Since this all began eight months ago, we have contacted every county commissioner including the mayor, the head of animal services, the sheriff's dept., and the media. We protested in front of Billis Auto for months. An attorney with Animal Legal Defense Fund and well as many other attorneys have looked at this case and felt it was definitely a viable case under the Florida animal cruelty statutes. Unfortunately, animal services and the sheriff's dept. have interpreted the law differently.
828.13
(2) Whoever:
(c) Abandons to die any animal that is maimed, sick, infirm, or diseased, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 of by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.
(3) Any person who is the owner or possessor, or has charge or custody, of any animal who abandons such animal to suffer injury or malnutrition or abandons any animal in a street, road, or public place without providing for the care, sustenance, protection, and shelter of such animal is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.
Apparently, in Orange County, it is legal to enter a veterinary clinic under the false pretense of adopting a family pet, enter into a verbal agreement to take the pet for a trial night and then proceed to put that pet on a car lot with known dog killers...and when the pet is mortally wounded, leave him to die without seeking medical attention. It is also apparently ok for a detective to 'investigate' by phone and then drop the case when the main witness (who happens to rent from the offender) changes his story. So all you criminals out there, just make sure you pressure your witnesses to change their story and you're off the hook in Orange County. Another reason given for dropping the case was that there was no body so therefore no death/injury could be proven. The witness has stated to me and others (and on camera) that Bear was injured and left to die and that Billis knew (see the wftv interview) so why can he change his story? The witness has told me and others that he saw the dog dead and told me it was a very bad scene. According to Detective Kent, there is no proof that the dog was ever injured, much less dead. (So then I want MY dog back!) He also stated that we could not prove that Billis was allowed to leave with the dog for a trial night, yet he never took a statement from my receptionist who spoke directly with Billis. Interestingly, the witness, Mike Falahpour, is also a witness in a fatal street racing case -- I wonder if he will be considered a credible witness in that case?
My whole purpose in pursuing this was simply to get justice for Bear and prevent the same thing from happening over and over again. Remember, a former tenant of Billis has stated that she thinks as many as twenty dogs died on his property during their stay and she is the one who took the pictures of the Rotti that was left to die on a chain...for which Billis was simply fined when he should have been arrested. Since this began, at least one dog on the property is no longer there -- I don't know what happened to her. I periodically go out to check on the remaining two dogs who are actually quite friendly to people, therefore not very good watch dogs. They seem to love the human attention.
I recently sent letters to the following expressing my disappointment:
Detective Ben Kent, Agriculture Unit
Orange County Sheriff's Office
2500 W. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32804
Sheriff Demings
Orange County Sheriff's Office
2500 W. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32804
Orange County Commissioners
201 South Rosalind Avenue
PO Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32801
Katherine Lockett
Orange County Animal Services
2769 Conroy Rd.
Orlando, FL 32839
I think that I have done everything that I can possibly do to try to make things right for Bear. Unfortunately, a lot of people went through the motions and talked a good line, but ultimately nothing was done except waste a lot of time. I call these people 'talking heads.' I'm sure they all feel they did great jobs, but if they had, Billis would never be able to own another animal. Any animal that dies on his property in the future will be because the proper authorities did not take action.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I would like to thank all of the warm-hearted people who have expressed their sympathies and anger and all of those people that stood out there protesting every Saturday in the summer heat.
4 comments:
Isn't that the same department that wasn't going to press charges when that guy shot the huskies with the owner screaming in the background. I bet Vick wishes he had had is dog fighting ring in Orange County. What a joke!
Orange County Sheriff is the same dept that originally closed the case on the husky shooting. Citizens had to fight tooth and nail, and send letters to the SA and OCS, just to get OCS to file charges.
What happened to Bear is inexcusable and is animal cruelty. Sadly, it is just going to continue, since law enforcement will not make Billis face any consequences for his actions. Many people have said that if you want to commit animal cruelty, just go to Orange County. It is very sad that Orange is so well known for being lax on cruelty laws, that people feel this way. Bear suffered a horrible death, but we will continue to fight for him, and the other animals that suffer as he did.
SO TERRIBLE!!! WOW!! Ill be writing some def letters here... ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People like this need to be punished... Im so sorry nothing was done further here. WOW... tax payer dollars here, people, .. at work?!?! Riiight.
Hi this is a horrible story. I am a law student here in Orange County and the only suggestion I have (and you've probably already done this) is to take up the fight one more notch to the legislature. i.e. write letters to whomever represents Orange County/Orlando in the House of Reps. On the state side, you might try sending the same letter to the state Senate and House. Unfortunately being an out of stater, I dont know who these people would be for Florida. But the fact that it is legal for someone to walk into a vet clinic under the false pretenses of adopting a dog-- shows that the statute clearly needs to be amended. And on a political side-- I can see a politician easily getting behind this due to the public outrage that should be associated with this story.
Anyways, good for you that you are keeping up the fight!!
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