How Protecting Animals Leads to Protecting Children, Others

Blogger Kerri Whitehouse writes about how serving justice to the man who shot Forrest the dog will help save others.

Solon Woman Pushes For Stricter Animal Cruelty Laws

Solon resident Robin Stone said that if animal cruelty were a felony in Ohio, we wouldn't need the ammunitions charge.

The new owner of a dog that was shot and left for dead in a park called news that his alleged shooter faces a federal charge "bittersweet." Robin Stone of Solon recently adopted Forrest, who's previous owner Raymone Clements is now facing charges. Clements was charged in December with shooting the dog, now adopted and named Forrest, in the face and shoulder at Forest Hill Park. During the police investigation, authorities say they found one round of .357-caliber ammunition and two rounds of .22-caliber ammunition in his home. The ammunition charge carries a greater sentence if Clements is convicted, but the animal cruelty charge, as well as two other firearms charges, were dropped by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. "I feel that Forrest …

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Accused Dog Shooter Ramone Clements Arrested

U.S. Attorney's Office arrest Clements in Cleveland this morning

Ramone Clements, the man accused of shooting Forrest the dog (now a Solon resident) and leaving him for dead in a Cleveland Heights city park, was arrested in Cleveland this morning. Clements was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A U.S. Attorney spokesperson said that Clements was arrested on Finn Avenue in Cleveland at around 11 a.m. today.  Clements was charged in December with shooting the dog, now adopted and named Forrest, in the face and shoulder at Forest Hill Park in Cleveland Heights. During the police investigation, authorities say they found one round of .357-caliber ammunition and two rounds of .22-caliber ammunition in his home. The ammunition charge carries a 10-year …

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Solon Couple Completes Jail Sentence for Animal Cruelty

Couple had 39 pets in their Solon home, according to the Plain Dealer

In a case dating back to August 2010, Solon couple Steven and Heidi Friedman both served two weeks in the Solon jail in April on animal cruelty convictions. The Friedmans were convicted of three counts of animal cruelty April 6 at Bedford Municipal Court for keeping 39 pets in squalid conditions at their Wagon Wheel Drive home, according to court records. They were sentenced to the jail term and probation, along with psychological evaluations and random home inspections. They also are not allowed to have children or animals in their home. The case started when a neighbor complained and police found 25 dogs, eight cats, three birds, a rabbit and two guinea pigs -- locked inside the home and living in squalid conditions, according to the …

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