Geneva Man Faces Animal Cruelty Charges for Trapping and Setting Racoon on Fire

In a tale of distressing animal cruelty emerging from Ontario County, a man from Geneva has been charged with committing an unthinkable act against a raccoon. Willis Bowles Jr., 35, is now in the crosshairs of the legal system following his disturbing actions that sparked immediate outrage.

The Ontario County Humane Society, last week, came across a heart-rending online post showing someone trapping raccoons with a Havahart trap, a device typically used for the humane capture of live animals.

But in this instance, it was used with a vile twist. Bowles is alleged to have drenched the captured raccoon in a flammable liquid and set it on fire while it was still in the trap and alive.

The matter promptly escalated into a full-fledged investigation, with animal cruelty officers executing a search warrant at Bowles’ High Street residence. What they discovered aligned with the online post – a deceased raccoon, clear evidence supporting the heinous act of cruelty shared on social media.

Bowles was charged with animal cruelty and issued an appearance ticket. Assisting in the investigation were the Ontario County sheriff’s deputies and Geneva police. The charges will be faced by Bowles in Geneva City Court at a later date.

This harrowing incident shines a stark light on the need for stronger animal welfare laws and heightened awareness about the humane treatment of all creatures.

It underscores the importance of our collective responsibility as a society to protect and respect all forms of life.

As advocates for nature and wildlife, we can all play our part in reporting acts of cruelty and ensuring that justice is served for such indefensible actions.

This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by OneGreenPlanet on 28 June 2023. 

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