Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Failure to provide vet care for dog

Failure to provide vet care for dog
Tampa, FL (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2005
County: Hillsborough
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Wayne Albert Riling

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 4547

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Wayne Riling is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly ignoring a tumor on his dog's neck that grew to the size of a grapefruit.

Wayne Riling allegedly told investigators that he noticed the tumor on his Husky 'Nanook' back in January, but never sought medical attention for the animal.

It was not until a service truck driver noticed the ailment that Animal Services became involved.

"The person that puts the dog out, closes the door and makes believe that it isn't there and leaves it there to suffer, to me, that's really bad," observed Dennis McCullough of Animal Services.

Riling was charged with one count of animal cruelty, but was out of jail on May 10 on a $2,000 bond.

Nanook is now in the care of a veterinarian, but officials stated that the Husky's prognosis was not good.

On May 10,�Animal Services officers took Riling's other dog into custody as a precaution. It did not appear to have suffered in his care.

Case Updates

A man who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for allowing a softball-size tumor to grow on the neck of a 5-year-old husky, avoided prison on Monday but will have plenty of time to think about his actions.

Wayne Albert Riling will spend the next year on house arrest, a year�s worth of weekends in the county jail and must complete 500 hours of community service. When that�s done, Riling will serve another four years on probation.

�I don�t think you�d like anyone to treat you like you treated this dog,� Circuit Judge Barbara Fleischer said Monday before passing sentence.

Riling, 37, was arrested May 9, 2005, after Tampa police and Hillsborough County Animal Services officers found the dog, Nanuke, in Riling�s Sulphur Springs back yard.

Nanuke was infested with fleas, had hook worms, heart worms, whip worms and the large ruptured tumor interfering with his jaw.

In court Monday, Fleischer didn�t buy Riling�s story that Nanuke was scheduled to go to the vet the day after Riling�s arrest. Veterinary records showed the dog had not seen a doctor since 2001.

Riling, Fleischer said, let the tumor fester for many months.

Neighbors for Riling testified that he had taken adequate care of Nanuke and another dog until the tumor grew. Riling told the judge he was working out of town the weeks before his arrest and a neighbor was feeding the dogs.

He said he knew the dog needed medical care but was trying to save up some money because he knew the treatment would be expensive.

Riling, a sheet metal worker, raises two children with his wife, Marilyn. Marilyn Riling asked Fleischer not to sentence her husband to jail time because he would lose his job and, therefore, lose the children�s health care. Their home is currently under foreclosure proceedings.

�I don�t want him to lose his home,� Fleischer said. �But I want him to lose his freedom for a little while.�

On top of the jail and house arrest, Riling also was prohibited from owning animals and prohibited from being around animals, even if that means avoiding picnics in the park, Fleischer said.

After Monday�s hearing, Riling said the sentence would be difficult for him and for his family but he was trying to take responsibility for the situation.

�I work as many hours as I can and now my Saturday work will be gone,� he said. �My kids will miss me very much.�

Nanuke was treated for his condition and was adopted by a local family, according to Tampa police officer Greg Hattle.

�Nanuke looks great,� he said. �He�s doing absolutely wonderful.�

Hattle, who originally arrested Riling, said new efforts between the police department and the county�s animal services department will ensure more animal cruelty cases.

�It�s enabling us to catch the violations that used to fall through the cracks,� he said. �We are holding people accountable.�

Source: TBO.Com - Aug 21, 2006
Update posted on Aug 21, 2006 - 3:53PM

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A 37-year-old man charged with felony animal cruelty arrived late to his court hearing May 15, 2006 and promptly was arrested. Judge Barbara Fleischer already had issued a warrant for his arrest.

Fleischer was expected to sentence Wayne Albert Riling. He pleaded guilty to the cruelty charge on April 5, 2006, the day his trial was to begin, and faces up to five years in prison. Last year, Riling was arrested after someone called police about his 5-year-old husky. Nanuke was covered with fleas and had a huge weeping growth on the side of his neck infected by flies.

Source: TBO News - May 16, 2006
Update posted on May 16, 2006 - 9:02PM

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Failure to provide vet care for dogTampa, FL (US)

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Failure to provide vet care for dog
Tampa, FL (US)