Anza Man Charged With Cruelty

I took this directly off of the Riverside Animal Control website under "news" today the power and water at this property were being shut off. Animal Control has been out to the property and took pics of the remaining animals but have yet to take them. Why? Who is going to care for them? He obviously posed a threat to that horse but not to the other animals? Being a former resident of Anza I can say there are 2 vets in the area and 1 will come to the house....I can't wait to see how they dance around this one and make it look like they did their job.

Authorities arrested an Anza man Sunday on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Jack Ziniuk
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Animal Services are investigating the death of a horse in the Anza area in south Riverside County.

The owner of the horse, Jack Ziniuk, 64, told sheriff’s deputies the horse had been injured by attacking dogs and, as a result, was suffering from seizures and had to be “put down.” Further investigation revealed that the horse had been struck in the head with a sledgehammer, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department. (A copy of that release is being sent with Animal Services’ news release.)

At this point the cause of death is yet to be determined, Animal Services Director Robert Miller said.

Animal Services Capt. Tammie Belmonte retrieved the remains of the mare on Sunday. Belmonte transported the remains to a California Animal Health and Food Safety lab in San Bernardino for a necropsy. A necropsy on animals is equivalent to an autopsy for humans. The necropsy should help determine the cause of death and the horse’s overall health condition.

It appears that this animal did not receive proper veterinary care prior to its death, said Animal Services Cmdr. Rita Gutierrez, who also responded to the scene Sunday.

All animals must receive proper care, stressed Dr. Allan Drusys, the county’s chief veterinarian, whose background includes more than 20 years in private practice as an equine veterinary medicine specialist.

“We urge every animal owner to obtain the service of a qualified veterinary professional for healthcare services,” Dr. Drusys said. “This is especially important in the time of urgent need.”

Now for the police report....

RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Hemet Station
PRESS RELEASE


Date/Time Written: April 20, 2009
Type of Incident: Animal Cruelty - 597 PC
Date/Time of Incident: April 19, 2009 ~ 0800 hours
Location of Incident: 59300 block of Upper Tule Rd., Anza
Reporting Officer: Sergeant Bill Roach
File Number: D09109033



Details: On Sunday April 19, 2009, Riverside County Sheriff's Deputies from the Hemet station responded to the report of dogs attacking a horse at an address in the 59300 block of Upper Tule Road in Anza. Riverside County Animal Control officers also responded to the address.

The reporting party, Jack Ziniuk, indicated that his horse was badly injured by attacking dogs, and as a result was suffering from seizures and needed to be "put down."

Upon arrival, the deputies determined the horse was dead and did not appear to have been injured by dogs. Animal Control officers arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed the finding's of the deputies. Further investigation revealed that the horse had been struck numerous times in the head with a sledgehammer and then decapitated with a chainsaw.

The deputies located and seized the chainsaw and sledgehammer. They also found the horse's head which had been placed into a "dog-run" as a source of food for the owner's dogs.

Animal Control took custody of the animal remains and will arrange for a necropsy to determine the cause of death and the status of the horse at the time of decapitation.

Jack Ziniuk, 64 yrs, was taken into custody and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for 597 PC - Cruelty to Animals.

The Sheriff's Department requests that anyone that may have information about this case contact Sgt. Bill Roach at the Hemet Sheriff's Station at (951-791-3409)