- Illinois, USA -
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office said that 39-years-old NYSSA RICHARDS and 42-years-old MARK MILLER JR. are facing animal cruelty charges after several dogs were left out in the extreme cold, causing the death of one of the furbabies.
On Friday, December 23, 2022, when the base temperature was 1 degree with a wind chill of minus 16, deputies responded to an address in the 4300 block of North Taylor Road in Decatur after a concerned citizen called to report that many dogs at the property were suffering from extreme cold.
Deputies found five dogs chained and in “rough shape.” The VOICELESS VICTIMS did not have any food, their water was frozen, and only had plywood dog houses with a bit of straw for shelter.
Among them was an 11-year-old male American Bulldog, named Blue, who was near death. The video recorded by the Good Samaritan who alerted the sheriff’s office, showed Blue tethered to a chain, dragging his legs, and struggling to get up.
Sadly, Blue had to be euthanized at the University of Illinois Veterinary Clinic in Urbana.
Macon County Animal Control took custody of the other four dogs and they thankfully are making a good recovery.
WCIA reports that it all started on Friday when a resident was driving home and she noticed the dogs. In an interview with WCIA, the resident recounted the distressing facts. She said: “So I opened my car door and I yelled from about halfway across the driveway, ‘your dog is dying’.” The witness went on to say: “She [Nyssa Richards] opened up the door and she started yelling for me to get off her property, yelling profanities.”
The witness saw that Blue was stumbling and shivering until he couldn’t get back up. She then called the Macon County Sheriff's Office.
Rightfully and understandably so, several members of the community are speaking up about the way they say RICHARDS and MILLER treated their dogs.
Ms. Jessica Oftedal told WCIA: “Anybody that I’ve talked to about the dogs that’s driven by, they’re like ‘oh yeah, I live there, I have to see it all the time. They never leave those chains.’”
The sheriff’s office said that in the state of Illinois animal cruelty and neglect is a Class A misdemeanor and aggravating factors could result in a Class 4 felony.
State’s Attorney Scott Rueter explained: “There are certain enhancing factors that may make things felonies where they would normally be misdemeanors to file initially. So, we have to review all that and make a decision about what charges we believe are appropriate under the law.” He also said that it could be a few days before charges are filed.
According to a press release by the Sheriff’s Office obtained by Voice For Us, RICHARDS and MILLER were given notices to appear for a court date of March 14, 2023.
If found not guilty, the dogs may be returned to them.
Pictures of the four dogs who were removed from the property were kindly provided to Voice For Us by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office.
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
#animalcruelty #crueldadanimal #cruautéanimale #tierquälerei #animalslivesmatter #deathpenaltyforanimalabusers #dogs #illinois
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The entire country was given notice there was an extreme freeze coming & to remember your animals. Bring them inside. Provide shelter & warm water etc. So there is no excuse except blatant sadistic cruelty involved with these precious souls. Blue literally froze to the point of having to be euthanized. Thank G-d the other 3 appear to be recovering. Again I find myself angered, of course, but also perplexed as to why have these dogs if you are adult & responsible enough to take care of them. Selfish pathetic subhumans. To punish these monsters might send a message, take care or go to jail. At least there these soulless monsters would be taken better care of than the poor…