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Case #13329 Rating: 2.6 out of 5
Backyard breeder - dogs muzzled in crates
Schererville, IN (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
County: Lake
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Leonardo Feliciano
A Schererville man has pleaded guilty to two counts of abandonment and neglect of vertebrate animals.
Leonardo Feliciano, 53, of 1511 Demeter Drive, was charged in October with eight counts, but six of the charges were dismissed under a Feb. 26 plea agreement, Schererville police Cmdr. Randy Reno said.
Police responded to Feliciano's home in October based on an anonymous tip that dogs were muzzled in cages and used for breeding, according to reports.
Officers found eight dogs in a garage. Negligent conditions included cages that were too small, no food or water for some and muzzles that prevented some from eating or drinking. A pregnant yellow Labrador was in a cage so small that she couldn't turn around or lie on a blanket, according to police reports.
"If she did give birth there, she probably would've crushed the puppies," Animal Control Officer Deb Pattison said.
The dogs were brought to Schererville's animal shelter where the Labrador gave birth to eight puppies. The shelter adopted out all 16 dogs, Pattison said.
Feliciano was registered as a breeder with the American Kennel Club, but he didn't have a breeding license or kennel license through the town, Pattison said.
As part of the plea agreement, he will be on probation for one year and was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to Schererville, Reno said.
The money will offset the cost to the town to feed and shelter the animals, he said. Pattison said Schererville will not tolerate animal abuse. References
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