Dogs & Puppies Tortured with Fireworks
Tulsa, OK (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jun 28, 2004
County: Tulsa
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 4 files available
Persons of Interest:
» Name Undisclosed - Alleged
» Name Undisclosed - Alleged
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
Authorities are looking for suspects in the torture and killing of dogs living in an abandoned north Tulsa house.
The two surviving dogs were brought to the SPCA early Monday morning. Both are expected to recover. But shelter officials could do nothing for six puppies that were found dead with fireworks in their mouths and their mouths partially blown off.
The mother of the puppies escaped physical injury, but is clearly traumatized by having her litter killed. Volunteers say she's been searching for the pups since she was brought in.
The other abuse victim, a 4-month old lab mix is suffering from severe burns. Authorities believe she was deliberately set on fire.
Laurie Mayes with Tulsa SPCA: "Why is only in the mind of the person who does it. We know that people that willingly abuse animals that they are also very likely to abuse humans, at least at some point in their lives."
Mayes says animal abuse is a felony and Tulsa Police are investigating. After their recovery time, both dogs will be put up for adoption.
Tulsa SPCA
2910 Mohawk Boulevard
Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
(918) 428-SPCA If you have information on this case, please contact:
Tulsa SPCA
(918) 428-SPCA
Case UpdatesOne of two dogs burned and traumatized with fireworks at an abandoned house in north Tulsa about one month ago died Thursday.
Melody, a Lab mix puppy about five months old, had been fighting for her life against a disease she carried when she arrived at the Tulsa SPCA with severe burns across her back and hindquarters. Symptoms of distemper – a contagious disease that affects the nervous system in young dogs – began appearing about two weeks earlier.
Hundreds of people across the country and worldwide responded with outrage and compassion to the coverage of the cruelty to these dogs. A reward fund and medical care fund were established.
Within one week of the rescue of the dogs, the Tulsa Police Department arrested two juveniles who reportedly confessed to dousing Melody with lighter fluid and setting her on fire. Also arrested were another juvenile and an adult, both charged with harassing a witness. | Source: Tulsa SPCA - July 29, 2004
Update posted on Sep 1, 2004 - 8:00PM |
Police say they received a call from the woman who gave information to police, saying she had been threatened over the phone and had her tires slashed. The teenager was taken into custody a short time later and confessed to the threats. He faces complaints of vandalism and intimidation of a state witness.
July 8, 2004 - In the latest, the mother of two boys arrested in connection with the burning of Melody is now herself under arrest after allegedly making a threatening phone call to a state's witness. 37-year-old Tonya Curry is being held in the Tulsa County Jail on ten-thousand dollars bond on a complaint of intimidating a states witness, just a day after one of her sons was arrested for the same thing. | | Update posted on Jul 8, 2004 - 8:47PM |
Police say witnesses saw a group of teenage boys carrying lighter fluid and Roman candles had been seen shooting fireworks in a north Tulsa neighborhood. Shortly afterward, a witness heard a puppy yelp, police say.
The Turley woman reported the abuse, but when animal control officers arrived, only the Lab mix and the black and tan heeler mix were found.
Animal rights groups and private donations have raised more than $16,000 for a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits. | | Update posted on Jul 3, 2004 - 9:00AM |
Two juveniles are in custody, after admitting to setting fire to a 4 month-old puppy.
In a shocking case of animal abuse we first reported on Monday, Tulsa Police say a Crimestoppers tip led them to two suspects who confessed late Friday afternoon.
Meantime, investigators are rejecting another media report, that the abuse of six other puppies was a hoax. The woman who initially brought Amaya to the SPCA, said the mother dog was lying next to the carcasses of her babies, apparently blown apart by firecrackers.
Veterinarian Connie Wright says Amaya has been exhibiting signs of depression, but seems to be adjusting to her new environment.
Tulsa Police Detective Tony Cellino says they don't know yet whether the two juveniles he arrested Friday had anything to do with Amaya's puppies, but they've admitted to felony animal abuse. "Read their rights to their parents and they all consented to what they did. They admit to dousing the dog with lighter fluid and setting it on fire."
SPCA officials say "Melody" sailed through her latest surgery, to remove burn tissue from her hind quarters.
The 14- and 16-year-old suspects will remain in custody. | | Update posted on Jul 3, 2004 - 8:48AM |
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