Author: J. Jeffrey Holland

Hudson resident, Dowdell, guilty of animal neglect

State v. Howard Dowdell, a case we prosecuted for the Humane Society of Greater Akron. Dowdell was found guilty of 3 counts of companion animal cruelty in a case alleging neglect of 6 dogs in his care. The veterinary report noted dogs that were very thin, dehydrated and/or infested with whipworms and hookworms. One stool…

Skinny Little Buddies President convicted of animal cruelty

State v. Vicki Cornell, a case we helped prosecute for the Williams County Humane Society, co-counseling with the Bryan City Prosecutor’s Office. Cornell was found guilty of 24 counts of companion animal cruelty relating to 48 dogs kept on her residential property in Edon, Ohio.  All were allegations of severe neglect.  Some animals were extremely…

Ohio Animal Cruelty Law seminar in Canfield

Angels for Animals is presenting a seminar: “Animal Cruelty in Ohio, 2014” in Canfield, Ohio on Friday, May 16, 2014, starting at 9 a.m.   Attorney Jeff Holland, who has prosecuted animal cruelty cases for 23 years, will be the presenter. The course is open to law enforcement officers, including humane agents, attorneys and others interested…

Dog found hanging from car by its leash in Brunswick

State v. Nathan Vapenik, a case we prosecuted for the Medina County SPCA, jointly investigated with Brunswick Animal Control. Defendant was found guilty of two counts of companion animal cruelty for keeping two emaciated, dehydrated dogs in his car.  He tied their leashes to the steering wheel, and left the windows cracked open.  The dogs…

Dog neglect in Lake County

State v. Marcus Ranson, a case we prosecuted in the Painesville Municipal Court for the Lake Humane Society. Ranson was found guilty of two counts of companion animal cruelty regarding two dogs. Both were assessed as Body Condition Score 1. Both were surrendered to the Lake Humane Society, and have fully recovered. Ranson is prohibited from…

Guilty verdict in kitten abandonment case, Ashland, Ohio

State v. Joyce Amos, a case investigated by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Department and the Ashland County Humane Society.  Defendant was convicted after trial of abandoning a 5 week old kitten by a dumpster at a veterinarian’s office. Amos was seen at rear of the building after hours putting a live animal trap in her…

Pellet gun dog shooter convicted in Brunswick

State v. David Scott, a case we prosecuted for the Brunswick Hills Police Department. David Scott shot and killed a dog named Patches with a pellet gun. Patches was trespassing on his property, but the dog was at least 60 feet away from him and was in the act of departing the property. Scott claims that…

Barberton man convicted of starving dogs

State v. Mark Grizer, a case we prosecuted for the Humane Society of Greater Akron was resolved today.  Grizer was convicted of two counts of companion animal cruelty for allowing two of his dogs to become emaciated.  The animals were found in filthy conditions.  Grizer surrendered the dogs, who have been rehabilitated and are both…

Geauga Humane Society tracks down horse neglect offenders living in Kansas

State v. Jessica Barclay; State v. Kelly Barclay Two cases we prosecuted for the Geauga County Humane Society. Both were found guilty of three counts of animal cruelty after an investigation of neglect of 6 horses. The Humane Society successfully pursued this case despite the fact that the Defendants moved to Kansas.