35 GREYHOUNDS DEAD AT EBRO RACETRACK-TRAINER ARRESTED-PHOTO & LINK TO RONALD WILLIAMS
- by: s sureck, AnimalActionUSA
- recipient: Florida Dept. of Business & Prof. Reg.div. Paril-Mutuel Wagering, Tallahassee, Florida
EBRO - A greyhound trainer is facing a charge of animal cruelty and may face additional charges as the investigation into the deaths of at least 20 dogs at Ebro Greyhound Park continues. * UPDATE: Number is rising to 40. It's devastating.
The dogs were found dead in the kennels at the track Friday by investigators with the Florida Department of Pari-Mutuel Wagering who were looking into a complaint they received from a greyhound adoption agency.
Trainer Ronnie Williams was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff Office on Friday and on Saturday was facing at least one charge of animal cruelty, Mark Hess, assistant general manager of the park, said. Hess said more charges are expected.
It is not immediately known exactly how many dogs died or when and how it happened. Officials have said they are waiting on necropsy results, but the complaint that triggered the investigation was spawned by underweight dogs being turned over to Greyhound Pets of America, Hess said.
Calls to Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock were not returned and personnel at the Sheriffs Office said no one would be available for comment on the case until Monday. They also refused to release Williams mug shot until Monday.
The Pari-Mutuel Wagering Department would only confirm and investigation into the death of several dogs was under way at Ebro.
At the end of the racing season, which closed Sept. 25, the park returned each dogs documentation to the trainers and gave them 60 days to remove their dogs from the kennel either by putting them up for adoption or moving them to another track. Hess said he did not know how many animals Williams had at Ebro. At least 20 dogs are dead.
The red flag on Williams and his dogs went up on Monday when he delivered eight dogs to Greyhound Pets of Americas Emerald Coast chapter, GPAEC board member Roger Spencer said. The group had been advised Williams would be bringing 10 dogs and combined with the thin condition of the eight, they notified their national chapter and the National Greyhound Association on Tuesday and Wednesday and then the Pari-mutuel Wagering Department on Thursday.
The situation is especially perplexing because the dogs were not abandoned, Hess said. Williams continued to come to the track daily and turn out two dogs, telling other trainers he only had those two animals left.
Hess and Rogers expressed frustration because this did not have to happen. Both Ebro and GPAEC have told trainers repeatedly they will take any animals they are not able to move to other tracks or adopt out themselves. GPAEC also makes food available for trainers who are in need.
We thought we had an excellent working relationship with the people within the compound and we do for the most part, he said. Theres no indication why this man ignored our promise and plea to take every greyhound.
This is not the first time Williams has had a run in with track officials. Hess said Williams is a troublemaker and had been told before the close of the season his contract would not be renewed in the spring. He declined to be specific, but said previous problems did not involve neglect of the dogs.
Rogers said GPAEC has adopted out more than 715 dogs this year and has not turned away a single animal. This is a record for the group as the economy has caused many trainers to grade off substantial numbers of dogs.
SOURCE: AEGA
Florida%u2019s Felony Animal Cruelty Law
The crime with which Boroujeni was charged is third-degree felony cruelty to animals under section 828.12(2), Florida Statutues. The statute provides:
A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
Florida courts have emphasized that felony animal cruelty requires an intent to commit the act that results in the cruel death or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering. The crime does not require an intent to cause the death or suffering, only the intent to commit the act that results in the death or unnecessary suffering of the animal.
Accordingly, in order to convict a defendant of third-degree cruelty to animals in Florida, it is not necessary to prove that the man intended for the dogs to suffer. The prosecution must merely prove that he intended to do the act (refusing to get medical treatment) that resulted in their unnecessary suffering.
Mere negligent behavior that results in the death or unnecessary suffering of an animal amounts to a first degree misdemeanor under section 828.12(1), Florida Statutes.
Third-degree cruelty to animals is punishable in Florida by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Disclaimer: This article is in no way intended as legal advice. For help with specific legal issues surrounding Florida%u2019s animal cruelty laws, or the laws in your jurisdiction, please contact an attorney in your local area.
Please support prosecution to the full extent of the law.
Thanking you,
AnimalActionUSA
s sureck
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