Eleven emaciated dogs and puppies seized - Springfield, MA

Monday, Aug 9, 2010

County: Hampden

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 4 files available

Defendants/Suspects:
» Belinda Eaddy
» Ishmael Wilson

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be filing charges of animal cruelty following an investigation that began after two adult pit bulls broke free from a residence on Embury Street and killed a chihuahua.

The Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center is caring for 11 severely emaciated dogs taken during the investigation of what one law enforcement officer describes as "one of the most severe acts of neglect" she has ever witnessed.

Animal control officers responding to Embury Street Monday afternoon captured the two adults and four puppies that had been running loose. The dogs' owner surrended the two adults and four puppies -- along with a third dog that was inside the residence when officers arrived -- at the adoption center later Monday afternoon.

Further investigation into the incident on Tuesday led to the discovery of four additional, severly malnourished pit bull puppies at the Embury Street residence.

Pam Peebles, Director of the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, said the weights of the puppies range from seven to twelve pounds. At their age the dogs should weigh 30-40 pounds, Peebles said, adding that the extent of the malnourishment is serious and severely affects the health of the puppies and adult dogs.
Emaciated dogs could trigger animal cruelty case

"The health of these animals is extremely fragile at this point," Peebles said. "We estimate the puppies to be six-months-old, however due to the malnourishment that they suffered, they look much younger."

"This is one of the most severe acts of neglect that I have ever investigated," said veteran Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Law Officer Christine Allenberg. "This form of cruelty is slow and torturous and can result in death even after treatment is provided."

Peebles said she hopes the condition of the dogs will be stabilized within the new few days or weeks.

"However, their conditions could worsen as a result of sustained neglect," she said.

In a press release, Brian Adams, MSPCA-Angell's senior manager of media and community relations, said the adult dogs that attacked and killed the chihuahua are being held for behavior and medical evalution. Staff at the adoption center are trying to determine whether the pit bulls killed the chihuahua while attempting to find food after experiencing extreme starvation, Adams said.

Allenberg said that she cannot give names of the person or person to be charged until the complaints are filed with the court. At that time the person or persons charged with be summonsed to court for a certain date.

"It's actually one of the most complex cases I've dealt with in a while," Allenberg said.

Allenberg said that she does not expect the complaint to be done today because she is waiting for veterinary reports on all 11 dogs -- plus, she must talk to witnesses at the same time she continues work on her other animal cruelty cases.

In an interview with WGGB, Belinda Eaddy, of 59 Embury Street, said she owns the dogs. She told a reporter that the dogs are unable to eat dog food, and that she had been feeding them beets and other substitutes to keep them alive.

Animal cruelty in Massachusetts is a felony in Massachusetts, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

Case Updates

A Springfield man has been found guilty of animal cruelty after starving Pitbulls were found in the home where he lived with his mother last year. A now convicted felon, Ishmael Wilson, was upset over a Judge's ruling that he was responsible for Letting 11 six week old puppies and their parents nearly starve to death. Thursday, Wilson was found guilty on 11 counts of animal cruelty dating back to August 2010 when the group of Pitbulls were found in the Springfield home he shared with his mother, Belinda Eaddy. In October, Eaddy pleaded guilty to the same charges and claimed the dogs were hers. But, animal control officer, Christine Allenberg says Wilson is responsible too. Allenberg says "In this case it was a mother and son living in a house. They both fed the dogs, they both let the dogs out and both provided care for them. So, they were jointly responsible for their welfare." Wilson and his mother claimed the dogs were emaciated because they suffered from food allergies and could only eat fruits and vegetables. Allenberg says "But, they had never been seen by a veterinarian to diagnose that and in the care of the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center and their feeding they began gaining weight immediately." In the courtroom pictures of all starving dogs were shown to the Judge who clearly didn't buy Wilson's defense that he had nothing to do with their condition. Allenberg says, she is happy Wilson was found guilty and that the court is taking animal cruelty as seriously as the MSPCA. Allenberg says "When the MSPCA does a job and gets somebody found guilty of cruelty to animals. That's all I need. That's all the satisfaction that I need. The animals got justice and that makes me very happy." Wilson was sentenced to one year probation, as part of that sentencing a judge ruled that he is not allowed to own any animals.

Source: cbs3springfield.com - May 26, 2011 Update posted on May 26, 2011 - 10:20PM

Belinda Eaddy pled guilty today at the Springfield District Court to three felony counts of animal cruelty while her son, Ishmael Wilson, will face charges on 11 felony counts of animal cruelty at a trial set for May 26. The pet owners were each charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty in August 2010 following an investigation by the MSPCA's Law Enforcement department. The MSPCA investigation uncovered eight emaciated Pit Bull puppies and three adult Pit Bulls. Eaddy has been sentenced by the court to one year of supervised probation during which time she is not to own any animals. "This was one of the most severe acts of neglect that I have ever investigated," said veteran MSPCA Law Enforcement Officer Christine Allenberg. "This form of cruelty is slow and torturous and can result in death even after treatment is provided. We are grateful for the staff at the Thomas J. O'Connor Center for the quick work that they did to rescue these animals from unimaginable pain and suffering." Animal Control Officers from Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield were first alerted to the animals' conditions in August. After arriving at the Embury Street residence the officers quickly rounded up two adult Pit Bulls and four puppies that were running loose. The dogs were later surrendered to the adoption center as well as a third adult dog that had been inside the residence when officers first arrived. The MSPCA's Law Enforcement department was immediately alerted to the condition of the seven animals. Further investigation into the allegations within 24 hours led to the discovery of four additional Pit Bull puppies that were severely malnourished, weighing the least of all of the dogs. The 11 canines were brought to the Thomas J. O'Connor Center to receive care. During their assessment the puppies weighed between 20-30% of their normal bodyweight and required critical care from adoption center staff members. Due to the severe lack of care and previous neglect resulting in extreme emaciation, one adult dog was humanely euthanized. "The health of these animals was extremely fragile when they arrived at our adoption center," said Pam Peebles, Director of the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. "We estimated the puppies to be six-months-old, however due to the malnourishment that they suffered, they looked much younger. The weights of the puppies ranged from seven to twelve pounds. At their age they should have weighed 30-40 pounds." Over the following months, six puppies were rehabilitated and placed up for adoption at the Thomas J. O'Connor Center where they met their future owners. The two remaining puppies were transferred to the MSPCA's Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center in Methuen for care and adoption. One puppy was adopted soon after arriving at the MSPCA however the second, Teeny, continued to suffer from life-threatening health issues. The puppy was sent to Boston's Angell Animal Medical Center for life-saving critical care and was adopted following recovery. The two adult dogs, Buddy and Forest, have remained in foster care through the Thomas J. O'Connor Center and are available for adoption. Potential adopters are urged to contact the Thomas J. O'Connor Center at (413) 781-1484. Animal cruelty is a felony in Massachusetts punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. Members of the community with information regarding acts of animal cruelty are asked to contact the MSPCA's Law Enforcement department at (800) 628-5808.

Source: tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com - Feb 10, 2011 Update posted on May 13, 2011 - 5:22PM

A Springfield mother has pleaded guilty to three felony counts of animal cruelty, but her son will go on trial on charges stemming from the discovery of 11 emaciated pit bulls in their home. Belinda Eaddy pleaded guilty Thursday at the Springfield District Court. In October, Eaddy was arraigned together with Ishmael Wilson, and a plea of not guilty was entered on their behalf. Wilson's trial on 11 felony counts of animal cruelty is now scheduled for May 26. Authorities became aware of the situation in August when two adult animals got loose and killed a Chihuahua. Animal welfare officials said some of the dogs were about a quarter of their normal body weight. A lawyer for Wilson previously said his mother was solely responsible for the dogs' care.

Source: bostonherald.com - Feb 10, 2011 Update posted on Feb 10, 2011 - 4:27PM

Innocent pleas were entered Wednesday in District Court by the mother and son facing animal cruelty charges after 11 nearly-dead and emaciated dogs were discovered in a home on Embury Street in August. Belinda Eaddy, 50, and Ishmael Wilson, 31, each face 11 charges of animal cruelty. They were released on their personal recognizance following their arraignments before Judge William J. Boyle, and the case was continued to Nov. 20 for a pre-trial conference. Boyle was presented photos of some of the dogs from the day they were found in Eaddy's 59 Embury St. residence as a prosecutor asked the two be held in lieu of $5,000 bail. Boyle declined, saying the woman and her son had responded to summonses to appear in court and had no criminal records to justify the bail. The plight of the 11 dogs, all pit bulls, was discovered on Aug. 9 when two of the dogs got loose and attacked and killed a Chihuahua dog in the neighborhood. Investigators who responded found the other dogs, which were taken into custody by the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. In August adoption center director Pam Peebles said the dogs were showing progress after receiving proper care and being prepared for adoption. Assistant District Attorney Eileen Sears said in court that one of the dogs which killed the Chihuahua had to be euthanized because she was so aggressive. Sears said Eaddy told investigators that the dogs had food allergies and could only be fed vegetables. There was a bin of carrots and lettuce in the kitchen, she recounted to the judge. Also found in the home was a list including several commercial dog foods which could be eaten by the dogs, but Eaddy told investigators they were too expensive. The dogs had not been seen by a veterinarian or given rabies shots, Sears said. Sears said when the adoption center veterinarian examined the dogs she said they were barely alive but had no other health issues except for starvation. Sears said the defendants "made up this particular diagnosis." Stephen Newman, a lawyer appointed for Eaddy, said she had no intent to hurt the animals. He said she had been told "way back when" that a past relative, now dead, of the 11 dogs had a genetic allergy so she thought the next two generations had the same allergy. Williams' court-appointed lawyer James Bradford said he had returned home to live in March, the dogs were his mother's and she handled all the decisions about feeding.

Source: Masslive.com Update posted on Oct 20, 2010 - 8:48PM

References

• - Aug 11, 2010

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