animal mistreatment

The St. Joseph County Courthouse. County Commissioners Tuesday hired a firm to determine why the building's domed roof is leaking and assess any other problems.

Man accused in cat killings released from jail pre-trial

Jeff Parrott

St. Joseph County prosecutors did not object to Tyler Coday's bond reduction request Thursday as long as he seeks mental health care because he said he was hearing voices, and stays away from pets.

LOCAL stories from WVPE's news team

Prosecutors say South Bend man killed four cats in apartment

Jeff Parrott

Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park will reopen on May 1st. The park will no longer have exotic animals and will focus on Amish agriculture.

LOCAL stories from WVPE's news team

Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park to reopen after legal dispute

Mike Murrell

Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park will reopen to the public on May 1st after a legal dispute over multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Customers feed animals at Dutch Creek Animal Farm Park in Shipshewana. The United States Attorney for Northern Indiana Tuesday announced that the business' owner, Vernon D. Miller, has agreed to close for two years after federal investigators found he had mistreated animals.

LOCAL stories from WVPE's news team

Shipshewana business owner cited for mistreating animals

Jeff Parrott

From 2023 to 2024 the USDA cited Vernon D. Miller for 90 violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the highest number of citations for any USDA-licensed facility during that time period.