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DIANA JENEANE STEVENS, owner of a pet grooming business, arrested for animal abuse and cruelty

- Florida, USA -

 

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

 

The Sarasota Police Department arrested 41-years-old DIANA JENEANE STEVENS (pictured), owner of Woof Gang Bakery and Dog Grooming franchise.

 

In a press release, police said that detectives were originally investigating the business at 1129 South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota for financial crimes when they “uncovered a pattern of animal abuse” by STEVENS.

 

According to the Probable Cause Affidavit obtained by Voice For Us through a public search,  former employees of Woof Gang Bakery and Dog Grooming were interviewed in reference to the financial crimes investigation, and they gave statements of what they witnessed at the business.

 

1.    Witness 1 stated that she was a groomer at the business and saw STEVENS “abuse animals she was grooming in the store.” Witness 1 also said STEVENS “would smack and hit dogs, she was rough with cats and would hit them, she would jerk the cats around and flip them over and she could cause the cat's neck to break.”  She went on to say that STEVENS “would also grab the dogs by the scruff out of frustration and she was aggressive with them while she groomed them.”  According to Witness 1, some of the customers “complained that their dogs were acting differently when they brought them home.”

Additionally, Witness 1 told detectives that STEVENS and Witness 2 bought many puppies, including French Bulldog puppies, to sell. The French Bulldog Puppies were kept at the business in a small kennel covered in their own feces and urine. The puppies were left at the shop overnight unsupervised. One of the puppies, a male, sadly died and according to Witness 1, STEVENS put the furbaby into a cardboard box. Witness 1 is not sure what STEVENS did with him.

 

2.    Witness 2 described to detectives four separate incidents where STEVENS was abusive to animals. One of them involved a 75lb-80lb tan Goldendoodle. According to Witness 2, STEVENS was bathing the dog and became “upset when the dog didn’t comply.” Witness 2 said STEVENS said, “this dog is a piece of shit” and punched him/her with a closed fist several times in the ribs and abdomen. While punching the furbaby, STEVENS was yelling “fuck you” to the dog. Witness 2 stated she intervened and later that night, she received a text from STEVENS in which she apologized for her behavior.

 

·         In a different incident, STEVENS was going to bathe and groom a white Persian-Ragdoll cat. She became frustrated with the furbaby, and she began “slinging the cat around, she got scratched by the cat and began shaking it.” STEVENS proceeded to grab the cat by the scruff and swung him/her in the wall. Witness 2 stated she stepped in and took the cat from STEVENS and she finished bathing and grooming the furbaby.

 

·         A third incident described by Witness 2, involved a Bombay cat whom STEVENS was about to bathe and groom. Witness 2 saw STEVENS grab him/her and slam him/her multiple times into the table. STEVENS also grabbed the cat’s tiny head and slammed it into the table. As she continued to bathe and groom the cat, STEVENS smacked the furbaby several times prompting Witness 4 to intervene.

 

·         Another abusive incident occurred at the expense of a small red Goldendoodle. The furbaby was afraid of the blow dryer and he/she peed on him/herself leading STEVENS to wash the dog again. STEVENS became “upset” and grabbed the dog by the scruff and threw him/her into the tub. She then grabbed the dog by the scruff again and threw him/her across the room onto the drying table. She proceeded to pin the dog down and “forced the blow dryer into the dog's face.” The dog became so afraid he/she pooped on his/herself and had to be washed again. At this point, an employee stepped in and took over washing the dog because STEVENS “was getting aggressive with the dog.”

 

·         Regarding the death of the French Bulldog puppy, Witness 2 stated she received a call from STEVENS’ mother to let her know that the puppy was found “unresponsive” and Witness 2 took the puppy to the vet for a necropsy. The affidavit reports that the puppy “choked and died.”

In early 2023, Witness 2 and STEVENS went to Georgia to buy the puppies and came back with 8-10 of them with the intention to sell them for $5,000 to $12,000 each.

 

According to the affidavit, Witness 1, 2, 3, and 4 told detectives that there was surveillance video at the grooming business so a search warrant was obtained and executed.

Police said video evidence of animal abuse was collected and the footage “appears to support allegations that Stevens beat, berated, and tossed animals as she groomed them.”

 

Footage from August 2023 added more devastating details to the incidents described by the witnesses. Video showed cats being thrown into their carrier, dogs being lifted up by their tail, dogs being pulled by their ears and then cower in fear, dogs being pulled by their neck and being hit while hanging in the air, dogs being yelled at because STEVENS was being rough at cutting their nails.

 

In all the incidents described in the affidavit, STEVENS was consistently impatient with the furbabies, and was rough and forceful in her handling of them.

 

Police said that STEVENS, of North Fort Myers, was arrested on March 8, 2024.

Online records show she is being held at the Sarasota County Jail on five felony charges of aggravated animal abuse and five misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

 

According to court records, STEVENS is expected at Sarasota County Circuit Court on April 19, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

 

The Sarasota Police Department encourages anyone with information on this case to email Detective Sullivan at jessica.sullivan@sarasotaFL.gov.

Alternatively, please leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com. Thank you!

 

The name of the deceased French Bulldog puppy was not disclosed. I took the liberty of naming him Dandelion for the tribute image. Should his given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.

 

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the official press release by the Sarasota Police Department.

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.

 

STEVENS’ mugshot shared from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

 




KENNETH FRANCIS BINGLE found guilty of animal cruelty for starving cattle including a pregnant cow

- Florida, USA -


On Thursday, October 5, 86-years-old KENNETH FRANCIS BINGLE (pictured), was found guilty of one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty and one count of Confinement of Animals without Food or Water, announced State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.


In May 2021, BINGLE was arrested on neglect charges after thirty-three malnourished cattle were found on his property.


According to court documents obtained by Voice For Us, on the morning of May 24, 2021, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Agricultural Unit received a report about some emaciated cows who “had very little to eat or drink” on a pasture in the 9000 block of Fruitville Road (northeast corner of Fruitville and Lorraine roads.


A deputy responded to the location and upon arrival, he saw approximately thirty cows of mixed breeds, as well as calves, sitting under a tree on the west side of the pasture. According to the affidavit, from the road the deputy saw most of the cows were very thin/emaciated with their ribs, hips/pins, and tailheads showing. The deputy also saw two cows standing around a hay ring with a third lying down on the ground. As the deputy got closer to them, he realized that the cow who was laying down could not get up, could not reach the little hay available, and did not have any access to water, or shade. In the affidavit, this cow is identified with a number, so I am taking the liberty of referring to her as Stella.


The deputy tried to help Stella get up but the poor soul was unable to stand due to her poor body condition and lack of energy.

There was a pond on the pasture that was drying up and the little hay “was visibly old and smelled moldy”, stated the affidavit. The deputy reported that the pasture grass was severely overgrazed. There was a molasses supplement feeder that was empty and appeared to have been that way for a long time.


In the northwest corner of the pasture the deputy found a dead cow hidden by a metal gate making it impossible for the deputy to see from the road.


Based on the deputy's findings, the decision was made to remove the entire herd and veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Steele was called in to evaluate the Voiceless Victims. While the cattle were being removed, BINGLE arrived and said he had no idea why the sheriff's office was there and why the animals were being removed.


The deputy asked BINGLE why the cattle were skinny and he answered that the grass was not growing.


It then turned out that BINGLE had several round bales of hay outside of the pasture, approximately 200 feet from where the cattle were. BINGLE told the deputy that he did not have a truck and could not bring the round bales to the animals.


At one point, the deputy saw BINGLE using a tractor to remove the deceased cow and the deputy asked him if the tractor could be used to bring the hay to the cows. To that, BINGLE answered: “Yeah, I could but they haven’t eaten the old hay yet.” BINGLE maintained that there was nothing wrong with the animals.


The cows were taken to Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Animal Services by trailers while efforts were still being made to get Stella off the ground. According to the affidavit, the poor soul was given approximately six gallons of water that she drank immediately. She was in such an emaciated state that she had to be strapped to BINGLE's tractor to be lifted. Although all her bones were clearly visible, BINGLE had the nerve to say that there was nothing wrong with her.


As officials tried to get Stella onto a trailer, she collapsed and they had to use ropes and straps to help her stand. Upon arriving at Animal Services, Stella ate fresh hay and drank several gallons of water. Unfortunately, that did not help, and since she was still laying on the floor of the trailer, she was rolled out of the trailer and onto the ground of the fenced pasture of the shelter. At that point, the Sarasota County Road and Bridge Department were called in. They brought a front-end loader and tried to lift Stella with several wide liftings straps. This attempt was also unsuccessful.


On the late evening, veterinarian Dr. Kelley Garner responded to Animal Services and examined Stella. She advised that Stella appeared dehydrated and needed fluids. Dr. Garner then stated that Stella could either be humanely euthanized or wait until the following day when she could be seen by another veterinarian. According to the affidavit, the decision was made to delay euthanasia and Stella was examined the following day, on May 25, 2021, by Dr. Jeanie Presler.


An ultrasound revealed that Stella was six to seven months pregnant. Dr. Presler obtained bloodwork and fecal samples from Stella, put her on various medications, and said that if Stella did not get up in three days, humane euthanasia would be warranted on May 28, 2021.


On the early morning of May 30, 2021, Stella was found deceased. According to the affidavit, “There was evidence the cow had attempted to stand up or move on its own several times during the overnight hours but was unable to do so.”


As stated in the press release by the State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office, BINGLE “was in the cattle business for nearly fifty years.”


Andrew van Sickle, the Animal Cruelty Prosecutor in Sarasota, said in a statement: “As a seasoned cattleman, Mr. Bingle was responsible for the condition of his herd. If you assume that responsibility, whether a domestic animal or farm animal, no evasion or ignorance can shift the blame to someone else. I am delighted that the jury agreed that all animals should be treated humanely and with respect.”


Updates on the trial will be posted as they become available.


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.



BINGLE’s mugshot shared from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.


Additional Source:





MERALD ODINAKACHI ONYEMAECHI and his brother MATTHEW UCHENNA ONYEMAECHI charged with animal cruelty

- Florida, USA -


The North Port Police Department announced the arrest of 24-years-old MERALD ODINAKACHI ONYEMAECHI and his brother, 28-years-old MATTHEW UCHENNA ONYEMAECHI (both pictured).


In a media release, police said that back in July 2023, they received a tip and a video from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) alerting them to a small Pit Bull puppy having his/her ears cropped without the use of anesthesia.


According to police, “The video also showed that the animal lost an excessive amount of blood as a result of the cutting. Both brothers witnessed the incident within their home and failed to act which caused unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal for no medical reason.”


Voice For Us obtained a copy of the Probable Cause Affidavit and part of the narrative stated: “In the video I observed the dog to appear older than 6 weeks of age laying with its belly on a white plastic folding table. All four of the dog's extremities were extended out of the edges of the table and its snout was tapped with black tape to prevent movement of the dog. The upper half of the dog was laying on what appeared to be a white and blue puppy absorbent pad with one cut out to fit around the dog's head and neck. The dog's right ear was then observed being clamped and cut off to the clamp. As the ears were being cut the dog attempts to pull away where a white female bystander places a hand on the dog to assist in restraining it to the table. I then observed the video to show the dog with its ear cut with the absorbent pads having a significant amount of blood on them before the video cutting off.”


In the affidavit, the Voiceless Victim is identified as Khaos and in the media release police said he/she survived the illegal procedure.


On the morning of October 2, 2023, police executed a search warrant for suspected animal cruelty at a property in the 4000 block of Baynes Road in North Port.


Police did not give any details of any evidence recovered. According to the release, five dogs were removed from the property and taken by Sarasota County Animal Services for safekeeping. No information about the dogs was released either.


The two brothers were placed under arrest and booked into the Sarasota County Jail on one felony count each of Causing Cruel, Death, Pain, and Suffering. Bond was set at $50,000.


The third person seen in the video performing the illegal procedure is yet to be identified.


North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said in a statement: “We love our four-legged friends, and this type of act towards animals will not be tolerated in North Port.”


Police urge anyone who has information about this case to contact the Department at (941) - 429 - 7300. Thank you!


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

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



Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the North Port Police Department.





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