The animal was still alive and trapped
Willis Bowles Jr., a resident of Geneva, has been accused of committing an act of animal cruelty in Ontario County. The charges stem from an incident in which Bowles allegedly trapped a raccoon and then proceeded to set it on fire. The Ontario County Humane Society became aware of the incident after receiving a complaint regarding animal cruelty, which included online evidence showcasing the raccoon being trapped using a humane Havahart trap. According to the allegations, Bowles is said to have doused the raccoon with a flammable substance while it was still alive and trapped, ultimately igniting it.
Following the complaint, animal cruelty officers obtained a search warrant and conducted a search at Bowles’ residence on High Street. During the search, evidence supporting the allegations, including a deceased raccoon, was discovered. The Ontario County sheriff’s deputies and Geneva police were involved in the investigation.
Bowles has been issued an appearance ticket and will be facing the animal cruelty charge in Geneva City Court some time later. The Humane Society made the announcement regarding the charges on Monday. The incident has sparked concerns over animal welfare and the need for appropriate punishment in cases of animal cruelty.
