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ROBERT MICHAEL PHILLIPS JR. sentenced to 51 days in jail after 40 dogs were rescued from his home

- Ohio, USA -


On January 9, 2025, 43-year-old ROBERT MICHAEL PHILLIPS JR. (pictured), was sentenced after forty dogs were removed from his home on 7474 Kilbourne Road in Kingston Township.


It all started in April 2024 following a video that surfaced on social media showing the living conditions of the dogs. Delaware County Dog Warden Mitchell Garrett obtained a warrant from Delaware Municipal Court Judge Kyle Rohrer.


On April 7, 2024, the staff of the Delaware County Dog Shelter went to the home in question and removed forty dogs, most of them were Pitbulls or Pitbull mixes.


The poor souls were found tied with heavy chains living in mud and standing water with only blue barrels to shield them from the elements. Many of them were found to be underweight.


Mr. Garrett said it took about three hours to remove all the dogs and mentioned the assistance of the Humane Society of Delaware County, the Marion County Dog Warden’s Office, the Morrow County Humane Agent, and the nonprofit Rico Pet Recovery.


When officials arrived at the home, PHILLIPS was not present so no charges were immediately issued.


According to a press release by Jane Hawes, Director of Communications for Delaware County, Mr. Garrett stated: “Mr. Phillips has been known to us for several years. Previous visits had found only six dogs, all in good health. Complaints continued to come in, but, in recent years, no one would complete a witness statement that would enable the Dog Shelter staff to act.”


On the night of April 5, 2024, the staff of the Delaware County Dog Shelter received a statement “alleging many more dogs on the property than were previously known and that they had been observed in abusive conditions”, stated the release.

With the statement and the warrant, the team was able to enter PHILLIPS’ home.


PHILLIPS was later charged in Delaware County Municipal Court with thirty misdemeanor counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals.


On April 17, 2024, PHILLIPS failed to appear in court and a judge assigned custody of the dogs to the Delaware County Dog Shelter.


On January 9, 2025, PHILLIPS was sentenced to only fifty-one days in jail and nearly $3,000 in fines.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.


PHILLIPS’ mugshot shared from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office





ANDREA KEEN and BILLY C. KEEN arrested for hosting illegal cockfighting events on their farm

- Delaware, USA -


Delaware Animal Services (DAS), the enforcement unit within the Office of Animal Welfare, announced the arrest of 43-years-old ANDREA KEEN and her husband, 51-years-old BILLY C. KEEN (both pictured).


The couple, of Felton, were arraigned on August 18, 2023, in relation to a cockfighting incident that took place at their farm in May 2023.


According to a press release by DAS, on May 6, 2023, they received a report about an illegal cockfight in progress at a farm in the 3000 block of Sandtown Road in Felton and an animal welfare officer responded to investigate. Upon arrival, “the officer found an active cockfight taking place with a crowd of people in attendance. Attendees quickly fled the scene”, stated the press release.


DAS launched an investigation and obtained a search warrant for the property. From the investigation it emerged that husband and wife own the farm and “host illegal cockfighting events on the property.”


According to Steve Hindi, founder and president of the nonprofit SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), a team of SHARK investigators used their drones to confirm an active illegal cockfighting at the KEENS’ farm.


A sign on the property names it as Three Cedars Farm “which claims to be a training track”, said Hindi. SHARK then alerted the Delaware State Police to the criminal operation and according to Hindi, “troopers were dispatched but they were waylaid by a shooting incident that left a single unarmed Animal Services officer to try to deal with the criminals which is not a good situation.”


Hindi further said that after SHARK shared video evidence with DAS, a search warrant was obtained and executed on the morning of Tuesday, May 16, 2023.


DAS said that husband and wife were each charged with one felony count of possessing an animal for the purpose of fighting. The wife was additionally charged with a one felony count of being present for animal fighting. After their arraignment the duo were released on their own recognizance and are expected back in court on August 25, 2023, for a preliminary hearing.


With regards to the KEENS, a video published by Steve Hindi advised that according to public records, “the owner of the property is a woman that has been employed by the Delaware department of Education since January 2022, as an Instructional Support Technician. Prior to her job at the Department of Education the property owner worked at the Delaware division of Public Health as a Clinic Manager. The division of Health includes ironically Animal Services. The property owner’s husband worked for the state of Delaware as a Department of Transportation Maintenance Area Supervisor.”


DAS ask anyone with information concerning this case to contact them at (302) - 255 - 4646. All tips may remain confidential.


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.



The KEENS’ mugshots shared from Delaware Animal Services.


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SYNIAH PERCELL wanted by the Newark Police Department for animal cruelty

Updated: May 12, 2023

- Delaware, USA -


~ Update: May 12, 2023


The Newark Police Department announced that SYNIAH PERCELL turned herself in to Newark PD on May 9, 2023, and was charged with one count of felony Cruelty to Animals.

Police said in a brief news release that PERCELL "appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #2 by video". Unbelievably, PERCELL was released on her own recognizance.

Online records show that PERCELL’s preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at New Castle County Court of Common Pleas at 8:30 a.m.



~ Update: May 4, 2023


It is with a broken heart that I have to report the passing of Benji, the furbaby savagely abused by SYNIAH PERCELL.

Please, if you see SYNIAH PERCELL, do the right thing and alert Delaware authorities.

Thank you!



~ Original story:


According to a press release by the Newark Police Department, on the afternoon of Saturday, April 29, 2023, officers responded to an apartment in the 100-block of Thorn Lane for a report of an injured dog.


From an investigation it emerged that the day before, the apartment resident, Ny'ashia Harris, left her friend, 25-years-old SYNIAH PERCELL (pictured), with her dog while she was out.


When Ms. Harris returned, she noticed that her dog, a 1-year-old 5-pound Yorkie puppy named Benji, was acting strangely, walking oddly and had a bruise on his stomach.


Benji was taken to a veterinarian where it was determined that he had “suffered from severe injuries.”


Home surveillance camera footage captured PERCELL throwing, beating, and choking Benji.


According to CBS, Ms. Harris said she left Benji with PERCELL, a longtime friend, when she went to work while PERCELL was staying with her for the week.

Police said PERCELL is from Marietta, Georgia.


“I really trusted this girl. This was somebody I thought was family, we were so close,” Ms. Harris told CBS.


On April 29, an arrest warrant was issued by Justice of the Peace Court charging PERCELL with one count of felony Cruelty to Animals.


Benji remains hospitalized and is undergoing round-the-clock care for the injuries he sustained as a result of the abuse.

Ms. Harris said: “He is fighting for his life.” She set up an online fundraiser to get help towards Benji’s medical care. At the time of this writing, 461 donations raised $7,684.


Ms. Harris told CBS: “I want to make sure that everybody knows who she is, what she did, I want to hold her fully accountable.”


Let’s find her and let’s make sure she faces the legal consequences of her heinous crime.


Anyone with information about PERCELL’s whereabouts is asked to contact Cpl D. Faulk at (302) - 366 - 7100 x. 3492 or dfaulk@newark.de.us. Thank you!


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.



PERCELL’s picture was shared from Newark Police.


Benji’s pictures were shared from GoFundMe and Ms. Harris’ Facebook account.





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