot. When the LA Animal Services officer arrived they observed four dogs on the property, one of which could barely move. Upon further examination, the officer observed a severe injury to the male puppy’s rear leg and that the flesh on the leg had been eaten away. They also noted that the dog was infested with ticks, underweight, weak, dehydrated and “smelled like something rotting.” The other three dogs on the defendant’s property were in good health.
The wounded dog was taken in by Los Angeles Animal Services and the staff veterinarian examined the dog and discovered the knee joint had been torn apart, and the ankle was fractured and a portion of the foot was missing. The veterinarian estimated that the bone had been stripped bare for at least one week.
Anyone who sees or knows of animal cruelty, neglect, dog fighting, gamecock fighting or any other forms of animal abuse within the City of Los Angeles, should call the Animal Cruelty Task Force at 213-486-0450. For calls other than animal cruelty, contact the shelter closest to you at 888-452-7381.
