Tackling Animal Cruelty on All Fronts

One of the sobering facts you realize when working in a landscape to eliminate acts of cruelty to animals is that many of the cases encountered are due to ignorance and lack of education on the part of the owner about how to properly care for an animal.

Cases where an animal is suffering from a painful health condition such as an extreme flea infestation that can lead to anemia or, untreated, cases of mange. In almost every one of these cases the animal has never received the basic shots and immunizations, nor have they ever received any veterinary care.

A continual problem that plagues our region is that of dogs being tethered in yards with no socialization, interaction or a compassionate touch that all dogs crave and need. Dogs are highly sociable creatures and to withhold that from their existence is cruel and inhumane. Because they live their life at the end of a chain it becomes all they know and they become extremely territorial, hostile and resistant to anyone or anything that enters that lonely, empty world. For those that are rescued, helping them overcome such a trauma can be very difficult.

 All of the above are commonly known as unintentional cruelty. Many times unintentional cruelty is passed on from generation to generation, and this makes humane education a critical and vital role in our society.

There are also cases of intentional cruelty, and those cases are the most difficult to understand. Dogfighting is one example of intentional cruelty we see in our line of work all too often. For the sake of high stakes, monetary gain, animals are fought to gain winning purses that can run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to the inhumane treatment pit bulls are forced to endure in human-initiated dogfighting, it also damages the reputation of the pit bull variety – Staffordshire terriers and American bull terriers. Unjustly, they receive a permanent “bad rap.” For anyone that is a responsible, loving owner of a pit bull they will tell you these are one of the most loving dogs you will ever meet.

As Kathryn Destreza, LA/SPCA Director of Humane Law Enforcement often points out,
“The public is our first line of defense.”

To report suspected dog fighting or any other types of animal cruelty please call 504-368-5191, ext. 100, or report animal cruelty online.

We are committed to eliminating animal cruelty on all fronts!

• Kitten Beats the Odds Despite Ordeal On Bridge
  New Orleans, LA (July 27, 2007) – A two-month old black kitten found on the New Orleans Crescent City Connection Bridge beat the odds and proves that she does indeed have nine lives and that she’s not planning on leaving this life anytime soon.

• TWO DOGFIGHTING CASES: ARRESTS MADE AND DOGS RESCUED
  July 19, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS, LA– Due to their expertise in dogfighting investigations and identifying dogfighting evidence, the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) has, within the last six days, been called in to assist law enforcement officials handling two separate dog fighting cases that resulted in the arrest of six individuals and the rescue of nine dogs and six puppies.

• LOUISIANA SPCA IMPOUNDS FOUR DOGS FROM NINTH WARD
  July 4, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS, LA - The LA/SPCA rescued four dogs from a Ninth Ward home after the Louisiana National Guard responded to a call to investigate dog fighting on Tuesday, July 3rd. According to LA/SPCA Director of Humane Law Enforcement, Kathryn Destreza, the police received a complaint that kids were holding dog fights in the backyard of a Desire Street residence.

• Mother and Son Found Guilty of Dog Fighting
  May 24, 2007 - JEFFERSON PARISH, LA - A mother and son were found guilty of dogfighting this week in Jefferson Parish Criminal District Court. Yolanda James and Mark James of Becker Street in Marrero were found guilty on charges of dogfighting stemming from an April 5, 2006 arrest that resulted from a raid by the Louisiana State Police’s Gaming Division. Louisiana SPCA Director of Humane Law Enforcement, Kathryn Destreza, testified as an expert in cruelty and dogfighting in the case.

• Louisiana SPCA Assists DEA in LA/MS Bust Involving Drugs and Dogs
  April 24, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS - Due to its depth of expertise handling dogfighting cases, the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) was asked by federal authorities to participate in the planned raid that involved the arrest of 14 people for drug trafficking in Louisiana and Mississippi on April 24, 2007 in order to manage the dogfighting aspect of the case.

• 7 Arrested at Dog fighting Contest: Gun, Dog seized
  April 19, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS – Early this morning, six men and one woman were arrested and each charged with one count of felony dogfighting. A makeshift dogfighting pit made out of plywood was found in the garage of abandoned house in the 1400 block of Mandolin Street, a home in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. LA/SPCA assisted in the arrest.

• Accused Dogfighter, Cleveland Harris Walks on Felony Charges, Guilty of Cruelty Charges
  April 17, 2007 – NEW ORLEANS - Despite overwhelming evidence indicating that thrice arrested Cleveland Harris, 4758 Evangeline Avenue, is a dogfighter, the Louisiana SPCA was extremely disheartened by Judge Benedict Willard’s ruling that allowed Harris to walk away with a non-guilty verdict in two separate dogfighting felony cases heard consecutively yesterday in Criminal District Court.

• Algiers Man Arrested for Cruelty Horse
  February 25, 2007- NEW ORLEANS – Last night, Dave Williams, 11514 Willow Drive (Algiers), was arrested by NOPD on two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals for two dead decomposing horses and five counts of simple cruelty for five emaciated horses. Louisiana SPCA officers are on-the-scene documenting the condition of all animals on the property and contacting known owners to make alternative arrangements for their horses.

• DOGFIGHTING CONVICTION IS HAILED AS MAJOR VICTORY
  February 15, 2007 - VIDALIA, LA – The Louisiana SPCA is applauding a major victory in the war against dogfighting with yesterday’s conviction of a major dogfighter who has been considered one of the principal violators of the illegal activity in Louisiana. Clinton Bartell Schneider, Jr., who supplies fighting dogs and fights under the name Black River Kennels, was found guilty yesterday on state charges of dogfighting in Concordia Parish’s Seventh Judicial Court. Schneider goes up for sentencing on April 7, 2007 and faces a maximum ten-year prison sentence and a maximum $25,000 fine. Kathryn Destreza, LA/SPCA’s Director of Humane Law Enforcement, served as an expert witness in this week’s trial and testified to the evidence found as being clear signs of dogfighting activity.

• Man Convicted of Animal Cruelty
  February 6, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS – Jamerson Johnson, New Orleans, was convicted today on one count of animal cruelty charges following an August 5, 2005 arrest after Louisiana SPCA humane officers saw Johnson walking a severely emaciated pit bull. As part of his sentence, Johnson has been ordered not to own, care for or control any animal, including fowl, during his sentence period.

• Surge In Suspected Dogfighting Activity
  January 3, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS –The Louisiana SPCA’s animal cruelty investigations team is seeing a surge in suspected dogfighting activity across the Metro area and is currently working on three active cases. Since November 2006 the non-profit animal welfare agency that investigates animal cruelty has pursued several cases of animal abuse where dogfighting charges have been filed.