Virginia animal control officer convicted of animal cruelty

20
21
Spread the love

In Nottoway, Virginia, an animal control officer, whose position expected him to properly care and protect animals, was found guilty of animal cruelty. On Monday, Raymond Merkh, who had been the director for the Nottoway County Animal Shelter, was found guilty of leaving a kitten untreated for five days after the animal had been hit by a car.

According to WncnNews, a shelter volunteer offered to take the kitten to a vet after finding it languishing close to death in the litter box in its cage.The little kitten was diagnosed with a badly infected leg wound, a fractured pelvis, and nerve damage to his bladder and rectum. She was  not able to urinate or stand and needed emergency veterinarian care, but none had been provided. Sadly, the orange tabby had to be humanely euthanized by veterinarians. Merkh, 55, also faced charges of animal cruelty involving three abandoned puppies of which two of the pups died. Those charges were dropped when the judge agreed there wasn’t enough time to save their lives as the puppies were near death when found. The felony charge surrounding the neglect of the kitten was reduced to a misdemeanor; Merkh was fined $250.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Terry Royall stated this conviction was a success, since this was the first time in Virginia an animal control officer was held responsible for not taking care of the animals he was bound to protect. Merkh is no longer employed at the shelter.

Merkh faces related animal cruelty charges involving a Jack Russell terrier who was left untreated. That dog also had to be euthanized.

(Photo of animal control officer screenshot of booking photo)

Follow the Pet Rescue Report on Facebook.

 

 


Spread the love

20 COMMENTS

  1. “The felony charge surrounding the neglect of the kitten was reduced to a misdemeanor; Merkh was fined $250.

    Commonwealth’s Attorney Terry Royall stated this conviction was a success…”

    WTF kind of justice is THIS BULLSHIT???

    ANIMAL ABUSE IS NOW A FEDERAL, FELONY-LEVEL OFFENSE: WHEN WILL THESE DUMFUK “JURISTS” START ENFORCING FELONY-LEVEL SENTENCES????

    Rest-in-peace, all you precious lost souls: It’s at least some small comfort to know this bastard’s no longer ANYWHERE near companion animals….

    COMPLETE AND UTTER BETRAYAL OF TRUST – BY BOTH OFFENDER *** AND **** “JUDGE”!!!

  2. fuking Virginia va is for animal abusers not lovers fined $250. and he no longer works there big fricking deal hope someone beats him to death

  3. NOT much of a sentenced BUT AT LEAST THIS IS A START IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!!!! In getting justice for animals that are not BEING TREATED with RESPECT and DIGNITY IN THE very PLACE THAT SHOULD BE HELPING THEM WITH COMPASSION !!!

  4. Right! ..Isn’t this guy supposed to be on OUR side and the animals’ side? Talk about a betrayal. Glad he’s not in a position of authority involving animals anymore because too many of them were dying due to his neglect. Wish the sentence was longer!

  5. As usual, the judicial system failed this kitten when Raymond Merkh basically got a slap on the wrist for allowing this innocent animal to linger in pain and suffer. Merkh should be introduced to a wood chipper head first. His picture should be posted in ALL shelters and Animal Control offices so he is NEVER hired again at any facility.

  6. This is NOT a success! This state has tough animal cruelty laws for a reason! If the person in charge of the shelter is not providing proper care for the animals there, that POS needs to be CHARGED because it is his or her JOB TO DO SO! If that scumbag won’t, how could anyone expect the public to do so? That bastard should have received no mercy: in fact, he should have received the MAXIMUM, and then some.

  7. Ce bâtard devait prendre soin de ces âmes innocentes, l’excuse, c’est qu’il n’avait pas le temps alors il les a laissé mourir dans des souffrances horribles, il n’y a aucun pardon pour ce mécréant, pour ce consanguin, pour moi, je lui donnerai la peine de mort, il ne mérite aucune pitié, c’est un parasite, un assassin. Oeil pour oeil, dent pour dent.

  8. These judges are complete and total WIMPS…. scared to death to hold these monsters liable for what they do to fur babies. When is it going to penetrate their heads that ANYONE who can hurt an animal…. will eventually hurt another human? When that happens? The judge you basically slapped his hand for this horrible crap needs to also be held responsible.!!!!!!

  9. This is BULLSHIT!!!! He needs to be charged and put in Jail for what he has done. This is totally uncalled for and he needs to pay for this.

  10. He looks like a fucking evil piece of shit he should get a bullet in his head in sounds like the judge is a fucking piece of shit to

  11. This is not an isolated incident! The fact this thing was allowed to keep his job as long as he did isn’t unusual either! In this country there is no formal definition of qualifications for this job! So you have human beings who you wouldn’t trust to take your garbage taking care of animals! Until there is one single definition and what schooling is needed to qualify for this job there will be other stories like this! Actually I’m sure there already are they just haven’t been found out yet!

  12. This is another reason we need that data base that they talk about . We need a site that people can go on and check these people out

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here