DOVER, DE (Jan. 11, 2023) –   The Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) and the Delaware State Police (DSP) responded to a complaint of suspicious activity at a Seaford residence over the weekend resulting in charges related to dog fighting and the rescue of 14 dogs. One dog died from the injuries sustained from the alleged dog fighting activities. There are five (5) dogs that remain in serious condition, and another eight (8) dogs that are being cared for by Brandywine Valley SPCA.
 

On Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., DSP responded to a report of suspicious activity around the 26000 block of Lonesome Road in Seaford. DSP conducted an investigation and discovered multiple people at the property actively engaged in dog fighting. DSP took five individuals into custody at the scene. Following the observation of animal fighting, OAW obtained a search and seizure warrant for the property units and took custody of the 14 dogs that were found at the residence.

 The defendants are: 

1. Samuel Foreman, age 44, of Whaleyville, MD
2. Timothy Whaley, age 44, of Salisbury, MD  
3. Bryon Briddell, age 35, of Berlin, MD  
4. Kevin Land, age 47 of Salisbury, MD or Seaford, DE
5. Glenn White, age 36 of Salisbury, MD or Wilmington, DE
    

OAW charged all defendants with one count each of: 

1. Title 11 – 1326 (000A) FELONY 

1. 1. Own, possess, keep, or use of animal for fighting 

2. Title 11 – 1326 (000B) FELONY 

2. 1.  Present at a building/shed /room/yard for animal fight 

3. Title 11-1325 (00B4) FELONY 

3. 1.  Cruelly or unnecessary kills or injures any animal 

Each of the defendants face the possibility of up to 3 years in prison for animal cruelty which is a Class F felony, and up to a 5-year sentence for animal fighting which is a Class E felony. The defendants posted bail on an $18,000 secured bond from Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI). Part of the bail conditions stipulate that the defendants they have no contact, possession, or ownership of any animals. 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 (delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c030f/index.html). If you are concerned about an animal’s welfare and suspect cruelty or neglect, contact OAW’s Delaware Animal Services section immediately at 302-255-4646 or report online at 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. 

DOVER – DNREC’s Brandywine Zoo assisted Chester County, Pa. law enforcement by taking into the zoo’s care a two-foot-long, juvenile American alligator that was found inside a Coatesville, Pa. home during a Feb. 8 drug bust in the town some 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

The Brandywine Zoo agreed to house the alligator at the request of Chester County District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan, and it will become an educational animal for zoo visitors during the summer. Afterward, the alligator will be moved to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-approved facility in Florida that loans the Brandywine Zoo alligators for its summer exhibit.

“We will provide care for the alligator and ensure it is healthy during its stay with the zoo,” said
Brandywine Zoo Director Brint Spencer. The zoo, managed by DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, “is glad we could be of assistance to Chester County law enforcement in placing the alligator in a healthy environment,” he said.

The alligator was discovered as police in Chester County executed a search warrant at a home in Coatesville, and seized heroin, crack cocaine, suspected fentanyl, cash, and drug packaging materials. Police also found the alligator living in the kitchen of the residence. Three defendants in the case have been charged with drug trafficking and related offenses, and remanded to Chester County Prison.

“Chester County law enforcement deeply appreciates the assistance of zoo director Spencer and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control,” said Chester County District Attorney Hogan. “The zoo and Director Spencer were immediately available to help us deal with the safe handling of the alligator. DNREC’s help provided us with both short-term and long-term placement of the alligator, making sure that it will be treated humanely.”

DNREC’s Brandywine Zoo is temporarily closed through the end of February while construction and improvement projects are made to the zoo’s campus in Wilmington. The zoo’s education building will remain open to host upcoming programs scheduled throughout the month.

The construction projects, undertaken ahead of implementing the zoo’s master plan for operations recently approved by DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, include the conversion of the zoo’s otter exhibit into a new small animal contact area, and improvements to the honeybees and beehive educational display, and to the Andean condor exhibit. The improvement projects also include installation of new zoo signage, and renovation of the exhibit for the zoo’s South American capybaras – better known as the world’s largest living rodents.

Modifying the exhibits not only will enable the zoo to move some animals into upgraded facilities, but also helps the zoo to prepare for the arrival this spring of new species. Brandywine Zoo Director Spencer said that during construction, some of the animals are being shifted to zoo housing away from the construction work areas, where they will be fully engaged by keepers until returning to their exhibit space.

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

Vol. 49, No. 31

DELAWARE CITY – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers rescued a 61-year-old Newark man on Oct. 7, after he was swept into a large culvert pipe under Port Penn Road while crabbing from a kayak near Delaware City.

A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer on routine patrol was alerted that someone was struggling in the pipe running under the roadway. The kayak had overturned in a strong outgoing tide as the kayaker was paddling near the pipe while trying to recover a crab trap.

The officer climbed down to the kayaker, who had been holding onto the culvert structure after having been in the water for several minutes. The officer held onto the kayaker’s arm and belt until another DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer arrived on scene and lowered a rescue rope. The two officers, with help from members of the public, lifted the man from the pipe to safety.

The kayaker, who was wearing a life jacket, was treated on scene for exhaustion and minor hypothermia.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-382-7167; or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 48, No. 276