I have never blogged before and honestly don't know what I'm doing nor where this is going. I just wanted to get the word out that we (Fairbanks Animal Hospital) were scammed by a person wanting to adopt a dog. I had placed an ad on Craig's List to find a loving home for Bear, a mixed breed dog that we had kept at the clinic for about six months. He was a neglected fear aggressive dog when he came to us and he left a sweet boy who only wanted his belly rubbed. A man by the name of Stellios Billis came in to adopt Bear and said he and his son could provide a loving home for him. He was allowed to take the dog for the night as a trial. When he did not return or call the next day, we began to call, but he would not return the calls. One of my employees became suspicious and went to his business, Billis Auto, only to find Bear in a car lot with three other dogs who had obviously bitten him in the face. I started talking to the police to find out my rights and after being told there wasn't much I could do, I decided to go pick the dog up myself. Upon arriving, I learned that Mr. Billis was out of town and Bear had been attacked and killed in a 5'X5' cage that he had been locked up in with the three dogs. He did not deserve to die that way especially having come so far from such a bad life. I feel horrible for allowing Bear to go with this man.
I called animal control only to hear that there wasn't much that could be done about Bear's death, but that they had been called out there before and found a dead Rotti. He was fined.
My purpose in writing this is to:
1) warn people specifically about Stellios Billis at Billis Auto (1710 Forsyth Rd., Orlando, FL 32812) who knowingly deceived us -- it is my belief that he never intended Bear to be a pet and he knowingly placed him with known dog killers. It is my belief that he has absolutely no concern for the well being of animals based on the stories I heard from tenants on his property.
2) advise people who are trying to adopt out animals that they not be trusting as there are hideous evil people out there who look at animals as mere throw away possessions.
3) to get ideas as to how I can hold this man responsible
I called animal control only to hear that there wasn't much that could be done about Bear's death, but that they had been called out there before and found a dead Rotti. He was fined.
My purpose in writing this is to:
1) warn people specifically about Stellios Billis at Billis Auto (1710 Forsyth Rd., Orlando, FL 32812) who knowingly deceived us -- it is my belief that he never intended Bear to be a pet and he knowingly placed him with known dog killers. It is my belief that he has absolutely no concern for the well being of animals based on the stories I heard from tenants on his property.
2) advise people who are trying to adopt out animals that they not be trusting as there are hideous evil people out there who look at animals as mere throw away possessions.
3) to get ideas as to how I can hold this man responsible
38 comments:
Hi Randy,
this is Dr. Lori Seelhoff from McAbee Vet Hosp - just wanted to let you know we are so sorry to hear about what you all have gone through...I don't know what to do legally either, but we have posted your Adoption Warning on our front bulletin board (and we're passing on the info as well) ESPECIALLY so everyone can boycott that business.
Have you thought about involving the media? just a thought...
let us know if we can do anything else to help...hang in there!
my name is Madeline Jordan mcjordan@earthlink.net and anything I can do to help please let me know. I will forward your warning to pet rescue by judy and will personally call this piece of waste tomorrow.
I will be putting this out to our complete mailing list so hopefully it will get brought to all the local vet offices to be posted as well.
Chris
FLOP Director of Communications
Maybe you could forward this to PETA?
hi there...I would also put an ad up on craigslist where you originally placed the ad so that others can read about what happened. It makes me SICK to hear what happened to precious Bear. I am so sorry. Dont blame yourself..you didnt know!!! I am so angry that people have little or no regard for the welfare of animals. Do whatever you can to make sure this man pays!
My name is Rebecca Stroud and I write "The Animal Advocate" blog (formerly wrote the same as a newspaper column). Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to bring this story to the public's attention. Currently, I am involved in the "Ella" case here in Brevard County re: animal abuse; the pictures you posted have me more than upset and angry about how this issue MUST be legally addressed and those who commit such heinous crimes be prosecuted to the nth degree. In the meantime, I am so sorry for what happened to Bear. And to Ella. My heart breaks for all of them...
FIRST OFF I AM SO SORRY ABOUT BEAR GOD-REST HIS SOUL YOU NEED TO GO BIG WITH THIS FIRST OFF I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOG ON TO ROLO DOG.COM AND GET IDEAS OF HOW THIS GAL WENT ABOUT SAVING HER DOG AND YOU NEED TO GET THE MEDIA AND TV ON THIS ONE REMEMBER THE GAL WHO LEFT HER DOG IN THE CRATE TO DIE YOU NEED TO E-MAIL ANIMAL CRAZY PERSONALY AND LET HER KNOW SHE WILL GET THE STORY OUT THERE GO TO CRAIGS LIST AND WITH THE PICTURES GO TO "YOU TUBE" ALLSO LOG ON TO ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND .ORG I BELONG TO THEM OUR MOTTO ABUSE A ANIMAL GO TO JAIL THEY CAN HELP WITH YOUR LEGAL MATTERS AND YOUR RIGHTS!!!! YOU GO TO THEM FIRST AND START SPREADING THE WORD I WILL START SPREADING THE WORD TO IF YOU NEED MY HELP E- MAIL ME AT SPECIALKAY1900@COMCAST.NET
YOU NEED TO POST THIS ON GOOGLE!!!!!! YOUR STORY AND PICS JUST LIKE THE GIRL FOR ROLO!!!! CHERYL
My name is Rick and I am the former tenant who owned Teddy the 5year old pitt bull who was brutally killed by Billis' two vicious dogs. On 12-17-2006 I received a phone call from a nearby neighbor that 2 dogs were attacking Teddy. When I arrived at my office I found Teddy covered in blood laying under a van. The neighbor said that Teddy never fought back he just tried to get away. He said the 2 dogs kept dragging Teddy out from under the van by his throat and his rear. I could not imagine what Teddy had gone through. We rushed Teddy to the emergency vet clinic in Casselberry where he had passed away aprox. two hours later. We contacted Orange County Animal Control,showed them the pictures of Teddy's injuries, and they said the attack was very vicious and the 2 dogs were not protecting themselves or property that they had 1 thing in mind and it was "kill kill kill".But they "couldn't do anything" since Billis owned the property. I then received a 10 day evict from Billis Sturgianos because we called animal control.He was never even apologetic about what his dogs did. An employee of Billis' looked at Teddy's pictures, and asked if we were sure we didn't run him over with our tow truck. I witnessed the same 2 dogs playing tug of war with a cat. The dogs also killed aprox. 15 puppies in the year and a half I was renting. Please help, the killing has to stop.
Hi Randy,
I just wanted to let you know that we've added this case to the national animal cruelty database:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/14017/FL/US/
Please do keep us posted on any movement in this case.
In my research I found quotes about animal cruelty that I wanted to share. Here are a handful of them:
"Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it." -Mark Twain
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” -Gandhi
We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals" -Immanuel Kant
"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man." -Arthur Schopenhauer (ANYONE who would defend Billis' actions should reread that one.)
This last one made me think of the surviving dogs (the ones channel 9 called “Bad Dogs”), you, and this mission to prevent Billis from ever abusing another animal:
“I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man” -Gandhi
These dogs may not exactly be “helpless” in the sense that they could easily crush his bones in their jaws if they desired to do so, but they rely on him for food and shelter and they live in desperate squalor because of him. They are slaves to him, and he turned them into dog killers. The blame lays squarely on his shoulders and he must not be allowed to do this to another animal ever again.
We believe in you, Doc!
Here is some of the content of the Animal abuse laws in Florida. I'm not a lawyer but I don't understand why animal control could not arrest him, as it seems the law was broken:
Chapter 828
ANIMALS: CRUELTY; SALES; ANIMAL ENTERPRISE PROTECTION
Florida animal abuse law.
828.12 Cruelty to animals.--
(1) A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(a) A person convicted of a violation of this subsection, where the finder of fact determines that the violation includes the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injures, mutilates, or kills the animal, shall be ordered to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.
(b) Any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be required to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and serve a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 6 months. In addition, the person shall be released only upon expiration of sentence, shall not be eligible for parole, control release, or any form of early release, and must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subsection.
(3) A veterinarian licensed to practice in the state shall be held harmless from either criminal or civil liability for any decisions made or services rendered under the provisions of this section. Such a veterinarian is, therefore, under this subsection, immune from a lawsuit for his or her part in an investigation of cruelty to animals.
(4) A person who intentionally trips, fells, ropes, or lassos the legs of a horse by any means for the purpose of entertainment or sport shall be guilty of a third degree felony, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. As used in this subsection, "trip" means any act that consists of the use of any wire, pole, stick, rope, or other apparatus to cause a horse to fall or lose its balance, and "horse" means any animal of any registered breed of the genus Equus, or any recognized hybrid thereof. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply when tripping is used:
This certainly demonstrates why the shelter at the center of the Ellen Degeneres controversy wasn't the "bad guy" in being stringent about enforcing their rules about pet adoption.
Were those claiming not much could be done legally simply taking the path of least resistance? I thought animal cruelty laws had more teeth, no pun intended.
Is the implication that these other dogs were being groomed for dogfighting? That's certainly illegal.
JUSTICE FOR BEAR!
ANIMAL CRUELTY PROTEST, SATURDAY, JULY 12
BILLIS AUTO WORKS
1710 N. FORSYTH RD., ORLANDO
(ON FORSYTH BETWEEN UNIVERSITY & COLONIAL. CLOSER TO COLONIAL.)
Dr Randy,
I just heard about this today and I am so sorry for Bear and for you and all others at FAH. I personally have taken 2 of your dogs that needed homes. I would not trade my time with either of them for anything. I truly believe in "what goes around comes around". You are a good person, Mr Billis is bad, bad, bad........
Hi Randy,
We are getting ready to head out to the protest, and are sure that the demonstration will have an effect. It's terrible to hear that such a monster lives so close to us. Thank you and your staff for not letting this just slip on by. Animal abuse is a clear predictor of the ability to do the same to children, elderly, and other less-able individuals. Thank God for your team. Please don't give up on the adoption gig either, you have saved so many, and made a huge difference in many, many lives.
-Dennis Garland and Krista Vince Garland
For the latest scoop go to:
http://www.wftv.com/news/16863176/detail.html
We thought tht the protest we very successful! We could have stayed a lot longer, if not for the rain. Nice to see that he packed up business for the day while there were plenty of us to witness it. Dr. C, we are here for you- please keep us posted as this continues.
Sincerely,
Krista and Dennis
SUCH SHIT!! We're gonna bring him DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
My house has been a rescue/shelter for 15 years. In eyeshot of my house I have seen terrible cruelty and neglect of animals. over and over. Billis, to me, is a repeat offender, heartless with no conscience. IF we don't legally get him, I assure you that God will. Please agree with me in prayer to punish Billis, speedily, and with the intensity of his brazen cruelty. He's got to be stopped. I'm so sorry for Teddy and Bear and for those who knew them.
I hope this guy is arrested. Why aren't the cops doing their job? Animal cruelty is a CRIME, right? At the minimum, I hope he goes out of business, and then God can deal with him when he dies.
I contacted the national ASPCA the evening of Monday, July 21, and received an e-mail the following day (today). The ASPCA was forwarding my plea for help as well as the link to this blog to Katherine Lockett director of the Orange County Animal Services. I e-mailed Dr. Cannon with the good news - - he was already on this, and said that he spoke to her a week ago. Hopefully progress!
By the way, I am not even a Florida resident. I was vacationing in the Orlando area when this story hit the news and knew that I had to become a part of finding justice for Bear. My heart is broken. I am in this all the way and will track down every source that I can to help Fairfax Animal Hospital make this monster accountable for his crimes.
Dr. Cannon & Fairfax Hospital,
I understand that you have adopted out dogs to good and responsible owners in the past. A thought - - if you have not already done so, insist on a thorough background check before releasing a dog or cat to a potential owner. I would insist on at least three references and an on-site visit. I never want any of you to have to live through something like this again.
Dr. Cannon, thank you for what you are doing. Please know you have limitless support form the animal loving community nationwide, and if there is anything I can personally do, don't hesitate to contact me at emfb@aol.com.
Thank you.
Emilie
"Man was appointed by God to have dominion over the beasts, and everything a man does to an animal is either a lawful exercise, or a sacrilegious abuse, of an authority by divine right."
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Prison for Billis the Dog Butcher!
So, please - - will someone tell us how the protest went on Saturday, July 26? I hope Billis had to go home early again.
Christine:
The protest went well this past Saturday the 26th. I started off the morning a little discouraged because the turnout has been lower the 2nd and 3rd weeks, but we still had about 10 people & high energy AND Billis closed up shop just after noon which is the earliest in the 3 weeks we've been there.
We're still getting lots of support from people driving by & people are stopping to find out the story & take flyers. We're taking the opportunity to tell them to call the Comissioners office and stress the need for CRUELTY INVESTIGATORS in Orange County.
We are planning to be back at Billis this coming Saturday, August 2nd. Feel free to check www.freewebs.com/boycottbillisauto for upcoming protest dates & news.
-Joanna
Faery,
That's great. I would have joined you if I lived in the Orlando area. Please know that I was with all of you in spitit. FYI, I spent several hours working on a thread this past Friday that had over 1400 hits. People from all over the country were forwarding Dr. Cannon's blog page to various agencies across the country. Many of the people that I spoke to sent e mails to Katherine & Orange County Animal Protection. She knows that this story has gone national.
God Bless, Christine
Could it be that we put together so many negative comments that Billis has removed his Yellow Pages listing from the internet?? Gee, I went over there to look and his business info was gone.
I guess negative comments are not what he was looking for on this site.
Hi Randy,
It was so good to see you today, and get caught up on the latest with Billis. We were away from the computer last week, so missed out on the protests but are glad to know that they are still ongoing. I agree that there is a lot of bureaucracy involved here, but I also think that the squeaky wheel gets the oil (if it's loud enough). I will be out with your team this Saturday and am wondering about details regarding the 9/11/08 meeting. Would it be of any benefit to have some sort of petition prepared? Keep us posted and we'll keep up the good fight.
Sincerely,
Krista
You guys need to keep us up to speed on how the protests are going. What happened on Sat., Aug 2? I am in NY, but with all of you in spirit!! Should there be one appointed area to keep us up to date? Maybe over on the Boycott Billis web page?
Believe me, there are people around this country that care.
You MUST keep up everyone's interest in this case. It's imperative.
Well One believes the dogs who killed the other dogs should be prosecuted. Not the owner. The owner didn't mauled the dog to death. You animal lovers treat animals as if they were human beings. Fair enough, then why not prosecute and put down the vicious dogs that killed Bear? Oh, what's that? animals cant be convicted cause they're animals, they're not human and cannot understand legal proceedings....but they feel, they care, they are intelligent animals...why not set up a great dane as a judge, a few cats in the jury, A pit-bull as the bailif. The man deserves to be banned from having any animals, not sent to jail. He should go to jail if he is found again in possession of an animal.
Unfortunately "anonymous" obviously hasn't been told the whole story. Maybe this will help. Billis knew or should have known that his dogs would attack a new dog because IT HAPPENED BEFORE. Bear was the third dog THAT WE KNOW OF to die on that property. Witnesses who were on the property the day that Bear lay bleeding to death have also made statements that they TOLD Billis that Bear was injured and TOLD Billis that Bear needed medical treatment and yet Billis let Bear lay there ALL DAY until he died. Failure to provide medical attention to your animal IS a crime per Florida Statute. This is AFTER Billis had already been investigated for animal cruelty because another dog he owned was left chained up with his feet tied while a gaping neck wound was allowed to fester because Billis did not provide medical treatment to that dog either. That dogs dead body was still chained in the spot he died when animal services arrived. And as for "us animal lovers"... we aren't telling you what to care about and fight for, so it's neither your place nor your job to tell others what to care about and fight for. NOT TO MENTION the fact that as ANY law enforcement professional will tell you, hurting animals is a BIG indicator of how you treat people as well. How many serial killers and wife abusers started out hurting animals? MANY. Look it up. Innocence is innocence. You & I have a fighting chance if someone is trying to hurt us. The elderly, children, ANIMALS do not. I commend ANYONE who is willing to stand up on their behalf.
I hope a lot of people showed up last friday in protest. I would have been there but I was extremely busy at work that day and couldnt get out of it. Personally instead of being sent to jail lets lock him in a 5X5 pen with known people killers and see how long he lasts. I despise animal abusers.
Sadly, Billis' dogs probably do need to be euthanized. He has taught them how to kill and they have succeeded time and time again. Billis should be held accountable. If a person hires a hitman to kill someone, both the person and the hitman are held accountable. This is the SAME DAMN THING! Billis needs to go to prison (I'd prefer to see him executed, but that's just my opinion). His dogs sadly need to be euthanized for they are a danger to anyone and everyone who crosses their path. Sad too because they were just doing as they were taught. Billis is an evil monster and needs to be punished. Dr Cannon, I hope you succeed in getting this man to pay for what he did to the Rottie, Bear, Teddy and whomever else. DO NOT STOP FIGHTING... in the name of Bear!
Has anything happened recently with this case?? I posted this information all over my facebook. I am sick to my stomach, this shop is right around the corner from my house
Sadly, nothing was done nor will be done because the Orange County Animal Services and the Orange County Sheriff's Department are apathetic and have said there is no evidence. "No body, no crime" according to the report.
Me and my friend were arguing about an issue similar to this! Now I know that I was right. lol! Thanks for the information you post.
pet turf orange county
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