{"id":3116,"date":"2014-10-07T15:53:58","date_gmt":"2014-10-07T15:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/update-trial-begins-for-man-charged-with-horrific-cat-killing\/"},"modified":"2014-10-07T15:53:58","modified_gmt":"2014-10-07T15:53:58","slug":"update-trial-begins-for-man-charged-with-horrific-cat-killing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/update-trial-begins-for-man-charged-with-horrific-cat-killing","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Trial Begins for Man Charged with Horrific Cat Killing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Sylvester\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early this year, 24-year-old Steven Ullery and his wife walked into the reception area of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals<\/a> (spcaLA) in the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village on Spring Street, carrying the dead bodies of their two cats, Sylvester (pictured above) and Oliver, whom the couple had adopted the previous month.<\/p>\n

After Ullery told the volunteers that the cats were \u201cdefective\u201d and then requested a refund, the staff, suspecting animal cruelty, notified humane officers. (Read the original story here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

SpcaLA and the Long Beach Police Department subsequently launched an investigation and found that in March and May 2013, the Ullerys presented three additional dead cats to the Uptown Animal Hospital. One cat had died of blunt-force trauma and another had been choked to death, according to L.A. County Prosecutors. It\u2019s unknown as to what the third cat died from.<\/p>\n

LBPD arrested Ullery on Jan. 23 in connection with the animal deaths and was released on $60,000 bail. He has been charged with four felony counts of cruelty to an animal and is facing trial this week. If charged with the killings, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in county jail.<\/p>\n

According to California Penal Code Section 597<\/a>, any person convicted of intentionally killing, maiming or otherwise abusing any animal is guilty of a felony. If you are witness to the abuse of any animal, please call Animal Care Services at (562) 570-7387.<\/p>\n

\"LawsandEnforcementSlideshowREV\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives.\u201d
<\/i>~ Dr. Albert Schweitzer<\/i><\/p>\n

Virtually Pets<\/h3>\n

\"2014-09-23<\/p>\n

Cloudy<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2014-09-23<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Sunny<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2014-09-23<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Drizzles<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2014-09-23<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Foggy<\/em><\/p>\n

The pet overpopulation program, like anything run rampant through thoughtlessness, is caused in part by people who don\u2019t fix their pets and allow them to run free and breed. The guys in the photo above\u2014two males and two females, one of which is the mom\u2014were relinquished by their owner after he agreed that he couldn\u2019t take care of them. They\u2019re now waiting for a forever home at West Coast Animal Rescue. Go visit them and all the other guys\u2014e-mail sherri@westcoastanimalrescue.org<\/a> for information. And please visit West Coast Animal Rescue\u2019s website<\/a> and their Facebook page<\/a>, where lots of pups who want to go home wait. The site also includesinspiring videos of special-needs dogs and how they were helped to overcome their disabilities, and an amazing education into what effective, dedicated rescuers are faced with daily and nonetheless manage to conquer.<\/p>\n

Kibble<\/h3>\n

\"hot-car-hot-oven2\"<\/p>\n

Your Pet Is Not a Hot Pocket<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mother Nature is cheesed off beyond belief and has sent us extreme heat and an accompanying drought. But your pets (and your kids) don\u2019t deserve the wrath. Make certain that you don\u2019t leave them unattended in cars in this weather, which should be going on for Heaven knows how long. Leaving an animal or a child in a locked car is illegal, as described in California Penal Code, Section 597 (b)<\/a>; it can lead to heat stroke, permanent brain damage or death. Even cracking the window for air isn\u2019t a solution, as the temperature in a parked car can soar to 160 degrees.<\/p>\n

According to the spcaLA, authorities are allowed to break the windows of a car if an animal or a child is in distress. If you see a pet or a child locked in a car on a hot day, call 9-1-1. If possible, leave your pets at home during these hot days (the cat will thank you) and be sure that your pets and kids have available water. For more information on protection from hot weather, click this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Food and Clothing Donations Requested for Next Fix Long Beach Event, Oct. 11, Shady Acres Mobile Home Park, 5533 Long Beach Blvd., 7AM.<\/p>\n

Donations of dog and cat items including treats, toys, leashes, collars and food, as well as clothing and food for human residents are being requested for Fix Long Beach\u2019s<\/a> (FLB) next spay\/neuter event to be held at a local mobile home park where there is huge need for this service. Volunteers will be canvassing the park to educate the residents about pet overpopulation and then will be fixing as many of the residents\u2019 pets for free as they can. FLB will also be providing low-cost inoculations, free microchips and spay\/neuter vouchers for the residents of the park. If you have items to drop off, please come to the parking lot next to the park starting at 7AM. We thank you! [Note: Only residents of the park are eligible for this service.]<\/p>\n

Humane Education for Parents Now Available!<\/p>\n

Award-winning children\u2019s book author Deborah Turner (How Willy Got His Wheels, How Willy Got His Wings<\/i>) and her canine friend ChiBi have made her Humane Education Program available in Long Beach schools! Teachers who wish to book a presentation for a class\u2014the sessions are done one class at a time\u2014contact Deborah Turner at deborah@wheelywilly.com<\/a>. Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/a> is also offering free spay-neuter certificates for the pets of families who attend the presentation. Click here<\/a> for more info and contacts.<\/p>\n

Photo Op for Fido<\/p>\n

Is your dog pinup quality? If so, enter him in the Friends of El Dorado Dog Park\u2019s Best Friend Photo Contest<\/a> features great prizes, coupons and a chance to grace the park\u2019s 2015 calendar. Dogs only, so the cat gets a reprieve. No people, either.<\/p>\n

Pet Projects<\/h3>\n

Friends of Long Beach Animals Rummage Sale, Saturday, Oct. 11, 6931 Stearns, Long Beach, Beach, 8AM\u20132PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) will be hosting a rummage sale to help fund and benefit the new multiuse clinic that will benefit shelter pets and those of residents, date and time to be determined. FOLBA is also requesting sale items, so if you are interested in donating, call (562) 988-7647, and volunteers will arrange to either pick up your items or have you deliver them to their storage space, whichever is more convenient for you. Donation receipts will be available upon request.<\/p>\n

Birds and Butterflies Walk, Saturday, Oct. 11, Los Cerritos Wetlands, PCH and First Street, Seal Beach, 8AM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Join El Dorado Audubon naturalists for a lovely walk in our wetlands. We always have a good time!<\/p>\n

Free Pet Food for Adopters through Oct. 12, spcaLA at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, Long Beach Towne Center PetSmart, 7700 E. Spring St. in El Dorado Park, Long Beach, Weds.\u2013Fri., 10AM\u20135:30PM; Sat.\u2013Sun, 10AM\u20134PM. Closed Sat.\u2013Sun.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In celebration of National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Chicken Soup for the Soul<\/a> and spcaLA are teaming up to offer free pet food for adopters of dogs and <\/i>cats. Chicken Soup for the Soul has donated 6,000 pounds (zowie!) of their brand of pet food to assist with spcaLA\u2019s efforts to find permanent homes for their pets; if you adopt a cat or dog from spcaLA at this time, you\u2019ll receive a free bag of Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food and one of their endearing titles, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dog Did What? <\/i>or Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Did What?,<\/i> for you!<\/p>\n

Haute Dogs Interfaith Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, Oct. 19, Granada Concrete Boat Launch next to Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach, Ocean Boulevard and Granada Avenue, Long Beach, 6:15PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2014 Interfaith Blessing of the Animals hosted by Justin Rudd\/Haute Dogs will have a beautiful sunset as a backdrop for all the wonderful pets. Bring your animals, whatever species they may be.<\/p>\n

Halloween Spook-tacular, Saturday, Oct. 25, spcaLA Marketplace at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, Long Beach Towne Center PetSmart, 7700 E. Spring St. in El Dorado Park, Long Beach, 1\u20133PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring your dog and join the fun! Participate the Doggie Costume Contest: <\/strong>($5 donation entry fee, register by 2PM) with ghoulish prizes. Categories include Best Homemade, Funniest, Scariest, Best Duo, Most Original, and everyone’s least-favorite category: \u201cIs that really a costume?\u201d There will also be a Tricks Contest, treat stations, bobbing for \u201capples,\u201d an agility demo, a paw-painting booth and a photo booth.<\/p>\n

Haute Dogs Howl\u2019oween Parade, Sunday, Oct. 26, Marina Vista Park, Long Beach, 5355 East Eliot St., Long Beach, 2:30PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Space (even outer space) doesn\u2019t permit the description of this spectacular, multifaceted event that\u2019s attended by more than 500 dogs. Just design the most incredible costume, float or both for your pet, and register online here<\/a> beginning Oct. 12. This is the biggest Halloween treat of all!<\/p>\n

Mayor\u2019s Animal Care Town Hall, Tuesday, Oct. 28, El Dorado Park Community Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 6\u20138PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor Robert Garcia and the Department of Animal Care Services invites you to a special town hall to discuss animal care in Long Beach. This will be an opportunity to meet Animal Care Staff, volunteers, and community leaders. Rescue partners, animal advocates, and pet guardians are encouraged to attend and join in a hopefully positive conversation about the future of animal care in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

Holiday Bone-anza, Sunday, Nov. 16, Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, 10AM\u20135PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celebrate our new dog park and help raise money for water lines into the park. Friends of El Dorado, with the help of their sponsors, will be bringing in holiday snow to play in, and there will be a DJ, a raffle and a silent auction, face painting, elves (eek!) and food trucks. Pet contests will entertain in a number of categories\u2014find the info here<\/a>. Join the fun!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Early this year, 24-year-old Steven Ullery and his wife walked into the reception area of spcaLA<\/a> in the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village on Spring St., carrying the dead bodies of their two cats, Sylvester and Oliver, whom the couple had adopted the previous month. After Ullery told the volunteers that the cats were \u201cdefective\u201d and then requested a refund, the staff, suspecting animal cruelty, notified humane officers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":68221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[39],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-3116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","tag-scratching-post","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3116"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=3116"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}