CullmanTimes.com - Cullman, Alabama

Top News

Discussion

November 28, 2007

National groups raise money, awareness for local animal cruelty case

By Noah Chandler

nchandler@cullmantimes.com

An outpour of support for a Vinemont family pet has led to nation-wide attention, gathering reward money from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Birmingham- based Friends of Cats and Dogs Foundation.

“Animal abusers are cowards,” said PETA cruelty caseworker Kristin DeJournett. “They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Area residents have reason to be concerned. According to leading mental health professionals and law enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all animals, including humans.”

Cullman Area Animal Welfare Association President Linda Morgan said the Justice for Annie fund, which was set up Monday with fellow animal lovers Friends of Cullman Animal Shelter (FOCAS), has grown from $200 to more than $6,000 in the last two days. She said she hopes it will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for skinning the three-year-old beagle, Anne.

Cullman County Sheriff Tyler Roden said he was pleased to see residents of Cullman along with PETA, which has issued a $2,500 reward, and the American Humane Society and Friends of Cats and Dogs Foundation, which offered a $1,000 reward, get involved to help capture the perpetrator.

“We are very pleased to receive support from a variety of organizations and residents,” Roden said. “It is encouraging and I hope it will help bring this case to a successful conclusion.”

Roden said the sheriff’s office is actively investigating the case and once autopsy results from the animal are available, the information will be made public.

Roden asked anyone with information about the case to call investigators at 734-0342 or the secret witness tip-line at 734-0210.

Text Only
Top News
  • JUSTIN MARCELL BROWN Man charged with trafficking pot

    Suspicious traffic complaints to the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) from citizens about the area around Highway 91 in Colony led to the arrest of a local man Tuesday morning.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Two women injured in accident in Dodge City

    Two Cullman women were transported by separate helicopters to UAB Tuesday to receive medical treatment following a two-vehicle accident at Dodge City.

    February 7, 2012

  • CANDY RGB PHILLIPS.jpg Candy Phillips Thomas seeking probate judge seat

    Longtime public school teacher Candy Phillips Thomas has announced she will seek the Republican nomination for Cullman County probate judge in the March 13 primary election.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 3 arrested in connection with church burglaries

    Three people were arrested over the weekend in connection with a church burglary that took place at Seventh Street Baptist Church in June of last year.
    Eric McMillian turned himself into the Cullman Police Department Saturday and was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property according to officials. A female juvenile was also taken into custody.

    February 7, 2012

  • Hanceville church vandalized; 'Hail Satan' written in cross' place

    Hanceville Police are working on several leads to find out who vandalized Center Hill Baptist Church sometime between Thursday night and the early morning Friday.

    February 6, 2012

  • UPDATED: Woman injured over weekend dies; autopsy shows injuries consistent with fall

    A state forensics autopsy has concluded that a Cullman woman who died due to head trauma over the weekend, after being found unresponsive in the parking lot of her apartment complex Saturday morning, was likely caused by a fall.

    February 6, 2012

  • Drinkard Development Drinkard announces new retail development

    Retail in south Cullman is about to expand again, with the announcement of Drinkard Development’s new Willkommen Center.

    February 5, 2012 1 Photo

  • Public trust at stake in 2012 legislative session

    It’s tough to carry the momentum from an unprecedented wave of election-season support through a full term in office, especially in a year that will ask members of Alabama’s legislative class of 2010 — an effective Republican supermajority with built-in party consensus — to tackle some of the most challenging big-picture issues the state has faced in decades.

    February 5, 2012

  • Lawmakers look at harsh cuts, place hope on private sector growth Lawmakers look at harsh cuts, place hope on private sector growth

    Tuesday will mark the beginning of what is expected to be a trying, and likely contentious, journey through the murky pits of state funding procedures.

    February 5, 2012 1 Photo

  • Police investigate injury to Cullman woman

    Cullman police aren’t yet sure how a local woman, currently hospitalized, ended up lying unresponsive next to her car over the weekend, but they are cautiously treating the incident as though violence could have been involved.

    February 4, 2012