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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Oct 82 min read

AJA BRIANNA ZUKAS, owner of Paws Paradise, arrested after her dog was found close to death

- Florida, USA -

 

On September 6, 2024, Port St. Lucie Animal Control Officers responded to Paws Paradise, a pet grooming salon, after receiving a complaint regarding a dog left in the facility for more than 24 hours without food or water.

 

Officers found a 9-year-old male Terrier mix named Boo who looked malnourished. The dog’s guardian, and also owner of Paws Paradise, 35-year-old AJA BRIANNA ZUKAS (pictured), said that Boo had been left unattended for less than 24 hours. ZUKAS admitted to being aware that Boo was not healthy and said that she could not care for him and voluntarily surrendered the furvictim.

 

ACO took Boo to an emergency veterinary clinic where upon examination, he was “found to have cachexia (not having/no minimal muscle mass), pressure sores, small wounds along the edges of his ears, and pale gums possibly indicating anemia.”

 

ZUKAS told officers that Boo was thin because he had a bowel blockage, and the sores were the result of Boo rubbing on his crate. ZUKAS claims Boo had long-standing behavioral issues affecting his weight.

 

When Boo was re-examined on September 17, 2024, the veterinarian found that he had gained six pounds in eleven days, showing Boo’s health issues were from malnutrition.

 

The Port St. Lucie Police Department arrested ZUKAS on October 3, 2024, and charged her with one felony count of animal cruelty. She was released from the St. Lucie County Jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

 

WPTV reporter Cassandra Garcia reached ZUKAS over the phone and ZUKAS told her that the charges are inaccurate and that she has never harmed a dog in her fourteen years as groomer.

 

She went on to tell Ms. Garcia: “It is just the most shocking and overwhelming thing that I can imagine going through. There’s nothing for anyone to be concerned about because I’ve decided to resign.”

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: 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.

 

 

ZUKAS’  mugshot shared from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

 

Boo’s pictures shared from WPTV




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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Oct 72 min read

WHITNEY LEE BACHANAS facing charges – Innocent abandoned animals found abused, mistreated, and dead

Updated: Oct 9

- New York, USA -

 

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40-year-old WHITNEY LEE BACHANAS (pictured), of Milford.

 

Otsego County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin said that a welfare check conducted at a residence on County Highway 35 in the Town of Milford led to the discovery of “several animals in and around the residence that were found to be abandoned, malnourished and mistreated.”

 

According to the release by the sheriff’s office, one dog, a quail, and a turkey were sadly found deceased.

 

Two live quail, who appeared to be malnourished, were rescued for foster and rehabilitation.

 

Two emaciated dogs were deemed in critical condition so they were taken to Cornell University Veterinary Hospital.

 

The Susquehanna SPCA, that along with Farm Friends Network assisted in this rescue and investigation, identified the two dogs as a 9-month-old female Great Dane named Belle and a male Great Dane named Oscar estimated to be almost two years old.

 

Sadly, Oscar later died from complications due to his poor physical condition.

The sweet soul underwent emergency surgery for a condition commonly known as bloat, which can occur in dogs who experience malnutrition when they begin to eat again.

 

BACHANAS was arrested on September 3, 2024. She was originally charged with abandonment of animals and failure to provide proper sustenance and she was scheduled to appear in Milford Town Court on October 1, 2024. However, that appearance has since been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.

 

A recent release by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office advised that as the investigation progressed, three felony charges were also filed against BACHANAS.

 

As stated in the release: “Due to continued investigation in collaboration with Susquehanna SPCA, Cornell University Veterinary Hospital and Upstate Veterinary Specialties the above defendant who was previously arrested for multiple counts of animal cruelty has been additionally charged with three counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty.”

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office. 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.

 

 

BACHANAS‘ mugshot shared from the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Pictures of the furvictims shared from Susquehanna SPCA




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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Oct 52 min read

WILLIAM HOWARD DUNN SR. arrested – Dog found dead tied in the backyard exposed to heat

- Pennsylvania, USA -

 

64-year-old WILLIAM HOWARD DUNN SR. (pictured) is now behind bars after a dog was found deceased in July in the backyard of his home.  

 

The Johnstown Police Department said that on July 10, 2024, an officer found a deceased dog in the backyard of DUNN’s property along Fronheiser Street in Johnstown.

 

DUNN is accused of leaving his dog, whom police described as a brown and white colored American Bully, tied outside for at least 24 hours. The poor soul was found tied to a fence with no access to food, water or shelter. Police said the temperature at the time of the incident was 80-90 degree.

 

According to investigators, the foul odor coming from the dog indicated that the furvictim was left outside for at least one or two days.

 

Police said a neighbor told officers they saw DUNN tying the dog outside and leaving him/her for at least 24 hours with no food or water.

 

DUNN is now facing misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and animal neglect.  He is in the Cambria County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.

 

Court records show that a preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Kevin J. Price.

 

Authorities did not disclose the name of the dog, so I took the liberty of naming him/her Muffin for the tribute image.

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: 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.

 




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