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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Jul 43 min read

SHELTON CORNELIUS OWENS JR arrested –Two dead dogs and a mistreated puppy found at a Bay County home

- Florida, USA -

 

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old SHELTON CORNELIUS OWENS JR (pictured).

 

According to the arrest report obtained by Voice For Us, on June 25, 2024, a deputy responded to a property on 6722 W Smith Road in Panama City to investigate an animal complaint call.

 

Upon arrival, the deputy saw a “mistreated puppy” who was “chained to a tree outside of the residence.” The deputy reported that the puppy appeared to be very skittish and did not have any available food or water. Additionally, the deputy noticed minor injuries on the puppy's ears which appeared to be from the restraints.

 

The deputy knocked on the door and was able to make contact with OWENS.

 

OWENS told the deputy he had three dogs; a 6-month-old puppy whom the deputy saw chained outside, and two Pitbulls.

 

The deputy and OWENS walked to the back of the residence and the deputy saw the two Pitbulls “laying chained up in a fenced enclosure.”

 

According to the report, the enclosure had a blue tarp which was ripped and worn and was not providing shade from the sun. There were two broken dog houses, empty bowls, and there was no sign of food or water.

 

Sadly, both Pitbulls were found lifeless.

 

OWENS was placed under arrest and he stated that he takes good care of his dogs and had no idea how this happened. He claimed he gave the dogs food and water every day.

 

OWENS took such good care of the dogs that he was “unable to provide a definite time as to when he last saw the dogs alive.”

 

The deputy later made contact with the complainant and learned that all three dogs  never went inside the home and stayed chained outside the whole time. The complainant added they rarely saw OWENS checking on the dogs and estimated that happened roughly once or twice a month. According to the complainant, the tarp had been ripped and unusable for several months.

 

The report stated that the complainant had previously alerted Bay County Animal Control to the situation but no one responded. The complainant had been so concerned for the dogs’ well-being that they have given water to the dogs and have checked on them .

 

OWENS was transported to the Bay County Jail and booked on two counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of animal cruelty.

 

On June 26, 2024, OWENS had his bond hearing and was given a pre-trial release bond. The judge set the condition to not have any animals.

 

OWENS is expected back in court on August 15, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

All Court appearances will be in the Bay County Courthouse on 300 East 4th Street in Panama City.

 

I truly apologize for not having all the information I wanted to give you on the Voiceless Victims but I have been sitting on this story for a week waiting for responses. I will continue to send out emails and if someone gets back to me, I will post an update.

 

I took the liberty of naming the deceased furvictims Blossom and Dew for the tribute image.

 

# # #

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the arrest report obtained by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should such sources report an update.

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.

 

 

OWENS’ mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office



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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Jun 244 min read

CHEEYANA VANEUS arrested – She cruelly neglected a dog to the point that she had to be euthanized

Updated: Oct 20

- Florida, USA -

 

~ Update: June 25, 2024

 

Broward County Animal Division tells me that Ruby was only 4 months old and provided me with her picture.

 

~ Original story:


The Plantation Police Department arrested 35-year-old CHEEYANA VANEUS (pictured).

 

In a media release, police date the incident that led to VANEUS’ arrest back to April 22, 2024, when Broward County Animal Control (BCAC) was alerted to a dog inside a garage who “appeared injured and very sick.”

 

A maintenance worker noticed the dog at VANEUS’ home in the 10800 block of Northwest Eighth Court and contacted BCAC.

 

According to the affidavit, ACO Southwick responded to the scene and saw an open garage door with a dog laying inside. Court documents identified the furvictim as a Plott Hound Labrador mix named Ruby.

 

The Officer reported that “...the dog did not move” and was “unable to walk or stand up.” Officer Southwick also noted that Ruby’s back legs had visible injuries with the left one significantly swollen. Due to her condition, Ruby wasn’t able to reach the food bowl on the step above her.

 

A woman approached Officer Southwick and explained that her daughter VANEUS was Ruby’s guardian. The woman stated that Ruby had been injured two-three days prior and that her daughter had “not made any efforts to obtain medical treatment or other assistance for the dog.” The woman also said Ruby refused to eat for “being in pain.” She gave Officer Southwick VANEUS’ phone number.

 

Officer Southwick was able to make contact with VANEUS who said that Ruby had a veterinary appointment at the VCA Central Park Animal Hospital later that day at 6:00 p.m.

When Officer Southwick called the hospital to verify Ruby’s appointment, she was told that there was no appointment booked for Ruby. At that point, the officer called VANEUS back and confronted her about that.

VANEUS told Officer Southwick that Ruby was not hers and that her guardian was her “partner”, Jasmine Grant.

 

Officer Southwick emphasized that she was also a responsible party and stressed that Ruby needed immediate animal care. VANEUS agreed to meet with Officer Southwick at the VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital and Officer Southwick made her way there with Ruby. VANEUS never showed up. Officer Southwick left Ruby with staff, gave them VANEUS’ phone number and left.

 

The following day, April 23, 2024, ACO Castro went to the hospital to check on Ruby’s status and asked staff whether VANEUS had called to check on Ruby.

Staff told her that no one called and no one showed up. At that point Officer Castro called VANEUS and asked her whether she was coming to the hospital to pick up Ruby. VANEUS said she and “Jasmine” would go later to pick up Ruby. As Officer Castro was about to give VANEUS the hospital address, the call got disconnected so she tried to call VANEUS back but her several attempts were unsuccessful. Officer Castro left a voicemail to let VANEUS know that she was going to take Ruby to the Broward County Animal Care facility to be seen by a county veterinarian.

 

According to the affidavit, no one showed up to pick up Ruby or to face her medical care expenses.

 

Meanwhile, Officer Southwick returned to VANEUS’ home to give an update on Ruby but no one opened the door. She left a message to advise that Ruby’s legs had been x-rayed and were found to be broken. While on the scene posting the notice, a woman showed up and identified herself as the resident of the home. She told Officer Southwick that Jasmine, VANEUS, and her mother were family members but denied that they lived there. She said they were just visiting with the dog, and that she told them to leave and stay in a hotel.

 

On April 30, 2024, Animal Control officers met with Dr. Shapiro who had handled Ruby’s case. He explained that Ruby’s injuries had occurred one-three weeks before Ruby was brought to him. He went on to say that Ruby’s injuries were severe and gave a poor diagnosis for her recovery. Sadly, Ruby was euthanized to end her PREVENTABLE suffering. Dr. Shapiro said Ruby was experiencing constant pain.

 

On May 5, 2024, Officer Southwick returned to the home where she hoped to find VANEUS and she was joined by Officer Fish. VANEUS opened the door and said she was aware they were investigating Ruby’s condition. VANEUS agreed to give a statement which had a lot of inconsistencies. It turned out that VANEUS made up “Jasmine Grant.” As stated in the affidavit, “It appears that this is a fictional person created by the Defendant to avoid responsibility for Ruby.”                                                                          

 

VANEUS was arrested on June 20, 2024, and charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty.

 

At the time of writing, arrest records show that she is no longer in custody.

 

# # #

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Plantation Police Department and court documents. 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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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Jun 203 min read

NIKKI CAMERLENGO, owner of Pawsitively Paradise, arrested following probe into deaths of dogs

Updated: Oct 20

- Florida, USA -

 

The owner of Pawsitively Paradise, a dog training facility in Palm City, Martin County, was arrested after an investigation into the deaths of multiple dogs entrusted into her care.

 

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that 35-year-old NIKKI CAMERLENGO (pictured), was taken into custody on June 19, 2024, in Ft. Pierce and therefore she was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail.


CAMERLENGO has been charged with one felony count of animal cruelty in connection with the latest dog who died in her care at the facility. The furvictim, a 2-year-old Cavapoo puppy named Beau, died in March 2024.

 

The sheriff’s office also mentioned a 15-year-old Goldendoodle named Flurie and a 2-year-old Flat Coat Retriever name Mako who suddenly died while “in the sole care” of CAMERLENGO “at different times for training, boarding, or grooming.” As stated in the release, “All of the dogs were in good health prior to being taken to Pawsitively Paradise.”

 

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office opened a criminal investigation and Detective Christine Polizzi spent weeks trying to determine why Beau, Flurie, and Mako suddenly died without explanation.

 

Detective Polizzi worked closely with ASPCA forensic experts at labs in Florida as well as a lab in Texas where the remains of Beau and Flurie were sent to be examined.

 

The results of the necropsy performed on Beau revealed that “Beau’s injuries were severe and included blows to the neck, chest, belly, and private areas causing hemorrhaging to the brain.”

 

“Flurie also died from acute hemorrhaging of the brain.”

 

Mako’s family arranged for a private necropsy to be performed on him. Mako mysteriously died in 2022, and results showed that he drowned on his own vomit.

 

“Forensic experts revealed that the dogs did not die quickly, instead they succumbed to long and painful deaths”, stated the release.

 

After the Martin County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation, CAMERLENGO moved her business to Ft. Pierce, where she was located and arrested.

 

According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, after investigative reports into CAMERLENGO surfaced, multiple other reports came to light involving dogs who mysteriously died or became severely injured while in CAMERLEGO’s care.

 

Most of the furvictims were under 4 years old. Unfortunately, some of the dogs were cremated, others date back several years, and the deaths of others were not reported. This means that in lack of medical records, the deaths of these Innocent Souls could not be included in the investigation.

 

CAMERLENGO was released the same day of her arrest after posting bail. A Martin County judge ordered that she not possess or be responsible for any animals until further order of the court. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said that additional charges are expected.

 

# # #

 

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