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Dogs rescued from fire near Vestaburg

Written by Andy Kraft
Sunday, 09 August 2009 13:54
Elisabeth Waldon - The Daily News Staff Writer FERRIS TOWNSHIP - When Michelle Donley came home from the store Friday morning and saw her house was on fire, she immediately thought of her six Chihauhaus. Donley rushed into the home and was able to rescue five of the dogs before the blaze became too hot. However, the sixth dog emerged from the rubble five hours later, covered in dirt and soot, but unharmed. The Richland Township Fire Department responded to the blaze around 9 a.m. at 5606 Bollinger Road. The Day Township Fire Department was immediately called for mutual aid and Crystal Township firefighters later were called for an air truck and manpower. According to Richland Township Fire Chief Calvin Callison, firefighters used about 15,000 gallons of water to fight the blaze. They cleared the scene at about 2 p.m. "It was just a real tough fire," he said. The blaze destroyed most of the house. While the cause of the fire is unknown, it is believed to have originated upstairs. Donley and her husband, Gerald, lost most of their belongings, including all their clothes. Anyone wishing to donate to the Donleys or their dogs may call their daughter, Lisa, at (989) 620-4722.

Sentenced for animal cruelty, Turk Lake woman doesn't regret having dogs

Written by Andy Kraft
Friday, 07 August 2009 15:58
Elisabeth Waldon - The Daily News Staff Writer STANTON - A Turk Lake woman was sentenced for animal cruelty Thursday after giving an angry and tearful protest of her good intentions. Deborah Phenix, 61, appeared with her attorney, Travis Carr of Stanton, before Judge David Hoort in 8th Judicial Circuit Court. Phenix was convicted by a jury June 9 for animal cruelty involving 25 dogs. Her husband, Donald Phenix, 60, also is facing an animal cruelty charge but has not yet gone to trial because of deteriorating health. Montcalm County Assistant Prosecutor Chris Hekman asked the judge to sentence Phenix to jail time Thursday, instead of just the recommended two years probation and 300 hours of community service. "Mrs. Phenix, throughout this whole process, has essentially not gotten it," Hekman said. "There's no acceptance or acknowledgment of responsibility here. I think some jail time is appropriate, one or two weeks." Phenix said she would do it all over again, but she would also get the dogs licenses and vaccinations. "I can't believe this is happening," Phenix said. "They've taken everything that meant anything to me. I've lost my husband because of this, mentally. I admit I got carried away with 25 dogs. Twenty-five dogs is eccentric. But I loved those dogs. These were supposed to be my golden years, but they were tarnished. I don't regret having those 25 dogs. "I let my dogs have the run of the house and I know you guys don't approve of that, but it's my house." Phenix also thanked Carr, saying he donated some of his payment toward care of the dogs and didn't charge her for the rest. Carr said Montcalm County Animal Control Officer Matt Walrath lied on the stand. At the preliminary trial, Walrath said he rushed to remove the dogs from the home because he didn't want the situation to be made public in the local newspaper. But at the trial, Walrath said he rushed to remove the dogs from the home because they were aggressive. "I think they were overzealous, and I think they missed a golden opportunity," said Carr of Animal Control officials. Hekman called Carr's statement "a public crucifixion of a county department." "There is no question, you are guilty of this offense," Hoort told Phenix. "I do think you have a big heart. I do think you cared for these animals. But you failed to provide them with adequate care." Hoort declined to sentence Phenix to jail time, but instead gave her the recommended sentence. Phenix also cannot own any animals and must participate in counseling. A restitution hearing will take place at a later date in regard to more than $9,000 Phenix owes the animal shelter. Animal Control official seized the 25 dogs Feb. 10 after receiving a complaint. The Phenixes had to forfeit the dogs Feb. 25, per a court ruling. Five of the dogs were euthanized Feb. 28 due to aggression. The remaining 20 dogs were adopted or given to rescue shelters. At the trial, Carr portrayed the Phenixes as humanitarians concerned with saving needy animals, while Hekman described the Phenixes as people who let too many dogs live in filth and disease. Phenix testified she took in stray dogs because she didn't want them to end up at the animal shelter. She said she had more than 30 dogs at one point but stopped taking them in when she learned she and her husband were going to lose their jobs at the former Electrolux plant in Greenville.

1st of more than 100 dogs from Mich. home adopted

Written by Andy Kraft
Friday, 07 August 2009 15:57
The Associated Press DEARBORN, Mich. - Adoptions have begun of some of the more than 100 dogs that were found last month along with about 150 dead dogs in a Michigan house that was littered with feces and trash. Six Chihuahuas and their new owners were at an event Thursday at the Dearborn Animal Shelter, where the dogs have been staying since they were removed from the home in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn starting July 22. Some of the other Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes are in foster care and could be adopted soon. A lawyer for 56-year-old Kenneth Lang Jr., who was living in the house, has said it was love, not abuse, that prompted Lang to hoard the dogs. A criminal investigation could result in charges in the case.

Three Rivers police arrest man for barking at dog

Written by Andy Kraft
Wednesday, 05 August 2009 21:04
The Associated Press THREE RIVERS, Mich. - Authorities say a man has been arrested in Three Rivers for barking at a police dog. The Three Rivers Police Department says officers responded Monday evening to an apartment complex to investigate a suspicious situation. Police said Wednesday in a statement a 26-year-old man in the area "began to torment" a police dog inside the patrol car by barking and shouting at it, causing the animal to become excited and "very aggressive." The man was arrested and later released on bond. He faces a charge of disorderly conduct.

Dog left in hot car dies

Firefighters tried saving the dog

Jessica Leffler news 8

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - A Chihuahua died after its owner left it in a hot car at RiverTown Crossings Mall on Sunday, police say.

Customers first spotted the dog in the car around 2 p.m. near Macy's, mall security told 24 Hour News 8.

The Grandville Fire Department was called at around 4:45 p.m. and responded to the scene. Firefighters got the dog out of the car and say the animal was alive but its condition was deteriorating. So they put water in a syringe and tried getting the dog to drink.

But it died soon thereafter in the mall parking lot.

Although the car's windows were cracked, it was too hot inside for the dog to survive. Police say the outside temperature was around 78 degrees at the time. Inside the car, animal control officers estimate the temperature soared to somewhere between 98 and 100 degrees.

"I just can't express enough caring for the children and animals that have to put up with, sometimes, our stupidity," said fire chief Harvey Veldhouse, of the Grandville Fire Department. "(Imagine) a 15 minute time frame, 20 minute time frame, in the heat of a parking lot with black asphalt with the sun bearing down on you. Try it yourself. Jump into your own vehicle. And leave the windows all up. You know what it's like."

A dog's build - meant to protect the animal in the cold winter months - is what makes it more susceptible to heat in the summer, veterinarian Richard Siegel said.

"Dogs only perspire through their mouth and through their feet and so their mechanism of cooling is somewhat handicapped," he said.

"People underestimate how rapidly (overheating) can occur."

Firefighters assisted police to help get the dog out of the car because they were unable to find the animal's owner. Police will not release the owner's name.

The pet's owner could face charges, including animals abandoning/cruelty resulting in animal's death, which is a one-year misdemeanor -- a $2,000 fine and/or up to 300 hours of community service. The decision is up to the county prosecutor.

Veldhouse said his department was called to RiverTown Crossings between five and eight times last year for similar complaints.

"Since the mall moved in to Grandville, we're seeing a number of cases on that that we wouldn't have seen in the past," he said. "We see pets. We see kids that are left in the car for just a minute."

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