Sunday Round-UP

If you lost a Grey Donkey please let me know. This way I can thank you for giving me something to get off the highway for three hours on Sunday. Seriously you saved me from watching the Cowboys loose yet another game.

Monday Mayday

Don't know why, but I still get surprised at how many departments can be involved in something for no apparent reason. This call came in as a dead rabbit pickup up. Before I was called, the Police, Home Owners Association President, Fire department and my boss we all called to figure out what to do. Obviously this rabbit had been in the front yard for a long time before anybody decided to call in the first place. I was also asked to put a rush on this even though I had live animals in need of service waiting on me.

Maybe not fun to have in your yard, but seriously folks, your kitchen table looks worse after your family eats a bucket of KFC.

Never Know What People Will Say To Me

Me: Your dog is getting loose.
Her: But Officer, there is no way it is mine. My dog can't get out of the yard.
I stood and looked at her and all I could think was, man, I wish I had a taser.

No Good Deed Goes Un-Punished

This poor guy stopped where I work to try and catch a chihuahua running across a busy street. The good news is the dog is fine. The pictures tell the bad news.

Volunteer Animal Control Officer

It is the time of year when we start receiving reports of dogs left inside a parked car. With the high temperatures we get in Texas this can sometimes become a huge threat for an animal. By the time I arrive to something like this outside temperatures as well as the tempers of people have usually risen.I always try and act professional with people when I respond to any call, but it was nice to find this from some caring volunteer on the window of a car.

Eyewitness

You can find all types of research and opinions about eyewitness reports online.You can read up on the subject and create a dissertation . I will save you some time and trouble.

I spoke with a lady who still believes this is an injured dog laying on the side of the road that was hit by a car. She saw it at the location and it is a dog to her. Besides from what she says she sees, she did not appear to be under the influence of any type of substance.

Who would dumb a puppy?

Found this girl today like this tied to a fence. She was left on someone elses fence. Where she is at, is not the owner of the dog. Basicaly, someone decided since this house had other dogs in the backyard they would adopt the dog. Whoever you are who did this, you are an Idiot!

Paladin's Hat Cam

An interesting post from Paladin

Check out the whole post at

http://thereluctantpaladin.blogspot.com/2010/05/fear-draws-aggression.html

Gator vs Police

Glad I am 5 hours away from where this happened. If it was here, it would have been dispatched to me. Alone with the Gator on the highway.

Texas Rat Snake

I was talking to my brother about snakes over the weekend, when he told me he has never seen a Texas Rat Snake. He does not live in Texas. I come across the snakes all the time in the spring and as luck would have it I found this one today. Granted, it is somewhat larger than most of the ones I find. I took theses pictures when I was releasing it back out into the wild.

I did everything I could to educate the person where I picked up the snake that it was not a Rattlesnake, but he never believed me. I even held the snake and showed him it moved like a Rattler but it does not have a rattle. He never changed his mind though.






This one is blurred because I was quickly moving away from him. He was tired of me messing with him and became camera aggressive.

Scum gets Life

Follow up from my Scum Post on 4-1-10

A central Texas jury has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the 2007 murder of an animal control officer.
A McLennan County jury in Waco deliberated for a half-hour Monday before returning the maximum punishment for 33-year-old Jerry Mack Newland of Elm Mott. The jury had deliberated about two hours earlier in the day before finding Newland guilty in the June 2007 shooting of 47-year-old Bellmead animal control officer Bobby Dean Evans.

Scum

It is not often I wish a death sentence on someone, but in this case it is all I hope for. This Animal Control Officer went to work and never came home just so this scum could kill someone and get supplies to make drugs.

My prayers are with the Evans Family. I can't not fathom the strength it must take to have to hear about and relive this all over again.

Here is the current news story

A fluke glance in the rearview mirror as Bellmead Police Lt. Anita Davenport was trying to get her police truck unstuck uncovered what authorities said was an important clue in the murder case of Bobby Evans.

Davenport was among a dozen witnesses prosecutors Edward Vallejo and Lytza Rojas called Tuesday to set the murder scene for the jury of eight women and four men and to recount the often-frustrating seven-month investigation that led authorities into the world of drug manufacturing.

Three-time felon Jerry Mack Newland, 33, of Elm Mott, is on trial for murder in Waco’s 54th State District Court in the June 18, 2007, shooting death of 47-year-old Evans, Bellmead’s animal control officer and a volunteer firefighter.

Newland listens to testimony in his murder trial with one of his attorneys, Abby Allford. " title="Jerry Mack Newland listens to testimony in his murder trial with one of his attorneys, Abby Allford. " border="0">
Jerry Mack Newland listens to testimony in his murder trial with one of his attorneys, Abby Allford.
Duane A. Laverty/Waco Tribune-Herald

Despite the many witnesses, crime-scene photos and pathology reports, no witnesses called Tuesday or evidence found at the crime scene linked Newland to Evans’ slaying.

Defense attorney Walter M. Reaves Jr. told the jury during opening statements that the evidence “just isn’t there” to support a conviction.

A pathologist testified Tuesday that Evans, who was found lying facedown just inside the door to the remote animal shelter off Pecan Lane, was shot once in the chest, three times in the back and once in the back of the left forearm.

Gruesome discovery

James Karl, Bellmead director of public safety, and Scott Curry, the city’s former fire marshal, said they became concerned about 9:30 a.m. because Evans had failed to respond to repeated radio and cell phone calls.

Karl testified that he drove to the animal shelter to check on Evans and found his body.

Stunned, Karl said, he called for help but quickly realized that Evans was beyond medical rescue.

Bellmead police officials called in Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety crime labs from Waco and Austin, and other agencies to assist them at the murder scene, Karl said.

Steve Foster, who retired as a Texas Ranger three months after Evans’ death, said he walked the area surrounding the animal shelter, which was an overgrown former softball complex, and found some boot prints in the soil behind the shelter that had been moistened by the previous night’s rains.

A clue spotted

As many of the investigators who had spent the day searching for evidence began to pack up and leave, Davenport’s vehicle got stuck in a muddy ditch, and the officers had to wait to exit the gate.

Davenport said she spotted in her rearview mirror a green, military duffel bag that had been stashed in a wooded area near the gate about 15 yards off Pecan Lane.

“We probably would not have found that duffel bag had it not been for her vehicle getting stuck in the mud,” said Foster, who is now police chief in McGregor.

Foster said the bag contained a 30-gallon tank with anhydrous ammonia in it, along with tubing and a nozzle, all items the former Ranger said are associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The bag was not wet from the rain, indicating to investigators that it had been placed there earlier that morning and possibly had something to do with Evans’ slaying.

Authorities have said they think Evans possibly drove up and saw Newland and his co-defendant, James Terry Ramirez, with the drug-cooking gear.

And authorities said they think Evans was killed because the men wanted to keep him from reporting them.

Ramirez, 45, of Bellmead, is set for trial April 12.

Long investigation

In other testimony Tuesday, Bellmead police Detective Louisa Nunez said she followed about 30 leads during the seven-month investigation, adding she asked for the assistance of a federal and state task force to help on the case after it grew cold.

Three months after Evans’ death, she said, Bellmead police removed a piece of barbed wire from a fence near the animal shelter after a woman reported that she had a “vision” that police would find DNA from two suspects on the wire. The tip did not prove fruitful, she said.

Prosecution testimony will resume at 8:30 a.m. today.

twitherspoon@wacotrib.com

Low-Life

"Thoses who Fight monsters should take care that in the process they do not become monsters. When you gaze long into the Abyss, the Abyss gazes into you" Nietzsche.

This is a man who was paid to protect against and investigate Animal Cruelty.

So my first idiot award of 2010 goes to EX Animal Control Officer Alonzo Esco of Mississippi. It was discovered in January he would pick up stray dogs and, instead of going to the shelter, he would stop at a creek, shoot and then dump the dogs. Some of the stories have stated he confessed he "was too lazy to drive them to the shelter".

The police have discovered hundreds of Dogs shoot and dumped in the creek. He has been charged with multiple Misdemeanor charges.

This dirt bag not only killed owned dogs but made all of Animal Control look like idiots.

Killer Raccoon

Raccoon
Originally uploaded by cwnannwnonpatrol1

Saturday, Sunday, Monday and thank God I got it away by Tuesday. A man has called into my office 7 times because he and his family were afraid this monster was going to hurt them. I guess I saved the day by picking him up and taking him to a creek area. Now the man and his family are safe... for now.

The joy of the job

When a police officer gets shot on the job it makes national news. ( as it should) Sadly many people in my job are assaulted everyday but know one really hears about it. Below I posted the whole story because I believe it deserves to be shared.

I don't carry or have the authority for a gun on the job. The weapon I have is a baton and my feet for running. I often hope I can out run a bad guy or run one over with my truck.

December 2, 2009
Update: Baltimore animal control officer shot on job
Peter Hermann of our Baltimore Crime Beat blog has this update about the city animal control officer shot last night while trying to help a dog:
A 37-year-old animal control officer was shot and wounded Tuesday night shortly after he had investigated a report that dogs were being kept illegally in a South Baltimore house and after he had seized a dog from a house in a separate call at another location, according to city officials.
Jermaine Barnes, who has been on the job four years, was treated at Maryland Shock Trauma Center for a gunshot wound to his hand and released. Mayor Sheila Dixon visited him while he was at the hospital.
Police haven’t made any arrests, but the city’s chief police spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said detectives “are trying to figure out if it was related to the course of his duty or if it was random gunfire.”
Interim Health Commissioner Olivia D. Farrow issued a statement saying that Barnes had seized an animal from a house and then, about 7 p.m., had responded to an anonymous call that someone was keeping five dogs in a house in the 700 block of Pontiac Ave. in Brooklyn. City code requires anyone having two or more dogs have a kennel license.
But Barnes found no dogs at the address and drove around to the 800 block of E. Patapsco Ave. “and was filling out paperwork when he was shot.” Police said the driver’s side window was shattered and that Barnes was hit in the hand.
Authorities did not divulge other details about the call on Pontiac Ave. or say whether anyone was home or whether Barnes had spoken to anyone. But Farrow’s statement says that “officers undergo customer service training on how to mediate disputes and avoid physical confrontations.”
The statement added, “It is a dangerous job, but a necessary one in order to protect public welfare” by ensuring that pets are properly vaccinated, dangerous animals are caught and hurt or endangered animals are rescued.
Bob Anderson, director of the city’s Bureau of Animal Control, refused to comment.

New Idiot Award

Recently I have been trying to keep away from work related posts and just have fun with the blog. The reason is I have been trying to detach from work and do and think about other things. However, after closing this case out and two weeks have gone by I have to share it.

Dog owner "I don't know whats wrong with my dog"
Me- "Try feeding him some time you stupid f%#@K!"

I am happy to report after daily food and water the dog is doing much better.

Car Jacked

Found this story while reading Animals Behaving Badly's Blog. I had to share it for those of you who do not look at the blog. The only comment I have is it cracked me up, but would scare me to death to have to run the call.

The young bear that got trapped in a car near Florrisant. (Teller County Sheriff's Office)

As the bear rummaged around the car causing extensive damage, the door closed and it couldn't figure how to get out. (Teller County Sheriff's Office )

The car alarm was blaring, and there was a light moving around inside.

A couple in the Colorado Mountain Estates subdivision near Florissant thought someone was trying to steal their car early Wednesday.

When deputies from the Teller County Sheriff's Office responded at about 2:30 a.m., they discovered a young bear in the car.

The bear was as surprised to see the deputies as the deputies were to see the bear, said Mikel Baker, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.

One of the two deputies took some pictures of the bear, opened the car door, and the bear was gone in a flash, said Baker.

According to Baker and Teller County Sheriff Kevin Dougherty, this bear — like so many others — was

After deputies opened the car door, the bear was gone in a flash. (Teller County Sheriff's Office )

very smart and had learned how to open car doors.

But as the bear rummaged around the car causing extensive damage, the door closed and it couldn't figure how to get out.

The light the couple saw moving in the car was the dome light of the vehicle, which momentarily wrapped around the bear's head, said Dougherty.

Baker said that bears are extremely hungry as they prepare for hibernation. No food should be left in a car, she said, as bruins, with their keen sense of smell, will detect the food and try to get inside.

In recent years, one bear practically destroyed a car after yogurt was left in it. Afterward, investigators found yogurt smeared throughout the car, said Baker.

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com

Your Animal Control Officer

Work has been crappy and just in a mood. This was sent in to Dear Abby years ago but still holds true today.

I am your Animal Control Officer. I am not the dreaded "dog catcher" or the "murderer" you call me.

I'm not the one who allows your pets to breed, then dumps the unwanted puppies and kittens on roadsides and in shelters. I'm the one who must find the tiny animals before they die of starvation, exposure or disease and, as an act of mercy, exterminate them. It hurts me to be forced to kill hundreds of thousands of animals each year, but because of your irresponsibility, I have no choice.

I'm not the one who abandons unwanted animals on the farm roads, telling myself some friendly farmer will surely take them in and give them a good home. But I am the one who picks up the frightened animal who waits in vain for its beloved master, wondering why it has been abandoned. I am the one who must help that friendly farmer trap, tranquilize or kill that animal because it has begun to roam in packs with other abandoned hungry animals, killing livestock, fowl and game.


I am not the one who breeds and fights dogs in the name of "sport." But I'm the one who fights the breeders and participants, and must pick up the dead and dying animals that have been left behind.

So, remember the next time a stray dog bites your
child, your trash is dumped and scattered, your pet is
lost, stolen, poisoned or hit by a car, and it is the
Animal Control Officer you call not the "dog catcher."


The next time your pet is picked up, or you are cited for neglecting or abusing it, remember that I am only trying to get you to fulfill your responsibility to your pet, your neighbor and yourself.

Do not scorn me. Respect me, for I am the product of your irresponsibility. I love animals, and I care.

For Theresa Foss

My prayers go out to the whole Foss family. To any of my friends in blog land, please add a prayer,thought, or just a place in your heart for this family. I did not know her , but often fear that some day this will be me or someone I am close to.

Animal Control Officer funeral services
Story by: Tina Detelj

Funeral services were held Tuesday for a Plainfield Animal Control Officer who fell and hit her head while responding to a call. Those who knew Theresa Foss remembered her as a selfless person who gave everything to helping animals.
Foss was really active in the community. She was a mother of three, a public servant, and a cheerleading coach.
People, from across the state, came to give a salute to a 17-year veteran.
"It shows that we are one big family. We support each other any way we can and we're there for each other," said Mark Ring of Waterbury Animal Control.
Among the pall bearers was Karen Stone who worked side-by-side with Foss.
The Plainfield animal control officer was hospitalized for a head injury September 29th after she fell responding to a call of an aggressive pit bull. She died last Thursday.
"It was shock pretty much at first hard to believe that one of our own could go down so easily," said Stone.
Foss is believed to be the first animal control officer to die in the line of duty. During the service, Foss was remembered by the police chief in Plainfield and by the cheerleaders she coached. One of her colleagues recalled something she always used to say; "save the drama for your mama."
"And I could just see Terri saying that to the girls. So it was touching," said Donna Duso of Groton Animal Control.
Fond memories filled the Lighthouse Church of God but in the shadow of sadness for the loss of this mother of three and public servant.
"We all tend to be like New Englanders our own little towns and Terri was the one who tried to pull us all together and I think that's what I"m gonna miss the most from her," said Duso.
A loss serving as a reminder of how dangerous their job can be.
"You never think getting knocked to the ground by a dog is gonna be the last thing you ever do it's just tough out there it really is and to see this happen is very sad," said Ring.
Foss was 47-years-old when she died.

A call I don't want to get

I get to experience all kinds of stories involving animals. I never want to run this call.This has got to be one of the oddest Animal Stories I have heard in a long time.