Good day:
As you may know, the burned kitten case is just one of several animal abuse and neglect cases pending in Clay County, Missouri. In another instance, a woman is alleged to have hoarded 100 animals in a modest trailer. The animals were found and many are in very bad shape. Her name is Delores Flores, and our judge has ordered her to undergo a mental examination.
Efforts to adopt out the animals -- many of which are feral -- have slowed. These animals have been exposed to a highly contagious feline disease (regrettably, I don't recall the name other than it is abbreviated by three letters) making adopting the animals problematic.
The Liberty, Missouri, animal control office has an application process one must go through before adopting an animal. If you are interested in acquiring one of the animals, you may contact animal control at (816) 415-1877. You should know they are very busy as a result of extensive local accounts of the Flores case, and are screening calls through an answering device.
A link to a news account of the adoption effort is below.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ws/3721170.htm
Charles C. Benoit's next court appearance is Monday, July 29; it's a public defender determination hearing. After the hearing, it is likely that a docket call will be the next court setting. Whether this case will be presented for a preliminary ("probable cause") hearing has not yet been determined.
These links are to articles in the KC Star and a local television station which detail the defendant's arraignment and upcoming court appearances, and responses he has to the allegations. It is:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ws/3683543.htm
http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.as...1&nav=1PuZA8ny
As mentioned earlier, a fund has been established for Sherry Scott, who burned herself while trying to save Lucky. I have contacted reporters from The Kansas City Star and hope to soon see an update on how well this effort is going. The address of the fund should you care to contribute is:
Sherry Scott Saved Lucky Fund
c/o Bank of America
8320 N. Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64118
The Liberty Sun Newspapers , a local "publication" of dubious integrity (long story, long story) has nonetheless published a balanced account which includes an interview with Sherry Scott and more details of what may have happened July 12. The link to the article is:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...d=155076&rfi=6
The Clay County Circuit Courts' web page (where you can track these cases first hand) is:
http://www.circuit7.net
You may access the court's server through a "public access" feature; you will need to know the defendant's first and last name to be able to track the case.
As before, I must re-iterate what the Missouri Supreme Court rules say:
A charge is not evidence of a crime; it is an accusation. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless there are either pleas or findings of guilty.
Your courtesy and interest in these cases are appreciated.
