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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Feb 10, 20232 min read

MICHELLE LEE MCCULLOUGH-STUMP and MICHAEL RAY MCCULLOUGH facing eleven counts of animal cruelty

- West Virginia, USA -


On Friday, February 3, 2023, deputies with the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department received a call of animal cruelty at a property on West Virginia Highway 47 West in Gilmer County.


Upon arrival, deputies spoke with 32-years-old MICHELLE LEE MCCULLOUGH-STUMP (pictured), who said that she had four adult dogs and seven puppies. She also said one puppy had died. During the conversation, MCCULLOUGH-STUMP “admitted that she or her husband had not paid any dog taxes and could not provide proof of rabies shots.” MCCULLOUGH-STUMP went on to say that due to a previous conviction for cruelty to animals in Ritchie County she “had a few more years before she could have animals.”


Deputies advised MCCULLOUGH-STUMP that the dogs would need to be removed and that “she could feed them but she could not move them from the residence or relocate them.”


Three days later, the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department received another complaint regarding the dogs at MCCULLOUGH-STUMP’s residence so they returned to the property and spoke with her and her husband, 30-years-old MICHAEL RAY MCCULLOUGH (also pictured).


The couple allowed deputies to check on the dogs who were inside the property and deputies reported that “the residence was completely covered inside and out with trash,” and that the “urine and ammonia smell was overbearing.” Deputies further reported that the property did not have running water, electricity, and there was no heat.


Deputies found one male dog in a cage and a female dog with five puppies in a bathroom. The female dog was “severely malnourished and was skin and bones.”


Deputies then asked the couple where the other dogs were. They first showed deputies one deceased puppy and then stated that two other dogs had died and had been buried out back. When deputies went to the backyard, they noted “the soil had not been disturbed,” so they asked the couple why they were lying.

To that, the couple answered that “they had an aunt from Parkersburg to come get the two dogs”… “to keep from losing them.”


MCCULLOUGH-STUMP and MCCULLOUGH, both of Troy, were arrested and charged with eleven counts of cruelty to animals, four counts of failure to register dogs, four counts of failure to vaccine dogs, two counts of disposal with no receipts, a single count of open dumping, littering, and obstructing officers.

MCCULLOUGH-STUMP was additionally charged with eleven counts of possession of animals after conviction.

Online records show that both MCCULLOUGH-STUMP and MCCULLOUGH are being held in Central Regional Jail. MCCULLOUGH-STUMP on a $100,000 bond, and MCCULLOUGH on a $80,500 bond.


I have emailed the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department and requested additional information about the dogs. If I receive a response, I will post an update.


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.



Arrestees’ mugshots shared from the WV Regional Jail & Correctional Facility.



Sources:




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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Jan 10, 20232 min read

LUKE MATTHEW MASTERS arrested for kicking and punching a dog

- West Virginia, USA -



~ Update: January 10, 2023


The Fairmont Police Department kindly responded to my email and I am now able to add a few details to the story.


The VOICELESS VICTIM is a 9-month-old Lab mix named Luna and Police provided me with her picture.

MASTERS’ relatives told police he was Luna’s guardian.


The day MASTERS was arrested, Marion County Animal Control responded to the scene and took custody of the furbaby.

Part of the officer’s narrative emailed to me read: “While inspecting the dog for any apparent wounds I observed where the white of the dog's eyes were red. I took photographs of the dog and the redness within its eye, these photos will be attached. After seeing the abnormal red color in the dog's eyes I took the dog out to my patrol car and transported her to xxxxxxxxxxx to have the dog evaluated. Upon arrival I made contact with the medical staff at the clinic and advised them of the situation. The doctor evaluated the dog and had stated that she observed inflammation/faint bruising in both of the dog's eyes. I asked the Veterinarian what the redness would be caused from to which she sated that it was caused by either blunt force trauma or an infection within the eyes. The Veterinarian stated that based on the time line of events it is very likely that the inflammation/bruising was caused by abuse.”


I have also inquired about MASTERS’ arraignment and learned he was arraigned and a $3,000 bond was set by magistrate. Police further told me that MASTERS is requesting a bond reduction. I will try again to access his court records and gather more information.




~ Original story:


The Fairmont Police Department arrested 22-years-old LUKE MATTHEW MASTERS (pictured), of Mannington, for beating and kicking a defenseless dog.


On January 7, 2023, officers responded to an animal abuse complaint at a home in Fairmont, Marion County and learned that MASTERS had punched a black Labrador Retriever in the head and had kicked the furbaby “in the guts” multiple times over a four-day period.


From an initial investigation it further emerged that at one point MASTERS had also pinned the VOICELESS VICTIM to the floor with his foot to the dog’s head.


Police said that while officers were on the scene, the furbaby was “shaking non-stop, put its paw up in fear of being struck, and had a redness in the white of its eyes.”


The veterinarian who examined the dog told police that the furbaby had “inflammation/faint bruising on both eyes caused by blunt force trauma to its head or an infection which is why the dog’s eyes were red.”


Police have not disclosed details about the dog’s well-being.


MASTERS has been charged with cruelty to animals and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail.


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.



MASTERS’ mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Fairmont Police Department.



Additional Sources:




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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Dec 17, 20222 min read

JEREMY TODD SMALLWOOD arrested for shooting six puppies in the head and throwing them off a cliff

- West Virginia, USA -


Six innocent puppies were shot in the head with a pellet rifle multiple times and then thrown off a cliff. The devastating aftermath is four of them were taken to the Webster County Animal Shelter to be euthanized due to the injuries they sustained. Two others were taken to the Nicholas County Animal Hospital in hopes of treatment but one of the two died. Another puppy remains in critical condition.


40-years-old JEREMY TODD SMALLWOOD (pictured) is the soulless and heartless individual responsible for taking those precious lives!


On the afternoon of Wednesday, December 14, 2022, two people called the Webster County Sheriff’s Office to report that their neighbor’s dogs injured and killed their chickens.


Deputies responded to a home in the 100 block of Brewster Ridge Road in Cowen and spoke with the reporting parties.

At the scene, deputies found one dead chicken and multiple others with chunks of flesh and feathers missing along with the fence being torn down where the dogs entered the chicken yard.


One of the two callers told deputies that SMALLWOOD went to her home during the attack and said he was going to kill the dogs and after he put the puppies in his truck, he left.


Deputies then left to go search for SMALLWOOD and when they located him, they pulled him over on Williams River Road. SMALLWOOD told deputies his dogs had killed the neighbor’s chickens so he took them to get rid of them. Deputies noticed a pellet rifle in the vehicle and asked SMALLWOOD where the dogs were. He said the dogs were “taken care of.”

Inside SMALLWOOD’s truck were two children and they told deputies that the puppies had been shot and “put over the hill.”


West Virginia State Police Troopers joined officers in searching for the puppies and on Bishop Knob Road they “could hear what sounded like dogs yelping.”


At the edge of the cliff, authorities saw three dogs about 60 feet below. Officials were able to find a way over the embankment and found six puppies, three-to-four months old, yelling and whimpering. Each puppy had been shot in the head.


Officers called for the dog warden to transport the VOICELESS VICTIMS but as we sadly read at the beginning, only one is alive but in critical condition.


SMALLWOOD is charged with six counts of cruelty to animals and online records show that he is being held at Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility on a $100,000 cash-only bond.


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.




Sources:




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