Pet store neglect Dover, NH (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 7, 2002 County: Strafford Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Case Images: 1 files available Abuser/Suspect: William A. Gammon

Case ID: 438 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment View more cases in NH (US) Login to Watch this Case

William A. Gammon, age 27, of 8B Winter St. Dover, NH along with his wife Melissa owned Feeding Time pet store. The Cocheco Valley Humane Society removed 105 animals from the pet store located at 28 Chapel St. The store was opened in August 2001 and licensed to sell exotic animals.

Rescuers carried away various snakes, lizards, iguanas, tarantulas, birds, rabbits and rodents. Some animals were found dead and others were in "obvious ill health" according to Dover Police Sgt. Thomas Stinglen. State Veterinarian Clifford McGinnis said the Gammon's voluntarily gave up their pet store license.

The police department had received a report that the building's power had been shut off and the animals were being neglected. Kathy Ladisheff, Dover's animal control officer began an investigation with the state.

Almost all the animals were signed over voluntarily to the custody of the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, but because they do not have the equipment to deal with exotics, Broken Reptile assisted them, a Manchester, NH based rescue group. Mike Dillon, President of Broken Reptile, said these animals are extremely difficult to care for and are very expensive. Many require heat lamps and large enclosures.

In a newspaper article on January 24, 2002 from the Foster's Daily Democrat, Melissa Gammon was quoted on the theft of reptiles from her store, going back to September 2001. She reported to the newspaper that an adult male Savannah monitor was taken in September and a breeding pair of leopard geckos, worth $80 to $150 were taken the week before Christmas. She also reported the greatest loss to be from a failed break in at from a damaged the back door of the store, when they lost $1000 affecting 22 snakes because of the cold weather.

Initially Gammon plead innocent to the 7 cruelty to animal charges. He was released on $5000 personal recognizance and the trial was scheduled for June 3rd 2002. Gammon was initially charged with 1 count of cruelty to animals but 6 more charges were filed for each category of animal: mammals, amphibians, birds, spiders, reptiles and rodents. As a condition of bail, Volunteers of America were assigned to assist the animal control officer in monitoring Gammons residents to ensure any animals he has are given care.

On June 3rd, Gammon plead guilty to 7 misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for July 22 so that the Department of Corrections can complete a pre-sentence investigation. The Humane Society is asking for restitution for the costs it has incurred for the care of the animals. The animal cruelty charges are a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 1 year in jail.

At his court hearing on July 22nd Gammon received a suspended jail term with the condition that he be prohibited from operating a pet store for at least 2 years.

A separate hearing for the restitution of funds for the care of the animals is pending as Gammons court appointed lawyer Kimberly Weibrecht, argued that the animals' neglect was not completely Gammons fault as he and his wife were experiencing marital troubles for a while and he was not allowed at the business. Dover police prosecutor Sgt. William Malsbury stated that the restitution amount involved creates a question of whether the district court has jurisdiction, and Gammon's defense attorney may decide to pursue an appeal to Superior Court.

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Foster's Daily Democrat

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