Animal cruelty
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Cagata & Accomplices Facing Over 100 New Charges in ‘Rescue Scam’
October 5th, 2008
UPDATE 8/31/09 – 120 Animal Cruelty and Abandonment Charges Plea Bargained to 2 Misdemeanor Animal Abuse Charges
Carrie Cagata, owner of My Best Friends, Inc. rescue and accomplices, James Cullen and Shannon Kraham, who were rescuing shelter dogs and selling them for profit and leaving the ones they couldn’t sell to starve or die at ‘the farm,’ are now facing additional charges.
They must have really pissed some people off with their ‘rescue scam’ because this is the most serious I’ve seen the system take something like this in a while aside from multitudinous charges laid against puppy millers. It’s about damn time too! Most likely there will be some plea bargaining and reduced charges in the end but hopefully just the sheer quantity of charges will remain enough to add up to a stiff sentence! Trash like this needs to be removed from society!
On Monday, Lee County detectives leveled 120 additional charges against Cagata, 40, and two other suspects in a Fort Myers animal adoption scam that resulted in the maltreatment of scores of dogs and cats.
Cagata, the alleged ringleader, and her alleged accomplices, Shannon Kraham, 25 and James Cullen, 29, originally each faced 60 felony counts of animal cruelty and 60 misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Cagata, who turned herself in at 11 p.m. Thursday, has been re-arrested on the additional charges.
Detectives added one felony count and one misdemeanor count for each animal veterinarians have deemed maltreated.
Each felony count carries a maximum prison sentence of five years; each misdemeanor count carries a maximum one-year sentence. (Naples News)
Wonder if this bitch is still smiling now??
Cagata turned herself in on Thursday and Graham and Cullen were already in jail being held on 160K bond.
The rescued animals which were suffering from various ailments, including bloody diarrhea, emaciation, wasting of muscles, dermatitis, fleas and ticks when rescued, are slowly recovering and recuperating. Lee County Animal Services took custody and some of the animals are at the local Humane Society, as well as Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Naples, to help with the overflow. They are working on gaining permanent custody through the courts right now so that when the animals are well, they can be adopted.
“They are certainly in a lot cleaner place, but some are still showing signs of the care that they were in, but we are treating them,” spokeswoman Ria Brown said.
Three former employees tipped off investigators to the abuse.
Lee County sheriff’s Deputy William Dunaske’s description of the Jackson Road property known as ‘the farm’ is just horrific!
“The floors were partially covered with urine and feces. There was feces in the bathtub. The stench was such that I could barely stand to be in the house. In the laundry room, I found a terrier. The dog was so thin that I could not only count ribs but vertebrae as well. The dog’s gums were very pale, almost white.
“There was a shed behind the house containing numerous cats. I did not enter this building because of the stench. I could see through the front door numerous cats in cages and crates. The litter boxes were overflowing. I viewed pictures taken inside by Animal Control Officers and could see that most of the water bowls were not only empty, but contained dust and dirt. ‘Cagata’ was written on the top of one of the crates.
“Also behind the house were several kennels containing dogs. The floors of the kennels were partially covered with urine and feces. Some of the dogs had open sores. Many of the dogs did not have water available to them. There was one tan dog in particular that was running in a tight circle. Animal Control Officers told me it appeared to be due to a condition called kennel craze. Dogs develop this when they are confined in a small area for a long period of time. The dog learns to hold its head to the side and only run in circles.”
Personally I think we should just lock them up at ‘the farm’ where there innocent charges were left to starve and die and save the taxpayers some money. No need to worry about too much food, they don’t deserve any better treatment they they meted out to the dogs and cats and other animals they were ‘caring’ for! Now that would be justice!Updates on the animal abuse case in Buckingham, Florida
October 7, 2008
Among hundreds of other charges are 60 FELONY COUNTS of animal abuse against the owner....
From the Fort Myers News-Press, October 2nd:
"The floors were covered with urine and feces. Cats were crammed into crates, litter boxes overflowing. One puppy in particular paced obsessively back and forth in a tight circle, a condition known as kennel craze.
These were a few of the conditions described by Lee County sheriff's Deputy William Dunaske, who arrived at My Best Friend's animal rescue in Buckingham on Sept. 23. According to his report, released Wednesday, there were areas of the compound on Jackson Road he could not enter because of the stench.
There have been three arrests, two re-arrests, and sheriff's deputies are searching again for the third, owner Carrie Cagata, 40. She and employees James Cullen, 29, and Shannon Kraham, 25, face 120 counts of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Cullen and Kraham are each being held in Lee County Jail in lieu of $160,000 bond.
On Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Kelly Worcester, head of the felony division of the state attorney's office, urging her to prosecute the case.
"To have allegedly denied these animals food and allowed them to slowly waste away is horrifically cruel," PETA casework manager Stephanie Bell wrote. "Too often, people who are convicted of crimes against animals walk out of court with a slap on the wrist. Because of the vile nature of this alleged crime, we urge Ms. Worcester to seek a sentence including incarceration if the defendants are convicted."
Deputies have not been able to locate Cagata, who was originally arrested Sept. 25 on eight counts of animal cruelty, and was released on $10,500 bond the same day. Lee County Animal Services, which has taken temporary custody of the 84 animals seized, has begun court proceedings to gain permanent custody of the animals so they can begin adoption proceedings, said spokeswoman Ria Brown. She said that could take as many as 30 days, possibly longer.
"They are certainly in a lot cleaner place, but some are still showing signs of the care that they were in, but we are treating them," Brown said. "But taking in that many at once, it does really affect the amount of space we have here for incoming animals."
She said they have had to send animals to the local Humane Society, as well as Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Naples to help with the overflow. Her agency for a time referred people to Cagata's rescue to adopt, but they began receiving complaints in January.
Three former employees tipped off investigators to the abuse. When Dunaske stepped onto the farm property, he described an overwhelming, sickening smell and dogs so thin that ribs and vertebrae protruded, and water bowls were not only empty but lined with dust.
When veterinarian Christopher Taylor examined the seized animals, he reported 12 of the cats were experiencing "pain, misery and discomfort" because of nasal discharge, eye drainage, eye mites, possible dehydration, lethargy, chlamydia and herpes." Taylor also found 52 of the dogs were suffering from various ailments, including bloody diarrhea, emaciation, wasting of muscles, dermatitis, fleas and ticks.
The rescue's sister clinic in North Fort Myers was closed in August, and has not been able to re-open after the theft of $40,000 in veterinary equipment earlier this month.
The News-Press first wrote about Cagata on Sept. 20 - three days before the search warrant was executed - at the time the theft report was made. She said the equipment belonged to her, and suspected former employees of taking it from her to start their own rescue.
Lee County sheriff's spokesman John Sheehan said that case is still under investigation.
At the time, she said her shelter had facilitated 600 adoptions in the year since she had taken over the shelter.
"Animals will come down with things when they are in large groups," Cagata said at the time. "But we always have had vets there to see them, and I have the bills to prove it. (My accusers) were trying to ruin our reputation." [End News-Press article.]
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Press Release
Friday, October 03, 2008
Buckingham Shelter Owner Arrested Again
***Update #1****
Lee County sheriff's detectives have arrested two people in connection with a scam that left dozens of dogs and cats dead or starving. The investigation reveals that James Cullen, DOB 10-21-78, and Shannon Kraham, DOB 10-31-82, worked with the ringleader of a "rescue mission" called My Best Friend, Incorporated. The ringleader traveled to shelters around the state, taking dogs and cats and claiming she would find them a home. Instead, the ringleader sold the animals she could for a profit and left the others to Cullen and Kraham at a place referred to as "The Farm." Cullen and Kraham were in charge of "caring" for the animals, but allowed the ones they couldn't sell to simply starve to death. Detectives served a search warrant at "The Farm" , 5381 Jackson Road (Buckingham area of Lee County), where they discovered approximately 50 dogs and 30 cats, as well as rabbits and chickens. Dead dogs and cats were found on the premises, including dogs discovered deceased in a freezer. Many of the living animals were emaciated. The animals rescued have been turned over to Lee County Animal Services. Cullen and Kraham are each charged with animal cruelty and animal abandonment. Additional charges are pending. Detectives continue their search for other suspects in the case.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is confirming that Carrie W. Cagata is being sought by detectives on charges of animal cruelty and animal abandonment. She faces four felony counts of animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 477-1000...Additional charges are pending. The case is still under investigation.
***Update #2***
Carrie W. Cagata, age 40, of 8651 Belle Meade Drive, Fort Myers surrendered to authorities at the Lee County Jail tonight. She was wanted on charges of animal cruelty and animal abandonment after a search warrant was served and two other arrested yesterday, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at a Buckingham residence. Fifty-three (53) dogs, twenty-eight (28) cats, two (2) chickens, and one (1) rabbit were rescued from the location. All of the animals were taken by officers with Lee County Animal Services to a veterinarian for initial examination and treatment. Additional details are listed in the prior releases below. The accused has been booked at the Lee County Jail ....
***Update #3***
Lee County sheriff's detectives have leveled more than one-hundred (100) additional charges against Carrie Cagata, DOB 11-12-67; Shannon Kraham, DOB 10-31-82; and James Cullen, DOB 10-21-78. They are being charged with one count of animal cruelty (felony) and one count of animal abandonment (misdemeanor) for each of the dogs and cats that were recently rescued from a Buckingham residence.
The additional charges follow the receipt of examination reports from the veterinarian. Open booking sheets have been prepared for Cagata and Kraham, who bonded out of jail following their initial arrests. Cullen has remained in the Lee County Jail since his arrest.
***Update #4***
Lee County sheriff's deputies arrested Shannon Kraham at approximately 4:30 pm on September 30th. Deputies are still searching for Carrie Cagata.
**Update #5**
Buckingham shelter owner Carrie Cagata turned herself in to sheriff's deputies October 2, 2008 at approximately 11:00 pm. Cagata was re-arrested after more than one-hundred additional charges were filed against her for animal cruelty and animal abandonment.
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You can read her arrest history at the Sheriff's website. Here's her smug ass smiling for the booking officer.
She's been released on a pre-trial basis. Her first hearing is October 27th. I hope that (upon conviction) her fellow inmates are just as kind to her as she was to the animals she left for dead - starving, sick and in their own filth. C'mon, karma!!!
Update/Surrenders/Released: Carrie W. Cagata
Name: Cagata, Carrie W, ID Number: 260857,Aliases: Carrie Wilhelm. More details were released today by the Lee County Sheriff's Office on the squalid conditions in a Buckingham animal rescue organization where 84 abused animals were rescued Tuesday.
Thursday September 25, 2008, 3:10 pm
An abusive situation closed down...and the animals rescued!
"She allegedly left the animals she couldn't sell for a profit at the Buckingham home."
What a pathetic individual this is....FULL MAXIMUM charges to this SCUM!!
I hope the rescued animals receive loving *forever* homes
Thursday September 25, 2008, 6:31 pm
I was fostering one of the dogs that Carrie pulled for me from Orange County animal control. We fostered him for 3 weeks, and he came with Cocidia which should have been caught by her. (just prooves that she doesnt vet animals before they go to homes). Even worse he needed x-rays on his deformed leg. I paid for his medication and his x-rays and told her that she needed to pay for his corrective surgery and then we will adopt him. We drove him back to Fort Myers (we live in Broward County), she assured me that he was just going on a little vacation.....well 4 weeks later, still no response from Carrie.
Also, when i dropped him off at Petco (where they did their adoptions), the puppies she was trying to adopt up looked ill. One was ALL pink, like a beginning stage of meinge...and oen had peed BLOOD in the towel. The little girls that were helping out to volunteer told Carrie about the blood and i remember her saying "oh that is weird"...and nothing more. I did not see any more concern from her or her making a call for someone to come pick the puppies up for vetting. She continued to try to get them adopted out.
Today we were notified that Obi the dog is in Lee County animal Shelter, they can identify him because of the leg. We are actively trying to get him back to us and continue doing so, as long as it takes. I already supplied the Investigator with Carries e-mails to me and proof of her admitting that she had sick puppies with Parvo and one had "died last night"...which was over a month ago. I truly believe this woman just does not care...why would you even let a dog go that needs surgery on his leg and has cocidia, knowing that i had other animals in the house.
I tried to play nice but now she has put my dog in danger of losing his life. I am fighting it.
If anyone has questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me:
K8_wruszak@bellsouth.net
-Kate
Carrie Cagata: Animal Rescue Crusader Pleads to Cruelty Charge
September 4, 2009
Carrie Cagata of Fort Myers, Florida may have seemed like a saint in animal rescue circles. The owner of My Best Friend adopted discarded pets from shelters around the state.
But Cagata wasn’t nursing them back to health nor snuggling on the couch. She was actually trying to sell them for a profit. And when inventory didn’t move, it was left to starve. In a raid, police found 53 dogs and 28 cats. Most were malnourished and some were already dead. Cops also discovered dead dogs in her freezer.
She was charged with a whopping 120 counts of animal cruelty. But she’s now pleaded guilty to misdemeanor abuse and sentenced to a $2,000 fine and 400 hours of community
service.Fort Myers woman avoids 120 counts of animal cruelty, accepts plea deal
8/31/2009
A Fort Myers woman has agreed to a plea agreement to settle an animal cruelty case involving more than 80 animals.
Carrie Cagata, 41, of 8651 Belle Meade Drive, originally faced 120 charges of animal cruelty and abandonment. Cagata pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of animal abuse. She was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay $2,000 in fines plus court and prosecution costs. In addition she must perform 400 hours of community service and cannot have contact with any animals during her probation period other than the pets she currently owns.
Cagata was the owner of My Best Friend, Inc. -- an animal adoption service on North Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. Detectives alleged Cagata adopted abandoned animals from shelters around the state in an effort to sell them for a profit.
The animals that did not sell were relegated to a property in the Buckingham area of Lee County known as 'the farm,' where many were left to starve or die, detectives said. Upon raiding the property last Sept., deputies found 53 dogs and 28 cats, as well as a pair of chickens and a rabbit. Many of the animals were malnourished and some had already died, deputies said. Some bodies of dead dogs were found in a freezer, they added.
James Cullen, the caretaker of the property on Jackson Rd., previously pled guilty to charges in this case on March 24, 2009. He received 300 days in jail, 12 months probation, and over $1,900 in fines and court costs.
In October 2008, Lee County Domestic Animal Services was awarded custody of the animals confiscated in the case. Despite the medical conditions of many of the pets, most were able to be adopted into new homes or were claimed their legal owners. More than $70,000 of treatment and training was required to increase their adoptability.
Woman gets community service for animal abuse
Posted: Aug 31, 2009
James Cullen Carrie Cagata
FORT MYERS: A woman plead 'no contest' and was adjudicated guilty on August 24th of two misdemeanor charges in a 2008 animal abuse case, according to the State Attorney's Office.
Judge Volz sentenced Carrie Cagata to two years probation, $190 court costs, $100 cost of prosecution, and 400 hours of community service.
On September 19th 2008, a search warrant was issued for property Cagata rented on Jackson Road.
Several animals were taken that day from Cagata's organization "My Best Friend, Inc."
The animals were found living in extremely unsanitary conditions.
Cagata must now perform 400 hours of community service and cannot have contact with any animals during her probation period other than the pets she currently owns.
She also is not allowed contact with any of her former employees.
Cagata originally faced 120 charges of animal cruelty and abandonment. The State went after her on two other charges they could prove.
Cagata has a court appearance Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. to go over her probation supervision instructions.
James Cullen, the caretaker of the property, previously pled guilty to charges in this case on March 24, 2009.
He received 300 days in jail, 12 months probation, and over $1,900 in fines and court costs.
In October 2008, Lee County Domestic Animal Services was awarded custody of the animals confiscated in the case.
Despite the medical conditions of many of the pets, most were able to be adopted into new homes or were claimed their legal owners.
