27 dogs and puppies removed from rental truck
St Ignace, MI (US)Date: Nov 16, 1999
Disposition: Convicted
Abuser/Suspect: Joel VanNoord
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Joel VanNoord a Grand Rapids man stopped at a truck rest stop on US 2 a few miles west of St Ignace and let the adult dogs he had in his rental truck out to run.
A Department of Natural Resources officer investigating an unrelated complaint spotted the dogs. Most of them Labrador retrievers ranging from a few days to about 5 years old. As the officer approached VanNoord, one of the dogs bit the officer.
The animals were taken to Ms Tamlyn's shelter to be quarantined for 10 days because the officer could not identify which animal bit him. VanNoord had no proof the dogs had been vaccinated. The officer did recover from the bite.
VanNoord had 27 dogs and puppies in the truck he was driving from Grand Rapids to Wisconsin. VanNoord was jailed for animal cruelty.
One of the puppies seized on Nov 16 from Joel VanNoord died that night of injuries. It is thought the puppy might have been trampled inside the rental truck's windowless cargo area.
Two adults dogs were put to death because they were too aggressive toward people.
Sally North, a founder of Friends of the Animal Shelter of Mackinac County, said "They're starting to wag their tails. They're starting to play. They're starting to act like normal dogs."
VanNoord was arrested on a felony count of allowing a dangerous dog to run loose, misdemeanors including animal cruelty and failure to show proof of licensing or vaccinations.
VanNoord pleaded guilty on Nov 24 to one felony count of animal cruelty and was sentenced to 30 days in the Mackinac County Jail.
VanNoord is also barred from owning pets for one year. He maintained he was headed to Wisconsin to find a farm he could live on. He had less than $300 on him.
All 10 female and five male adult dogs found in the truck were malnourished. The 15 puppies were loaded with hookworms. All have recovered. At least four of the dogs have been adopted. The rest of the dogs will go to permanent homes after they are spayed and neutered. References | Associated Press - Dec 8, 1999 |
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