2012 Pet Station Investigation

Ramzi Dakhlallah was charged with 37 counts of animal cruelty. 

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich April 11, 2012 - A Dearborn Heights man and his store, Pet Station LLC, are accused of subjecting more than 20 dogs, 70 birds and numerous other animals such as hamsters and snakes to poor care that included depriving them of food and water. 

He and Pet Station are charged with one count of abandon and/or cruelty to 10 or more animals, a 4-year felony. 

He and the store also face misdemeanor charges: one count of false pretenses between $200 to $1,000 for selling a sick animal; one count of nonsufficient funds of $100 or more but less than $500 for writing a bad check on the pet store's account; 20 counts of violations related to the pet shop and care of animals; one count of rules violation for failing to maintain proper records on the animals; and 13 counts of violation of the Animal Industry Act for not following the state Department of Agriculture rules for the importation of dogs in to the state. Those charges have penalties varying from 30 days to one year in jail.

About 10 people complained to authorities about the miserable conditions in the pet store, prosecutor's office spokeswoman Maria Miller said. 

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. October, 5 2012 - Ramzi Dakhlallah was charged in April with 37 counts of animal cruelty following a lengthy investigation of the owner of the Pet Station. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office alleged that he abused or neglected more than 100 animals during his ownership of the shop, located on Telegraph Road near Van Born. 

Judge Thomas E. Jackson on Wednesday placed Dakhlallah on probation for five years, and ordered that he stay out of the pet shop business.

 

For more information about this case, go to the Puppy Mill Awareness of SE Michigan Message Board. http://www.meetup.com/puppymillawareness/messages/boards/thread/22280782/0#74515192

Tougher Pentalies for MI Pet Stores and Breeders (SB 285)

In the same month we discovered Ramzi Dakhlallah, former owner of Pet Station, was potentially back in action violating his probation terms working as dealer for an Ohio puppy miller, we learned that Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor, introduced some tough penalties for chronic offenders like Dakhlallah – SB 285. 

Senator Bieda was approached by the Wayne County Prosecutors office wanting to strengthen MCL 750.50 and 750.50(b) “our Animal Cruelty Laws”. They were finding it difficult to adequately prosecute animal crimes involving a high amount of animals. PMA is not surprised that Senator Bieda assisted.  

SB 285 was introduced March 21, 2013. Please thank Senator Bieda (Warren-D). 

I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise as Kym Worthy stated at a press conference last year around this time that she was already working on changes to the laws after the Pet Station case! Detroit News article 2012:

'Deplorable' cases highlightinadequate animal cruelty laws, prosecutor says
 

Here is a summary of SB 285. Note, they called out PET SHOPS and BREEDERS! If you support these changes, make sure you RSVP for Mi Humane Lobby Day April 16th!

• Defines breeder as a person who breeds animals for the purpose of making a profit.
• Now includes breeders and operators of pet shops.
• Defines companion animals.
• Violations involving 25 or more animals or for individuals who have had 3 ore more prior convictions are now felonies. Not less than a 5 year probation.
• If the person is a breeder or operator of a pet shop and they have ad 5 or more prior convictions related to animals the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment not more than 2 years, a fine not more than $5,000 or both.
• Added levels of offense:
• A person who INTENTIALLY violates subsection (2) A or C related to adequately caring for animals or knowing that the animals a companion animal is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the first degree.
• A person who either intentionally violates or violates subsection (2) A or C knowing the animal is a companion animal is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the second degree.
• A person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the third degree.
• Increases penalties for each level of offense:
• First degree offense – felony punishable by 1 or more of the following: not more than 10 years in prison (changed from 4 years), fine not more than $5,000 (changed from single animals $2,500, not to exceed $20,000) and community service.
• Second degree offense – felony punishable by 1 or more of the following: not more than 7 years in prison, fine not more than $5,000 and community service.
• Third degree offense – felony punishable by 1 or more of the following: not more than 4 years in prison, fine not more than $5,000 and community service.  

It is a bad time to be a pet store or breeder in Michigan.

Pet Station Owner Sentenced

On October 3, 2012 the owner of Pet Station, Ramzi Dakhlallah, was sentenced to 5 years probation, restitution to-be-determined (over $10,000) and 20 hours of community service. He is not allowed to possess, harbor, sell, import, breed, or transport animals during this probation period. If he violates his probation, he could go to jail.

Ramzi’s attorney stated that Ramzi accepted responsibility and he suffered from “sloppy business ownership”. He was in over his head. His business was shut down and he can not earn a living. He is devastated. It has been eye opening experience. 

When the judge asked him if he had anything to say he said “I just want to put this behind my back”.

Judge Jackson said he sees 1-2 cases at this level. Troubled case. He did receive several letters from the community and organizations. 

For more details on the April 2012 seizure of 275 animals go to our Meetup discussion thread on this case.