Sophieas painting sold at the Painted Paws Art Show that raised more than $3,000 for dogs rescued from euthanasia. Sophie was adopted after the show.He was once a trusted volunteer and employee, working with rescued dogs.
Now Jeremy Taylor, 32, of Elyria, is accused of breaking into the nonprofit Animal House shelter in Lorain and stealing the cash register.
Taylor is charged with breaking and entering, theft and criminal damaging.
And Animal House director Crystal Luli says she has learned a valuable lesson.
"We go through more than 100 employees a year and simply cannot handle the added expense of full background checks," she said, but it's free and easy to check most criminal records using the Internet.
In this case, Taylor has lived in Lorain County for most, if not all, of his adult life.
Google "Lorain County Ohio courts." Click on the links to Lorain County Common Pleas Court, Lorain Municipal Court and Elyria Municipal Court. Go to the "public access" or "records search" pages on each site and enter a person's name.
For Taylor, the list of cases is long -- receiving stolen property, obstructing official business, grand theft auto, breaking and entering, retaliation, aggravated menacing, domestic violence, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, escape, resisting arrest and more, in addition to traffic offenses.
Animal House, which mainly rescues dogs facing euthanasia at local pounds, was burglarized at 2:40 a.m. Nov. 26. A man wearing a hood, and keeping his face turned away from security cameras, shattered the window in a rear door, walked straight to the cash register and ripped it off the counter. He was in and out in less than 30 seconds, disappearing into woods behind the building, Luli said.
Turtee's work of art raised money for the Animal House shelter in Lorain. Taylor had volunteered at Animal House before he was hired six weeks before the burglary. He was careless and let a dog escape that was struck and killed by a car, Luli said. She fired him, two weeks before the break-in.
The $2,500 loss in cash and damages is covered by insurance. And the group, faced with $25,000 a month in expenses, didn't miss a beat.
Exactly a week after the theft, Animal House held its first Painted Paws Art Show. More than 100 people attended and all 34 paintings -- created by dogs, cats, a rabbit and a turtle walking through globs of children's finger paint -- sold, raising more than $3,000.
Animal House is operated by Ohio Pet Placement, founded by Luli in 2005. For more information: ohiopetplacement.org, 440-277-7400, 2555 N. Ridge Road E.
Pound dog comforts
Animals in the News readers donated $800, about 100 blankets, five cases of canned dog food, 200 pounds of dry food, and numerous toys and treats to For the Dogs rescue, which will distribute the goods to dogs spending the holiday in Northeast Ohio pounds. One reader signed on to become a much-needed foster home for the group that rescues dogs from "death row"; [email protected] or call 216-816-6646.
Bermuda continues to recover from surgery to repair a leg injured by buckshot. The Berea Animal Rescue Fund took in the young cat in September, after a farmer found her and her four kittens. Donations for veterinary bills are needed; bereaanimalrescue.com.Santa-pet photos in Valley View
The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter hosts pet photos with Santa and gift basket raffles from 5 to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 9500 Sweet Valley Drive. Details: cuyahogadogs.com, 216-525-7877.
Adoption discounts in Twinsburg
The Humane Society of Greater Akron hosts Home for the Holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at 7996 Darrow Road. Neutered, vaccinated, microchipped cats six months and older are $5; dogs six months and older are $55. The shelter needs bedding, bleach, laundry soap, trash bags, medium collars, leashes, hot dogs and canned cat and dog food. Details: summithumane.org.
Low-cost neuters in Akron
Citizens for Humane Animal Practices hosts Fix that Feline in a mobile clinic Saturday at 180 E. South St. Male kittens 12 weeks old and weighing at least 3 pounds and cats will be neutered for $40; females are $50. Register by calling 330-724-6181.
Santa-pet photos in Parma
The Northeast Ohio SPCA offers $10 photos and Scentsy candles from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9555 Brookpark Road; northeastohiospca.org, 216-351-7387.
Santa-pet photos in Shaker Heights
Shaker Recreation offers $5 photos from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Thornton Park, 3301 Warrensville Center Road. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Shaker Heights Recreation for Youth Scholarship Fund. Details: 216-491-1295.
Jennifer Resendez and Congo enjoy dock diving at a Canine Fun Days event in Moreland Hills. They can now enjoy an indoor pool at the Ohio Air Dog facility in North Royalton.Santa-pet photos in North Royalton
Ohio Air Dogs offers free photos and dock-jumping demonstrations at its Christmas party from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 13688 York Road. The facility includes a 21-by-41-foot pool and 20-by-40-foot dock. Details: ohiodockdivingairdogs.com, 216-854-1260.
Santa-pet photos in Westlake
Friends of the Bay Village Kennel offers photos for $9.99 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Landmark on Dover Center Road near the railroad tracks. Raffles, giveaways and more; 440-871-6220.
Santa-pet photos in Medina
Kitten Krazy offers photos for $9.95 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at PetSmart Medina, 5011 Grande Blvd. Details: kittenkrazy.org.
Santa-pet photos in Mayfield, Parma
The Public Animal Welfare Society offers photos for $9.95 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Mayfield PetSmart, 1521 Golden Gate Plaza and Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Parma PetSmart, 6870 Ridge Road.
Santa-pet photos in Mentor
Santa Claus and Lake Humane Society animals awaiting adoption will be at the Great Lakes Mall from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. A pet-themed fashion show begins at 5:30 p.m. and benefits Rescues and Runaways, a national campaign to increase awareness of animal shelters and adoption. The Golden Barkery bakery will give treats to pets and people and donate 10 percent of any purchase to animal rescue groups. For the Love of Pits offers ornaments for a pet remembrance tree near Dillard's. Details: Facebook.com/GreatLakesMall, lakehumane.org, fortheloveofpits.org.
Horse abuse in Berea
The two men and two women accused of forcing a horse to run two days before he died at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea are due in court Tuesday. Linda Guthrie, 48, of Newton Falls; Gregory Davidson, 57, of Berea; and Debra Klun, 50, and James Pinkston, 66, both of Cleveland, are each charged with two counts of cruelty. Multiple witnesses told Animal Control Officer Laura Takacs that Chickasaw was obviously not feeling well Aug. 11 when he was tied to a pickup truck and forced to trot while two women hit him with a rope and whip, according to the police report. One witness videotaped the incident. A veterinarian told Takacs that Chickasaw had been suffering from colic but that he expected the horse to recover. Two dozen horse enthusiasts attended a pretrial hearing in Berea Municipal Court.
Xmas wrap in Aurora
Get boxed gifts expertly wrapped and decorated for a donation to PetFix Northeast Ohio from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the ThornCreek Winery, 155 Treat Road; 330-562-9245.
Animal research in Cleveland
Activists protest the use of animals in laboratory research from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, outside the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute at Carnegie Avenue and East 100th Street. Last year, the institute did research on 25 primates, 115 dogs, 17 sheep, 240 pigs, nine calves, 177 rabbits and 351 hamsters, according to the USDA. Details: meetup.com/animalrights-190, [email protected].
Bake sale in Litchfield
Angels Haven Horse Rescue's bake sale and raffle runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at Litchfield Medina Tack, 8517 Norwalk Road. Bakers, call 440-781-5060.
Pet food drive for needy families
Ohio Advocates for Companion Animals is collecting unopened dog, cat, bird, reptile, hamster, rabbit and fish food for low-income families who visit the Emergency Assistance Center in Northfield. The group is also collecting blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, pet treats and toys through Dec. 17 for local shelters. Email [email protected] or call 440-382-8983 for information on drop off locations in Woodmere, Euclid, Willowick and Macedonia.
Geauga pets
Adoption fees are reduced this month at the Geauga Humane Society; geaugahumane.org, 440-338-4819, 15463 Chillicothe Road, Russell Township.
Magic and Libby are sisters. They need a home.PAWS
Adopt a dog, cat, puppy or kitten before the end of the year from the Public Animal Welfare Society and $5 of the fee goes to Harvest for Hunger, which feeds needy people. Each $5 donation provides 20 meals. Adoption fees are $30 for a cat, $50 for a kitten, $75 for two kittens, $150 for a dog and $175 for a puppy. PAWS' foster homes are full. Details: PAWSOhio.org, 440-442-7297.
Candles for horses
The Right Lead, Kids Helping Horses Help Kids, is raising funds selling votive candles that evoke the scents of a horse barn; leather, hay, oats and pine. Each is $4 and burns for 15 hours. A cinnamon apple candle is $8 and burns for 36 hours. The nonprofit group teaches troubled children how to work together to care for the rescued horses. To order: 330-571-0562; [email protected]; 3489 Styx Hill Road, Medina, by appointment.
Lakewood cats
Neutered, vaccinated cats that have been socialized in foster homes are $20 each through the end of the year at the Lakewood Animal Shelter. Details: 216-529-5020, cclas.info.
Cats in Medina
Kitten Krazy this month offers neutered, vaccinated kittens for $90, older kittens for $69 and cats for $35 at the Remington Adoption Center, 930 Lafayette Road, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Details: kittenkrazy.org, 330-558-1540.
$1,000 raffle for cats
Caroline's Kids Cat Sanctuary is raffling $1,000. Tickets at carolines-kids.org are $5 each or six for $25 for the Jan. 27 drawing at the shelter, 7394 Morley Road, Concord Township. Visitors making a $13 donation can add a light honoring a pet to the spruce Tree of Love outside the shelter. And donations of canned cat food are needed to help feed 250 cats. Details: 440-449-3496.
Pet exams in Parma
Aaron Animal Clinic, 7640 Broadview Road, offers free physicals through Jan. 31 for the pets of senior adults and low-income families; 216-901-9980.
Annette Fisher, director of Happy Trails, and a volunteer walk a starving calf out of a dark fly-infested shed on a Medina Township property. The owner is charged with cruelty to animals.Low-cost neuters
Low-income pet owners and stray-cat caregivers can have dogs and cats neutered by PetFix Northeast Ohio for $30 to $70 each in the PetFix mobile clinic that visits humane societies, rescue groups and pounds in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Portage and Trumbull counties. Details: petfixnortheastohio.org, 216-536-0930.
Low-cost neuters in Medina
The Quick Fix Clinic at 930 Lafayette Road offers low-cost neuters by appointment from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Appointments are not needed for low-cost vaccinations, deworming and flea treatments from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Details: quickfixmedina.org, 330-558-1540.
Pet food in Lakewood
My Best Friends Bowl provides free dog and cat food to low-income Lakewood, Rocky River and Westlake residents through the Lakewood Community Services Center, 14230 Madison Ave.; 216-226-6466. Cat food donations are needed.
Exotic and farm animal care
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources wants to know where dangerous wild animals are being kept; call 1-855-392-6446 (1-855-DWA-OHIO) or go to dangerouswildanimals.ohio.gov. The hot line is answered between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. See a video about exotics in Ohio at tinyurl.com/7udbaru. The state Department of Agriculture takes complaints about farm animals not receiving proper care; 614-728-6220 and [email protected].
Horse slaughter
Legislators are taking comments on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act that would outlaw the U.S. export of horses for human consumption. Details: humanesociety.org/issues/horse_slaughter.
Donating to animal charities
The 13th annual Watchdog Report on Animal Charities reviews the spending, salaries and policies of 122 animal and habitat protection groups in the U.S. and 52 abroad. It's available for $25: tinyurl.com/6rtvu5g; 360-579-2505; or mail a check to Animal People, Box 960, Clinton, WA, 98236.
Send animal news to [email protected]; fax 216-999-6374; 216-999-4852. Get more animal news at blog.cleveland.com/metro/animals and blog.cleveland.com/missing-pets.