In a news release, the Preble County Sheriff’s Office said that on December 27, 2022, deputies received a call about a Beagle puppy who had been dumped at the intersection of Verona Road and Sonora Road, in a small plastic crate.
Deputies responded to the scene and found the crate with the puppy inside. As indicated in the release, “On this particular day, it was 25 degrees outside.”
The release goes on to explain that “The dog was barely able to move and was taken by deputies for emergency medical treatment at a local veterinarian. The veterinarian determined that the dog was approximately 22-weeks old and was found to be malnourished, very thin, suffered from decreased muscle loss, and was dehydrated.”
Deputies launched an investigation to locate the person(s) responsible for dumping the VOICELESS VICTIM.
The sheriff’s office said that the investigation led to a search warrant being served at the residence of 26-years-old KAYLA RAE BROWN (pictured), of Lewisburg.
BROWN was placed under arrest at her residence on January 30, 2023, and charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, one felony count of animal cruelty and one count of falsification. On January 31, 2023, BROWN appeared in Eaton Municipal Court where her bond was set at $25,085.00 cash. Online records show she is still in custody.
Court records show BROWN’s hearing is set to take place on February 8, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
I have emailed Preble County Sheriff Michael Simpson to inquire about the puppy and he told me that the puppy is a male. He also said: “We understood his name to be Jett. He has since been adopted out to a great home. Not sure if he kept his same name or not.”
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The Parke County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 28-years-old GREGGORY ALLEN FRANSTED (pictured) after he was identified as the guardian of two dogs who were found roaming along Sandridge Road, north of Lyford.
The sheriff’s office said that on January 24, 2023, deputies were alerted to the situation and responded to the area. Sergeant Brad McNeill and Deputy Kyle Stonebraker took the VOICELESS VICTIMS to the Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society “so they will be warm during the approaching inclement weather. They will also receive much needed medical care,” said the sheriff’s office in an initial statement.
Court records show that a warrant was issued for FRANSTED’s arrest on Friday, January 27, 2023. FRANSTED is charged with two counts of cruelty to an animal, a class A misdemeanor.
According to the sheriff’s office, FRANSTED is being held on a $5,000 bond.
Court records further show that FRANSTED’s pretrial conference is set to take place on March 30, 2023, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a hearing on April 18, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
I have emailed the Parke County Sheriff’s Office and the Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society to inquire about the furbabies. If I get a response, I will post an update.
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office announced that on Friday, January 27, 2023, 50-years-old KELLY HATHAWAY pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty as part of a plea agreement before Judge Mary Beth Ogulewicz in Central Berkshire District Court.
Prosecutors have agreed to dismiss thirteen counts of animal cruelty as part of the plea deal reached between the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office and HATHAWAY’s defense attorney Scott Westcott.
HATHAWAY was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. According to the DA’s Office, following the plea agreement, HATHAWAY “was ordered to have a mental health evaluation and follow any after care as instructed by the court.” She is not allowed to have animals in her home while she’s on probation, or work with animals.
On January 28, 2022, fifteen cats were left and abandoned in extreme winter conditions on back roads in Richmond and Lanesborough. Two of the cats died, possibly from exposure, and another was never found. The VOICELESS VICTIMS, who were undernourished and dehydrated, ranged from the ages of five months to five years old. Eleven of the cats, four females and seven males survived after care from the Berkshire Humane Society.
Dr. Yoanna Maitre, a consulting veterinarian for Berkshire Humane Society, had checked on the cats soon after they came in and said: “They actually were overall in reasonably good condition, but they were underweighted, and they do have chronic diarrhea ... but overall, I think they're rapidly improving, and they were spared a worse fate because of how quickly they were captured and brought in here.”
The MSPCA, the Lanesborough Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police launched a joint investigation to find those responsible for the heinous act and the Berkshire Humane Society offered a $1,000 reward in exchange for information.
The investigation revealed that KELLY HATHAWAY had heartlessly and soullessly abandoned the cats. Another defendant in the case, ARTHUR W. RANEY, admitted to his involvement in knowingly driving HATHAWAY to the two locations to do so. Investigators interviewed residents along the roadway and looked at camera footage, and said the duo were caught on video driving to the area where the cats were found clustered in the road.
A press conference was held in early March 2022, to announce the identification of the two individuals involved in the case, both of Pittsfield.
According to iBerkshires.com, HATHAWAY told authorities that said her landlord had told her to remove the cats from her apartment on Union Street in Pittsfield because of the “offensive urine smell” and because the landlord was attempting to put the building on the market.
Part of the police report stated: “Not only did Hathaway and Raney abandon the cats in violation of General Laws, they did so in a severe weather event rapidly developed with extreme cold, wind, and snow.” The report goes on to say: “Two cats died and one remains missing. Without the quick response of animal welfare groups, concerned citizens, and public safety agencies, all of the cats likely would have suffered and could have died due to lack of proper shelter, protection from the weather, food, and drink.”
On February 22, 2022, the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement team filed fifteen charges against HATHAWAY and RANEY in the Central Berkshire District Court.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Aleah Fisher and Megan Rose.
This story put more than one knot in my stomach. Putting aside the cruelty side of it, how can someone get away with probation in a case as heartbreaking as this one? How can prosecutors dismiss charges in animal cruelty cases? A lot of us are fighting for animal rights but if our work is not supported by judges, lawmakers, and prosecutors, who can we rely on? Who do we rely on to give justice to the VOICELESS VICTIMS? Vigilantes?
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
