Wolf-hybrids poisoned, hanged and strangled - Rancho Tehama, CA

Thursday, May 5, 2005

A reward of $3,500 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed five wolf-hybrid dogs in Rancho Tehama on May 5. The reward is being offered by the Humane Society of the United States and Haven Humane Society in Redding.
The owner of the wolf-hybrids, Mitchell Feeley, Jr., said he found two of the dogs dead on Thursday, May 5 when he went to their kennel. Feeley said it appeared that they had been poisoned.

Feeley said he called the Tehama County Sheriff's Department and said he was told by dispatch that they would make a notation of the incident, but did not have the manpower to send out a deputy.

Feeley buried the two dogs.

Then on the evening of May 7, Feeley said he found a third dog strangled to death with its own chain, and two more the next morning that had been thrown over a bank, hanging them with their own chains.

These two dogs had their hind legs tied with baling wire, Feeley said.

One of the dogs had a No Trespassing sign, which had been posted on the property, stuffed in its mouth, a Tehama County Animal Services press release said.

This time, a sheriff's deputy responded and took photos, Feeley said.

The dogs were intentionally poisoned or strangled, according to a Tehama County Animal Services press release on Wednesday.

K. "Beau" Beauregard, director of animal services, said that when the person or persons responsible are caught, "they will be charged with felony cruelty to animals." Anyone convicted on that charge can be sent to prison.

Two of the dogs have been sent to a local veterinarian where a necropsy is being performed to determine the cause of death, according to Beauregard.

Capt. Paul Hosler of the sheriff's department said the case is under investigation.

Feeley said he has had some noise complaints about his dogs. On May 9, while Feeley was holding a press conference at Animal Services, two people insisted upon a citizen's arrest of Feeley for public nuisance because of his dogs, and he said he was issued a citation.

Feeley said he had bought two lots and leased a third two years ago because he and his family wanted to get out of the city and into the country. The three lots allowed him to keep his 14 wolf-hybrid dogs, some of which were rescued from Sacramento and neighboring counties. Feeley said he kept the animals in a kennel and on chains.

References

• Red Bluff Daily News - May 12, 2005

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