SAMANTHA RAE O’HARA arrested after dead, sick, and malnourished animals were found in her apartment

- Idaho, USA -

On the evening of Tuesday, October 11, 2022, several animals were removed from a Coeur d’Alene apartment and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department charged 30-years-old SAMANTHA RAE O’HARA (pictured), with twenty misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of injury to a child.

Police responded to O’HARA’s apartment on Tuesday for a welfare check; the animals were found to be living in unsanitary conditions, and conditions inside the apartment were poor.

CDA Press reports that police said the “unbearable” smell of urine, feces, and rot, made it hard for officers to breathe and their eyes were also burning.

Officials found approximately a hundred rodents who were being kept in cages, twelve cats and kittens, seven dogs, a rabbit, and many reptiles including ball pythons, bearded dragons, geckos, and turtles.

An algae-coated tank was found full of deceased fish and dead reptiles were also discovered.

According to CDA Press: “Police said the cats and dogs appeared malnourished and several were clearly sick. Living in their own filth, some animals were locked in crates or kept in rooms without food, water or human interaction. In one crate, some of the cats had been eating the body of a dead pet.”

The Kootenai Humane Society is now caring for the cats, the dogs and the rabbit.

The rodents have been placed in foster care, while many reptiles were left at the apartment to be cared for by a third party. Animal Control will follow up on their condition.

A second suspect in the case told police that he and O’HARA took the animals from “bad homes” and the situation became overwhelming.

Police have not revealed the identity of the second suspect and have not yet filed charges against him.

In the apartment authorities also found a child who was placed in the care of family.

O’HARA was placed under arrest and the following day at her first court appearance she pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Online arrest records show that O’HARA was released after posting a $300 bail.

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

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#animalcruelty #crueldadanimal #cruautéanimale #tierquälerei #animalslivesmatter #deathpenaltyforanimalabusers #sickanimals #malnourishedanimals #idaho

Sources:

CDA Press – October 13, 2022 - KHS takes in seized animals

CDA Press - October 13, 2022 - Woman charged with animal cruelty

Identity of male caught on doorbell camera repeatedly hitting his dog withheld by police

- Idaho, USA -

On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 10, 2022, the Caldwell Police Department held a press conference to discuss an investigation into a recent dog abuse case that was caught by a doorbell camera.

The incident happened on Saturday, August 6, between 1020 and 1030 N 7th Avenue in Caldwell.

The person whose doorbell camera captured the incident, posted the video on the social networking site Nextdoor. The distressing video shows a male repeatedly hitting a dog.

According to a press release by the Caldwell Police Department, on Saturday afternoon, Canyon County Dispatch received a report of a possible animal cruelty in Caldwell. The caller said he heard a dog “yelping” outside and saw a man hitting his dog in front of the home. The caller also said by the time he looked outside, a male was already walking away. The caller added that whole incident had been recorded on his doorbell camera.

Responding officers were unable to locate the suspect or the reporting party; however, a report was generated.

The video in question, was later forwarded to Caldwell Police on Monday, August 8.

Police said that on the same day, a Caldwell resident in his 20's called Canyon County Dispatch and identified himself as the male in the video prompting Caldwell Police Animal Control personnel to respond to his residence.

According to KTVB, the male told officers that on the day of the incident, “he was frustrated with the dog that day was because the dog had gotten out of his yard and he was running late for work.”

According to the initial news release, an Animal Control Officer examined the dog and did not find apparent signs of injury or indications of suffering. The officer said the dog was not afraid of his/her guardian, so the victim was left with his/her abuser.

Police said: “The dog's owner was cooperative with investigators and this case is currently being investigated for possible criminal charges in conjunction with the County Prosecutor's Office.”

At first, no criminal charges were issued and the animal control officer gave the abuser a citation for not having his dog up to date on his/her rabies vaccination or having a dog license.

On August 9, the Caldwell Police Department released an update on the case and said: “

On August 9, 2022 Caldwell police officers took possession of the dog that was part of an ongoing investigation of animal cruelty, and are continuing to work in conjunction with Canyon County Prosecutor Attorney’s office. At this time, the owner has not been arrested.”

The abuser has not been arrested and according to KTVB, “A meeting was later held between the prosecutor's office and police where it was decided the owner would receive an additional citation for animal cruelty, a misdemeanor.”

An investigation into the incident is still ongoing, in conjunction with the Canyon County Prosecutor Attorney's office.

East Idaho News reports that the VOICELESS VICTIM “taken to West Valley Humane Society.”

So, the scum who took out his frustration on a defenseless dog unable to report the abuse inflicted upon him/her, has not been arrested and his identity is being protected.

The police said this is “Due to the highly publicized and emotional nature of this incident, names and personal information have been withheld from public release.”

I don’t understand how we can possibly put an end to animal cruelty unless we expose ALL aspects, information, and details of ALL cases!!!!

Why is this case any different from all the other animal cruelty cases?

Furthermore, I want to tell the abuser, the dog got away because you probably did a lousy job at keeping an eye on him/her! In fact, YOU deserve to be repeatedly hit.

What if the furbaby had been hit by a car? Then the title would have been: “Unsupervised dog gets away from home and gets hit by a vehicle.”

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

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#animalcruelty #animalslivesmatter #dogabused #doghit #doorbellcamera #canyoncounty #caldwell #idaho

Additional Source:

Idaho Statesman - August 10, 2022