Case Details


Case Snapshot
Case ID: 12442
Classification: Poisoning
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Two dogs poisoned with antifreeze
Bloomington, IL (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Oct 1, 2007
County: McLean

Disposition: Dismissed

Person of Interest: Denise Read

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Two bloomington dogs poisoned after eating tainted meat were doing better Thursday, although one could have kidney damage.

The dogs' owner says someone intentionally laced meat with antifreeze and threw into the yard of Canine Design, his dog grooming business.

Tim Bowling say one dog competed in shows but can never again after it was blinded in one eye. The other dog miscarried her litter of puppies.

He says both animals received came back from treatment Thursday.

Now their stomach content is being tested for the police investigation.

"The contents of the dogs' stomach that were at Kruger Animal Hospital. They saved that and they shipped that to Michigan. And they're waiting for that to come back as a test to see how much poisoning was in their stomach," said Bowling.

The owner says results should be handed over to Bloomington police by next week.

Police say whoever tainted the meat could face charges.


Case Updates

Charges of animal cruelty and intimidation were dismissed this morning against Bloomington dog groomer Denise Read.

The dismissal came after prosecutors asked the judge to continue Reed's trial scheduled to begin today on allegations that she threw tainted meat over a fence and attempted to poison dogs owned by competitor Tim Bowling.

Read owns Deenie's Bed and Biscuit in Bloomington.

Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Sanborn told Judge Kevin Fitzgerald he was not ready to start the trial because two witnesses from Michigan were not available.

Fitzgerald denied the motion, saying the case has been pending for more than a year.

In an exclusive interview with The Pantagraph after the decision, Read said, "I wanted the trial because I wanted the truth to come out."

Read has denied all allegations, saying the charges stem from jealousy on the part of several local compeitiors.

Sanborn had no comment.

Several supports of Bowling expressed their dissatisfaction with the state's decision.

"This is not over," said Jim Bowling, Bowling's brother.
Source: Pantagraph - July 21, 2008
Update posted on Jul 21, 2008 - 12:59PM 
A Bloomington woman's defense attorney is questioning what happened to the poisoned meat his client is accused of throwing into a competitor's outdoor kennel.

Denise Read, 45, is scheduled to go to trial July 21 on charges of cruelty to animals, intimidation and criminal damage to property. The owner of Deenie's Bed and Biscuit is accused of throwing raw meat laced with antifreeze into a fenced yard of Canine Design, also of Bloomington.

On Friday afternoon, Read's attorney, Jason Cannell, questioned Timothy Bowling, who owns Canine Design, and Bloomington Police Officer Kevin Raisbeck and Detective Jeff Albee about who had custody of the ground meat, what condition it was in and whether it was in sealed containers when changing hands.

Friday's testimony indicated the meat was found by one of Bowling's employees and was subsequently given to a veterinarian or veterinarian office employee, then to a University of Illinois laboratory and a laboratory at the University of Michigan. Police never took custody of the meat.

The hearing continues at 10 a.m. Monday. Chain-of-custody hearings often are used to determine whether evidence has been handled properly and should be admitted at trial.
Source: Pantagraph - Jun 20, 2008
Update posted on Jun 22, 2008 - 7:23PM 
Bloomington dog groomer Tim Bowling is objecting to subpoenas for his personal and business records requested by a competitor facing criminal charges for allegedly poisoning two dogs owned by Bowling.

The subpoenas were issued by Jason Cannell, attorney for Denise Read, owner of Deenie's Bed and Biscuit. She was charged in October with one count each of intimidation, criminal damage to property and cruel treatment to animals. Read, who also is known as Deenie Sullivan and Denise Franks, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

"I think it's a form of harassment. They want my bank records, personal credit card statements, even my tax returns for the past four years," Bowling said Wednesday.

Bowling told police witnesses saw Read thrown a bag into an outdoor kennel outside his business, Canine Design, on South Bunn Street. Two dogs became ill and tests indicated the animals had eaten meat containing ethylene glycol, a substance commonly found in antifreeze, said Bowling.

Bowling plans to consult with an attorney to determine how much of the information, if any, he will provide to Read's defense.

Among the items sought in the subpoenas are Bowling's business records, including check registers and veterinary records for the two dogs. Dr. Bernard Bleem, the doctor who cared for the dogs at a Normal clinic, also was asked to supply medical records.

The Normal and Bloomington police departments and the McLean and Livingston county sheriff's departments have been asked to provide any police and arrest reports they may have on file regarding Bowling.

A pet store where Bowling worked has been subpoenaed for employee records, including documents providing reasons for Bowling's alleged termination. Bowling denied being fired from the pet store.

"There's nothing I would have to hide. They're trying to act like I did something wrong. It's over the top," said Bowling.

Read's attorney contends his client's reputation has suffered as a result of the charges and the news coverage of the case. He said the allegations seemed to be based on statements of "a business competitor who stands to gain financially from her being charged."

The subpoenaed information is due in court Jan. 28, when Read is scheduled to appear for a status hearing.
Source: Pantagraph - Jan 17, 2008
Update posted on Jun 22, 2008 - 7:22PM 
A dog groomer has been charged with throwing hamburger laced with antifreeze over a fence, poisoning two dogs owned by one of her competitors.

Denise "Deenie" Franks, 44, of Normal, was arrested Monday. Police accuse her of two counts of aggravated animal cruelty, two counts of poisoning an animal, two counts of criminal damage to property, one count of criminal trespass and one count of disorderly conduct.

Franks, also known as Deenie Sullivan, owns Deenie's Bed and Biscuit, 1811 Morrissey Drive, Bloomington.

The two dogs that ate the hamburger laced with antifreeze are owned by Tim Bowling, the owner of Canine Design, 1605 S. Bunn St. Police said tests showed the meat was contaminated with ethylene glycol.

The Pantagraph previously reported that three witnesses saw a bag tossed from Franks' sport utility vehicle Sept. 18 as it drove next to a fenced area adjacent to the dog grooming and kennel business, said Bowling. When Bowling was alerted to the activity, he went outside and found a plastic bag containing cold meat near the three dogs.

Police were called to the kennel and the meat was sent to a lab for testing. Bowling said Dr. Bernard Bleem examined the dogs at Kruger Animal Hospital in Normal and told the owner to watch for signs of illness in the show dogs.

"The next morning, two of the dogs couldn't get up. They were puking and lying on their side," said Bowling.

"Sagata," a Mountain Cur hunting dog, had a miscarriage after eating the hamburger. A cocker spaniel named "Anara" lost the sight in one eye and has trouble walking, said Bowling.

The third dog did not show signs of poisoning.
Source: Pantagraph.Com - Oct 22, 2007
Update posted on Oct 22, 2007 - 3:20PM 

References


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