Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates

06/24/2026

💲 2,000 REWARD IN SEARCH OF ❗

At Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates, we wish we had the capacity to shed light on EVERY animal cruelty case NATIONWIDE and hold EVERY abuser accountable. We focus our efforts on Connecticut where is the driving force behind our advocacy. 🧑‍⚖️

That said — tonight we are honored to stand with 'Trooper'. His story hails from North Carolina and MUST be told. His abuser must be CAPTURED...🐾

This case was brought to our attention by one of our dedicated Animal Advocate Attorneys. ⚖️

TROOPER'S STORY: 📖

Picture it — Father’s Day — Davidson County, North Carolina. A couple walking along a wooded path discovers a tiny Yorkie...severely emaciated, barely alive, abandoned and locked inside a dented, rusted cage. 😓

The dog was skeletally thin, barely able to move his head and was left with nothing but his own waste. His fur was so badly matted it binded his body parts together, and rainwater was his only means of survival. This innocent dog was FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE and appropriately named 'Trooper'.

Thankfully, Krystal Anderson of responded immediately. and worked tirelessly to free Trooper from the mats, give him small amounts of food and water, and get him the emergency veterinary care he desperately needed. 🙏

Anderson described Trooper's condition as one of the most eggregious cases of cruelty she had ever seen.

📰 THE GOOD NEWS: Trooper is now safe. Slowly recovering, and showing small signs of improvement — but his long-term prognosis is still uncertain after such extreme neglect. No one knows exactly how long Trooper was left to suffer...but we know he couldn't have lasted much longer.

SHARE TROOPER'S STORY FAR & WIDE 💜

💵 REWARD: A $2,000 reward is being funded by an anonymous donor for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this reprehensible abuse.

CONTACT: ☎️ (Tips can remain anonymous)

Davidson County Sheriff’s Office or Animal Control at 336-242-2105. 👈

06/22/2026

🚨 URGENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE REQUEST

Two innocent dogs were abandoned — tied to a guardrail at the I-84 East Truck Stop in Willington, CT. They were left with a 30-pound bag of dog food and water dishes. While basic necessities were provided, abandoning animals is never okay. It is, by definition, a form of animal cruelty under Connecticut law. ⚖️

☎️ Willington Animal Control is actively seeking the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible. If you recognize these dogs, know who left them, or have any information — no matter how small — please contact Willington Animal Control at 860-428-4422 immediately.

🙏💜 Thank you to Town of Willington Animal Control for their swift response and compassionate care. Thanks to their dedication, both dogs are now safe, in good condition, and receiving the proper attention they need.

06/22/2026

🆕 A NOTABLE DEVELOPMENT in the Michael Gerchy animal cruelty case:

At a recent hearing in Manchester Superior Court, Gerchy’s attorney, John O’Brien, filed a motion to withdraw from the case. He cited a complete breakdown in communication and stated he could no longer represent Gerchy in good faith. The attorney appeared visibly disgusted as he addressed the court. The judge granted the motion, and O’Brien walked out, leaving Gerchy alone to secure new legal representation.

⚖️ WHAT'S NEXT?:

Gerchy must now retain new counsel. His next court date is Monday, July 13, 2026, in Manchester Superior Court.

📰 BACKGROUND:

In a video originally from 2024, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, fitness influencer Michael Gerchy was captured violently abusing his dog Stitch. The footage, which surfaced in 2026, shows him repeatedly kicking the dog, throwing him onto furniture and the floor, holding him in a chokehold-style grip, and yelling phrases including “Do you want to die?”

The video went viral and Gerchy was arrested on March 27, 2026, on charges of Cruelty to Animals and Violation of a Protective Order. He faces additional charges, and domestic violence allegations. 🚔

06/21/2026

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

06/20/2026

🧑‍⚖️ COURT CASE UPDATE: There's a concerning development in the case of Elijah Padilla of Hartford, CT.

The man who STRANGLED and STOMPED "Nugget" his girlfriend's 7-year-old Maltipoo to DEATH in 2025...WILL BE ALLOWED TO APPLY for accelerated rehabilitation. The necropsy showed the attack broke the dog's ribs and torso! 😡

In fact, Padilla admitted to police that he “slammed the dog onto the floor” and, when “it didn’t move, he knew it was dead.” His stated reason? He “did not like the dog because it didn’t like him.” 🤬

Padilla was previously denied the Supervised Diversionary Program. This new development doesn't mean AR will be granted, but it does mean that a slap on the wrist is now an option that's back on the table. If granted and completed, it would wipe Padilla's criminal charges off the record. ⚖️

QUOTE: 🗣️

Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates President Zilla Cannamela says, "Considering the violent and disturbing details of the crime, we are urging the court to DENY AR to ensure justice for Nugget. This case has now appeared on the docket 11 times in the past year. The time for accountability has come."

06/20/2026

🧹 WARRANT SWEEP LEADS TO ANIMAL CRUELTY ARRESTS:

A few days ago Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates brought you initial information on the animal cruelty arrests of Dynasty Grant and Shaleana Ellis of Wallingford, CT.

The have now confirmed NEW information. ℹ️

UPDATE: 🆕

During the week of June 8, officers executed a targeted warrant sweep that resulted in 16 arrests — holding accountable individuals wanted for various offenses in the community.

Among the notable arrests were two individuals charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty:

Shaleana Ellis, 22, and Dynasty Grant, 25, were each charged with four counts of Cruelty to Animals.

DISTURBING CASE DETAILS: 📰

Officers responded to a complaint at 9 South Side Terrace and discovered shocking neglect:

📍- Three cats confined in separate cages and one dog left completely unattended for three days with no food or water.

📍- The home was in extreme hoarding conditions.

📍- After briefly returning, the pair left the animals alone again for two more days.

📍- One cat was found dead after being released from its cage. The deceased cat was placed in a freezer.

📍- A necropsy revealed severe emaciation, muscle wasting, and dehydration.
- The surviving animals — the dog and two cats — were severely matted, emaciated, malnourished, and fearful.

NEXT: ⏭️

Both suspects were released on $15,000 surety bonds and are scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on June 25.

06/19/2026

🆕 NEW: Connecticut State Police have Released Shocking New Body Camera Footage from the Tolland Cockfighting Raid – 🐓🚔

It's been dubbed the biggest arrest incident in modern state police history. The massive May 16 raid at 55 Mountain Spring Road in Tolland.

NEW BODY CAM VIDEO: 🎥

The footage depicts chaotic scenes of tactical teams sweeping a basement arena and adjacent buildings on the dormant quarry property: officers navigating blood-stained fighting pits, seizing birds fitted with blades/gaffs, discovering makeshift gambling setups littered with cash, and detaining dozens of participants amid deplorable conditions filled with injured and dead roosters. The video highlights the scale of this illegal operation.

MEANWHILE IN COURT: 🧑‍⚖️

June 18, 2026, homeowners Elvin Miranda, 59, and Lisa Miranda, 66, appeared in Rockville Superior Court. Prosecutors are upgrading the animal cruelty charges (C.G.S. 53-247) from misdemeanors to felonies for the organizers, reflecting the severity of the systematic torture involved. The couple, along with others, also faces professional gambling, operating a gambling premise, and risk of injury to a minor charges. They are free after posting $250k bond earlier.

FACTS FROM THE BUST: 📰

📍- 100 arrests total, many from out-of-state.
📍- 273 birds seized and euthanized due to horrific injuries and neglect.
📍- $90,000 cash recovered.

QUOTE: 🗣️

Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates says' "Cockfighting is not culture, it's cruelty. It's a barbaric bloodsport of torture for profit and "entertainment"—birds are weaponized and forced to fight to the death. We applaud law enforcement for the transparency in releasing a portion of body camera footage and we urge the courts to impose the strongest possible penalties to these animal abusers."



VIDEO CREDIT: NBC Connecticut, thank you for your coverage. 🙏

06/16/2026

🚔 ARRESTED: Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates has confirmed that Dynasty Grant and Shaleana Ellis of Wallingford were arrested and charged with FOUR counts of animal cruelty EACH related to the severe neglect of THREE cats and ONE dog. 🐾 The cat died as a result. The investigation began in January. 🕵️ They were arrested on June 11th. They both posted bond and are free but are ordered by the court not the posess any pets. They willl be arraigned in Meriden Superior Court on June 25th. 🗓️

06/15/2026

FEATURED‼️ The story of Winter and admitted animal abuser Dayne Punter has made it's way to www.GreaterGood.com / our thanks to them for their coverage. 🙏

This is a case where Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates expended significant resources to connect the dots. It's a LANDMARK CASE that marks the FIRST TIME this type of DNA technology has been used in an animal cruelty investigation in Connecticut. 🥇

Desmond's Army funded the necropsies and testing. They linked the family together and ensured that Punter was charged with MULTIPLE crimes committed across multiple jurisdictions.

THANK YOU: 💜

Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates proudly thanks Wolcott Dog Pound, Wolcott Police Department , Waterbury Police Department. Waterbury Animal Control, Woodbridge Regional Animal Control , and Woodbury Connecticut Animal Control for this collaborative effort. Special recognition to Animal Control Officer Roz Nenninger ⭐ for her relentless dedication.

THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME ON THIS CASE...🕵️



https://greatergood.com/blogs/news/cw-wolcott-and-waterbury-animal-cruelty-charges-after-emaciated-dogs-found/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=cw-wolcott-and-waterbury-animal-cruelty-charges-after-emaciated-dogs-found

Somber: Waterbury man faces animal cruelty charges after emaciated mother dog and puppies linked by DNA testing.

06/11/2026

🙏 PLEASE SHARE: They are at capacity and these beautiful innocent animals need loving homes.