By: N Gilbert
PLEASE SHARE EVERYWHERE TO HELP PROTECT THE INNOCENT ANIMALS!!
~Waiting on specifics re: where she's been spotted but please be on the lookout for this woman!!
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Nicknamed "The Dog Hitler of Fort Myers, Florida."
Carrie Cagata: Animal Rescue Crusader Pleads to Cruelty Charge
By Pete Kotz in Animal Cruelty
Friday, September 4, 2009 at 7:00 am
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.
http://www.truecrimereport.com/2009/09/carrie_cagata_animal_rescue_cr.php
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80 animals neglected, seized
Fort Myers, FL (US)
Incident Date: Friday, Sep 12, 2008
County: Lee
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Carrie Cagata
» James Cullen
» Shannon Kraham - Alleged
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 in connection with a raid on a home in Buckingham on Tuesday.
Cagata faces four felony counts of animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment.
She is the executive director of My Best Friends Inc., which deputies say was housing more than 80 animals at a home on Jackson Road in wretched conditions.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Cagata traveled to animal shelters across Florida adopting pets. She sold those she could for a profit, deputies say, but others she couldn't find homes for she left at the home.
Deputies served a search warrant at the home Tuesday and found 53 dogs, 28 cats, a rabbit and two chickens roaming the grounds on Jackson Road. Deputies also found a dead puppy and kitten in the freezer.
While on the property they arrested James Cullen, 29, and Shannon Kraham, 25, on charges of animal cruelty and animal abandonment.
Animal Services had received complaints from My Best Friends Inc. as far back as 2004. Three complaints were filed against the organization this year.
Last week, the sheriff's office investigated a burglary at the organization's clinic at 13410 N. Cleveland Ave. in North Fort Myers. According to sheriff's reports, $39,471 worth of vet equipment was stolen.
Case Updates
An animal cruelty case against a Fort Myers woman who authorities say was housing more than 80 animals in rooms covered with feces and without food or water has been resolved.
Carrie Cagata, the owner of the rescue organization My Best Friend, Inc., was arrested Sept. 23, 2008 and charged with 120 charges of animal cruelty and abandonment.
Cagata pled no contest to two misdemeanor charges of animal abuse and received a sentence of two years probation, $2,000 in fines plus court and prosecution costs. She also must perform 400 hours of community service and cannot perform community service hours at an animal shelter.
James Cullen, the caretaker of the property where the animals were held, pled no contest to animal cruelty charges on March 24, 2009. He received 300 days in jail, 12 months probation and more than $1,900 in fines and court costs.
Most of the animals found at the home were able to be adopted, according to Lee County Animal Services, and more than $70,000 was spent to in treatment and training.
Source: News-Press - Aug 31, 2009
Update posted on Aug 31, 2009 - 12:04PM
Lee County Animal Services now have ownership rights to the more than 80 animals that were seized from a home in Buckingham during an animal cruelty investigation.
Carrie and Jay Cagata, who operated the animal rescue agency My Best Friend, Inc., signed over rights to the animals through their attorney in a court hearing today, said Ria Brown, animal services spokeswoman. Carrie Cagata faces 120 charges of animal cruelty and abandonment and will appear in court Nov. 3.
The animals can now begin the adoption process, with some that will be available Thursday, Brown said. Others will need to be fostered until their health or their behavior improves.
Since they were brought to the shelter Sept. 23, two dogs and eight cats have been killed. One dog was killed because of illness, the other was not responsive to care and the eight cats were put down because of illness, Brown said.
Lee County sheriff's deputies seized the animals from the Buckingham home where they say they were being kept in rooms filled with urine and feces and with little to no water.
Source: News-Press - Oct 23, 2008
Update posted on Oct 24, 2008 - 3:21AM
Lee County sheriff’s deputies have added charges to three people arrested last week accused in the abuse of more than 80 animals.
Carrie Cagata, James Cullen and Shannon Kraham each now face one count of animal cruelty and one count of animal abandonment for each of the dogs and cats rescued from a Buckingham residence. Deputies recovered 53 dogs, 28 cats, two chickens and a rabbit from the home on Jackson Road in Buckingham.
The additional charges follow the receipt of examination reports from the veterinarian, sheriff’s spokesman Tony Schall said.
Source: News-Press - Sept 29, 2008
Update posted on Sep 29, 2008 - 4:15PM
Local news has confirmed one of the suspects in a recent animal abuse case, Carrie Cagata, is being investigated on new charges.
Cagata apparent dropped some additional animals Friday at a local veterinary hospital. Lee County Animal Services tells WINK News, animals were taken to Eastside Animal Hospital on Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Over the weekend, the Animals Services the spokes person could not say how many animals were dropped off.
Cagata is the alleged ringleader of an Animal Rescue scam currently being investigated. She is already facing eight charges related to animal cruelty in the separate case.
Source: CBS News - Sept 28, 2008
Update posted on Sep 29, 2008 - 4:15PM
Carrie Cagata, the executive director of My Best Friends, Inc., turned herself into the Lee County Jail tonight. Cagata was wanted on on four felony counts of animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment.
Source: News-Press - Sept 25, 2008
Update posted on Sep 25, 2008 - 10:39PM
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/14613/FL/US/
Credits: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=495911873785476&set=a.475307739179223.107698.429837510392913&type=1&theater
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