DOVER, DE (Jan. 20, 2023) –   The Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) announces the arrest of a sixth man involved in a Seaford dog fighting incident from January 8. OAW charged Laurel, DE, resident Ronnell Jacobs, age 45, with three felony counts related to dog fighting, and two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. This arrest is in addition to the five previous individuals arrested on January 8 who have since posted bail.  

Ronnell Jacobs is currently being held without bail for a Violation of Probation related to his January 12 arrest on dog fighting and animal cruelty charges, but not as a result of the charges themselves, for which he was released on his own recognizance. He remains incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution. He is ordered to have no contact, possession, or ownership of any animals pending the outcome of the case. Mr. Jacobs was arraigned on Jan 12 on the following charges: 

• Two counts owning, possessing, keeping or using an animal for the purpose of fighting 
• One count being present at an animal fight 
• Two counts of cruelty or neglect to animals  

On January 8, Delaware State Police (DSP) and OAW responded to the 2600 Block of Lonesome RD in Seaford for suspicious activity and found multiple people at the property actively engaged in dog fighting. Five people were apprehended at the scene, while others fled on foot. During the investigation, OAW officers discovered information concerning the identity and location of Jacobs, who fled the scene at the time. He was found to be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections’ Probation and Parole Office and wearing an ankle monitor. A review of the suspect’s location on the date and time of the dog fighting incident place put him at the Lonesome RD property. 

On January 12, OAW obtained a search and seizure warrant for the suspect’s Laurel residence, where 4 dogs were seized, two of which were found chained in the woods behind the home and had injuries consistent with dog fighting. The dogs are in the care of Brandywine Valley SPCA. Upon seizure, two dogs required emergency veterinary care. One of the dogs that required emergency veterinary care was determined to be unable to recover from their wounds and euthanized. The dogs are being monitored and evaluated by BVSPCA medical staff.  

To date, 18 dogs were rescued as a result of this investigation. Three dogs have died, two dogs have been adopted.  The other dogs continue to recover; some soon ready for medical and behavior evaluation before they are released to be adopted.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this case should contact OAW at 302-255-4646. 

Animal Cruelty Complaints 

Cruelty and neglect of animals is against the law (https://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c030f/index.html). If you are concerned about an animal’s welfare and suspect cruelty or neglect, contact OAW immediately, at 302-255-4646 or report concerns online at https://animalservices.delaware.gov/report_violation/25 . 

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 The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. 
   

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, or speech-disabled can contact DPH by first dialing 711 using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free; to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.  

Whether in their own backyards or while taking a walk outdoors, Delawareans are likely to encounter young wildlife this time of year. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds well-meaning residents that usually the best thing you can do when encountering young wildlife of any species is to leave the animals alone. Taking a wild animal from the wild will almost certainly ensure that it will not survive, so “if you care, leave them there.”

While some young animals appear to be abandoned, they usually are not, with their mothers nearby watching over them and waiting for you to move on. Many wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, leave their young while they forage for food, visiting only a few times a day, with the young animal’s natural instinct to lie quietly to protect them from predators.

Removing or handling wildlife can be harmful to both humans and wildlife. Precautions to take with both juvenile and adult wild animals include:

• If you see a young wild animal alone, watch from a distance to see if its mother returns, which could take several hours.
• Be aware that wild animals can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous, especially if they are in pain.
• Wild animals can carry parasites such as fleas and ticks or diseases such as rabies that can affect you or your pets.
• Remember that it is illegal to raise or keep a live wild animal in Delaware.

For more information to help determine if an animal is injured or orphaned and in need of rescue, or is exhibiting normal behavior and does not need to be rescued, visit the Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators and Educators at dewildliferescue.com.

To determine the appropriate course of action if a young wild animal appears injured or if you are certain its parent is dead, contact the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Section during business hours Monday through Friday at 302-739-9912 or at 800-523-3336 after hours and on weekends.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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The new Outdoor Delaware online magazine, launched today, is the go-to guide to enjoy and learn about animals, nature, science, adventure, conservation and many other topics. It is produced by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Outdoor Delaware provides engaging articles, photos and videos for visitors to discover places to go, what can be seen and done there, and the countless ways to experience the beauty and wonder of the outside environment in Delaware.

“Outdoor Delaware is where nature comes alive,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “We are excited to offer this new way to enjoy our award-winning conservation magazine. More visitors to the site will be informed about Delaware’s natural resources and the many ways we work to protect them.”

In the inaugural issue, visitors will learn what a radiated tortoise is, why artificial reefs and electric vehicles are important, and how to play disc golf – accompanied by beautiful photographs and peppered with videos. The first issue also features articles on jellyfish to watch out for, kestrel banding, where recycling ends up, words of wisdom from a longtime hunter and much more.

Like the print version before it, Outdoor Delaware offers articles and photos, now available without a subscription. Visitors to the Outdoor Delaware site will also find articles posted on a frequent basis, not just four times per year.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov or Beth Shockley, elizabeth.shockley@delaware.gov.

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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recommends, ‘If you care, leave them there’

DOVER – Whether in their own backyards or while taking a walk outdoors, Delawareans are likely to encounter young wildlife this time of year. While some young animals appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. In most cases, their mothers are watching over them somewhere nearby and waiting for you to move on. The Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds well-meaning Delawareans that when encountering young wildlife, regardless of species, the best thing you can do is to leave the animals alone.

Many wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, leave their young while they forage for food, visiting the young only a few times a day. This tactic, in addition to the young’s natural instinct to lay quietly while waiting for its parent to return, actually helps protect the young from predators by drawing less attention to them.

Removing or handling wildlife in any way can be harmful to both humans and wildlife. Precautions to take with both juvenile and adult wild animals include:If you see a young wild animal alone, watch from a distance to see if its mother returns, which could take several hours.

• Be aware that wild animals can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous, especially if they are in pain.
• Wild animals can carry parasites or diseases that can affect you or your pets, such as fleas, ticks, or rabies.
• Remember that it is illegal to raise or keep any wild animal in Delaware.

If a young wild animal appears injured or you are certain its parent is dead, please contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife during business hours Monday-Friday at 302-739-9912, or after hours and weekends at 800-523-3336, to determine the appropriate course of action, not only for your own safety, but also to help ensure the best possible outcome for the wild animal. Taking a wild animal from the wild is almost certainly ensuring it will not survive, so DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife advises, “If you care, leave them there.”

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 141

WILMINGTON – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation and the Delaware Zoological Society will open the Brandywine Zoo for the season with a weekend of festivities from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, March 10, and Sunday, March 11.

Visitors can tour the zoo’s “Curiosity Learning Stations,” and learn from zookeepers what the animals did during the winter season, including finding out if the zoo’s red panda took a trip, guessing which avian changed the color of her feathers, and discovering whether the bobcat picked the Eagles to win the Superbowl.

“The opening of the Brandywine Zoo is a rite of spring, and a time for fun and education for kids of all ages,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “There are more than a hundred animals to be seen and programs to enjoy throughout the season. The Brandywine Zoo is a true Delaware gem – a serene yet wild place set in beautiful Brandywine Park. I encourage everyone to come and visit Delaware’s only zoo.”

The Brandywine Zoo is managed by the Division of Parks & Recreation with the support of the Delaware Zoological Society. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), and is one of over 200 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America, a distinction that marks its commitment to providing excellent care for animals.

“The start of a new season at the Brandywine Zoo is always an exciting time,” said Michael T. Allen, Executive Director of the Delaware Zoological Society. “We are delighted to welcome visitors to the zoo to learn more about our mission of conservation and education. While we don’t have any big announcements yet, stay tuned for some new animals that will be joining us later in 2018.”

The Brandywine Zoo opened in 1905 in Brandywine Park in Wilmington, and is located high above the banks of the Brandywine River. Its residents include red pandas, condors, river otters, burrowing owls, pygmy goats, llamas, rheas, the capybara (the world’s largest rodent), and other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians native to the Americas, and the temperate areas of Asia. A total of 125 animals live at the zoo, although several are not on exhibit and reserved for the Travelling Zoo program. Many of the animals are rescues, unable to be returned to the wild. The zoo has a small petting zoo area, and offers frequent close encounter programs where visitors may meet animals up- close. The schedule for special events, daily programs, education workshops, and spring, summer and holiday camps, is on the zoo website. The zoo is fully accessible.

For more information, visit www.destateparks.com/attractions/brandywine-zoo/ or www.brandywinezoo.org.

Vol. 48, No. 45

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902