Pets

Jenelle Evans husband is now admitting what seems obvious after brutalizing and shooting his family dog -- that he has dangerous anger issues, but he's ready to get help keeping his temper in check.

Sources close to David Eason say the former reality star is on the hunt for a program or therapist to administer anger management. We're told he knows his temper has become a massive strain on his marriage.

It's not just about impressing Jenelle, though. On the heels of killing their French bulldog, Nugget ... we're told Eason truly understands his anger could be a danger to his loved ones.

TMZ broke the story ... Eason is under investigation for animal cruelty after pummeling, and then shooting Nugget -- all after the dog barely nipped at their 2-year-old daughter.

While the investigation is ongoing, a law enforcement source tells us Eason could catch a break if he can prove he feared the dog could become aggressive again. There's a section under animal cruelty laws in North Carolina that states a pet owner can kill an animal lawfully for "the purposes of protecting the public, other animals, property or the public health."

As for Eason's temper ... it was on full display Friday in a Wilmington, NC courthouse when he threatened a reporter attempting to ask him about the dog case. Eason was in court to pay back child support to an ex-girlfriend. Sources tell us he had to pawn some personal items last minute to come up with the $5,187.

"Teen Mom 2" just suffered another casualty -- this time in the form of an advertiser -- Greenies pet treats has cut ties with the MTV show.

In a statement Friday, Greenies announced, "We have zero tolerance for animal cruelty and we can now confirm that as a result of this incident, our ads will no longer run during Teen Mom programming."

Greenies joins a mountain of companies who have pulled the plug on their relationship with "Teen Mom." Chipotle, Dove Chocolates, TWIX and Persil ProClean are among some of the brands who have also cut ties.

TMZ broke the story ... "Teen Mom 2" star Jenelle Evans' husband, David Eason, is under investigation for animal cruelty after he allegedly pummeled and then shot his family dog. Both the local Animal Control and Sheriff's Department is working on the investigation.

David Eason, Jenelle Evans husband, who allegedly killed their family dog with a shotgun, made it clear to a photog in court Friday ... stay clear of him, or else.

Eason was in a North Carolina courtroom because he owed $5,187 in back child support. He had a deadline of Friday to pay up or possibly be held in contempt and go to jail. He showed up empty-handed, but the judge gave him a reprieve ... to come up with the money in the next few hours.

Eason left court, and a photog/reporter for WSFX tried asking him about killing his dog, but he wasn't having it and warned, "Don't get in my face, bro. I promise you don't want to do that."

Eason came back a short time later and paid the money.

He owed the money to Olivia Leedham, the mother of his 5-year-old son. Leedham claimed back in 2013, when she was 8 months pregnant he shoved her and also left her in the middle of the road when she was 7 months pregnant.

As for the dog ... we're told he was irate after the French Bulldog nipped at his daughter after she got in the dog's face ... beat the animal, and then shot it to death.

David Eason doesn't just abuse and kill helpless animals -- he's also allegedly abused his baby mama and fell way behind on child support payments ... and if he hasn't paid by today he could end up in jail.

Eason is currently under criminal investigation for animal cruelty. As we reported, earlier this week he savagely beat and then shot his French Bulldog which barely nipped at his 2-year-old daughter's face. The nip was so minor it didn't draw blood or even puncture the skin. We're told David repeatedly slammed the dog on the back porch before taking it to the backyard and killing it with a shotgun.

But, his troubles don't end there. Eason briefly dated a woman named Olivia Leedham in 2013 and the two had a son together. Leedham went to court, claiming Eason shoved her when she was 8 months pregnant and left her in the middle of the road at night when she was 7 months pregnant.

The two have been in a nasty custody battle for years ... and we've learned he's fallen thousands of dollars behind in child support. His deadline for paying it is today, and if he hasn't anted up he could end up in jail.

Animal Control officers were unable to talk with Eason during their visit Thursday because the family's pit bull was on his front porch and "No Trespassing" signs were posted on the property. Animal Control officers didn't feel it was safe to enter so they asked the Sheriff's Department to figure out the next move.

Todd Chrisley is urging Jenelle Evans to get herself and her daughter the hell away from David Eason in the wake of him killing the family dog ... because he's convinced the guy will snap again.

We got the star of "Chrisley Knows Best" Thursday at LAX, and he went off on Jenelle's husband. Todd has some extra sympathy in this situation because he also owns a French bulldog named, Lilo. Not surprisingly, he called the slaying disgusting ... and insists Eason needs professional help.

Todd says his Frenchie is also around kids -- primarily his 6-year-old granddaughter, Chloe -- and suggests better parenting might have prevented the heinous act in Jenelle's home.

As we've reported ... Eason shot and killed Jenelle's French bulldog, Nugget, because it nipped at their daughter, Ensley.

Animal control wants to know exactly what happened to Nugget and where the body is -- but Todd firmly believes there's enough evidence that Eason poses a great danger to his family. He suggests Jenelle get out while the getting's good.

1:30 PM PT -- The Columbus County Sheriff's Office just told TMZ they, along with the Columbus County Animal Control, have "initiated a joint investigation into allegations of animal cruelty. The investigation is ongoing."

1:11 PM PT -- A source close to Jenelle tells us right after Nugget nipped at his daughter, David brought the dog outside and continuously slammed him against their back deck ... from there, he took Nugget into a wooded area and shot him.

12:07 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us Animal Control officers just went to Jenelle's home to do their check. We're told officers were able to drive onto the property through an open gate, but there was a grey pit bull on the porch and several "No Trespassing" signs.

Our source says the Animal Control officers -- fearing for their safety -- left the property and alerted the Sheriff's Department who, we're told, will now attempt to complete the visit.

We're told officers want to determine if Nugget is alive and whose name is on ownership papers for the dog ... from there, they'll be able to determine next steps.

Animal Control wants Jenelle Evans and David Eason to answer some questions about the death of their family dog, but that might be easier said than done ... based on David's history with unwanted visitors.

TMZ's learned that following the news that Jenelle's husband shot and killed her French Bulldog, Nugget -- for nipping their daughter, Ensley -- North Carolina's animal welfare hotline was flooded with calls about the incident.

We're told the Attorney General's Office received 138 complaints and referred them to Animal Control after review, and also informed the Columbus County Sheriff.

Sources connected to the case tell us Animal Control is sending an officer to the 'Teen Mom' couple's house Thursday with a mission -- confirm the dog is dead, and verify Jenelle and David have possession of the dog's corpse.

It's unclear what, if any, legal action could be taken after that -- but it likely won't be an easy visit for Animal Control. Eason reacted aggressively when authorities showed up at his home in December.

As we reported, he posted a series of gun-crazed videos after he said Secret Service drove up on his property to question him about some threatening social media posts. He said he wasn't afraid to shoot future trespassers ... and showed off his stockpile of ammo.

David's alarming behavior reached a new level Wednesday, when he practically admitted on Instagram to killing Nugget. Jenelle later confirmed it, claiming David dragged the dog into the woods and shot him.

Up to this point, David's gotten away with it. The Columbus Co. Sheriff's Dept. made it clear the only way they'll take action is if Jenelle files a police report. We were told they don't rely on "sensationalized" social media reports. We'll see if a report from Animal Control will change their mind.

Remember the puppies dumped in a Coachella trash bin??? The same team that helped rescue them is at it again ... rescuing this baby burro which is proving to be a real, tough ass.

Riverside County Animal Services tells TMZ ... the 3-day-old female donkey was found in the middle of the road Wednesday in the San Jacinto Mountains, about 3 hours southeast of L.A. We're told the person who found it brought it home after noticing a big cut ... on the burro's butt.

The good Samaritan -- who said he coaxed the animal to follow him home -- told officials the donkey was alone and its mother nowhere in sight. A veterinary team from Animal Services scooped up the animal and treated the laceration. Officials think it was cut on a barbed wire fence.

The burro's now in the hands of veterinarian Sharon Gonzales, who volunteered to foster the beast ... no burden. Turns out she already has 2 others at home.

Of course, Riverside County Animal Services got the public to help identify the heartless bitch caught on camera throwing a bag of 7 puppies in a dumpster last month. Authorities ultimately arrested Deborah Sue Culwell, who faces 7 felony counts of animal cruelty.

You will not see Jenelle Evans' husband shoot and kill their dog on "Teen Mom 2" ... because David Eason is considered poison as far as MTV is concerned, and he will never, ever appear on the show.

Jenelle finally confessed ... David viciously took their French Bulldog to a wooded area near their home and pumped bullets into it ... just because he got pissed off the animal nipped at their daughter after she got in the pooch's mug. Fact is ... 2-year-old Ensely was fine ... Nugget didn't even puncture the skin.

What we don't know ... was David so depraved that he filmed the shooting? Of course, we do know ... the actual nip was caught on camera.

Our sources say MTV wants nothing to do with David because it's just the latest in a string of violent, alarming incidents ... among them, a domestic violence call, a gun-crazed rant about the Secret Service showing up at his home following a threat to the President and another animal cruelty incident involving a pig. The show fired David a year ago after making anti-LGBT comments.

David has a lot of guns at their house, and he's made it well known he's not afraid to use them to protect his property.

We're told MTV will air NO video of David, partly because of his actions, but also because they perceive him to be a real threat. One source said they're worried about the safety of Jenelle and her family.

There's cause for concern ... producers shot many of Jenelle's scenes far away from the family home, but David threatened to crash the set numerous times and wreak havoc. BTW, no word yet on whether the show will be picked up for a new season and it's unclear if there are plans to 86 Jenelle.

3:20 PM PT -- Jenelle spoke with US Weekly about the incident, saying, "He just took her and shot her in the woods, about two acres away from the house."

As we reported, local law enforcement said they won't act on the killing until Jenelle comes to them to report the crime ... one source we spoke to said media reports and social media postings aren't enough to trigger an investigation.

Jenelle also told US, "At this time, we are dealing with this rough situation. I want to focus on what's best for me and my kids."

9:45 AM PT -- Police went to Jenelle and David's house Tuesday night to perform a welfare check on Ensley. Officers found everyone, including Ensley, was okay.

As for the dog -- a law enforcement source tells TMZ ... David told cops Nugget was alive, although he would not let them see the dog. We're told cops have no evidence showing anything happened to the dog.

The Columbus County Sheriff's Dept. says it's contacted Animal Control, but as far as any further investigation from cops ... our source says Jenelle would need to make a report on her own. We're told officers won't act on "sensationalized media reports or social media posts." The source said it's irrelevant to cops what Jenelle says on IG.

Meanwhile, PETA says it hopes charges are filed against Eason if it's true he shot Nugget. They say, "People who abuse animals typically don't stop there."

"Teen Mom" star Jenelle Evans is heartbroken over the death of her dog, which was shot and killed by her husband ... who is defending his disturbing move in the name of protecting his family.

David Eason admits he killed the family's French bulldog, Nugget, because it bit the couple's 2-year-old daughter, Ensley. He shared a video that appears to show the dog snapping at Ensley as she's moving closer to its face for a kiss.

David explained his decision to put the dog down, saying ... "I dont give a damn what animal bites my baby on the face... whether it be your dog or mine, a dog is a dog and I dont put up with that s**t at all."

A photo of Ensley's face after the incident shows a red mark, but there's no apparent break in her skin.

Eason added ... "I'm all about protecting my family, it is my lifes mission. Some people are worth killing or dying for and my family means that much to me. You can hate me all you want but this isnt the first time the dog bit Ensley aggressively. The only person that can judge weather or not a animal is a danger to MY CHILD is ME."

Jenelle doesn't seem to be on the same page as her husband at all. She just shared a photo of Nugget sitting in the car with her, along with a message suggesting she believes they should have simply trained the dog to stop biting.

She wrote ... "Nugget... I'm crying everyday. I love you so much and I'm so sorry. I'm speechless," and added, "You still had a lot to learn and a lot to grow from your lessons."

Jenelle says she's heartbroken and distraught, and there are reports she fled their home after the incident.

Brazilian model Caroline Bittencourt leaped into action when her dogs fell off her sailboat ... but, sadly, she drowned while trying to make the rescue.

The deadly accident happened Sunday in Sao Paulo ... where Caroline was on a catamaran with her husband, Jorge Sestini, and their 2 dogs. While out at sea, a huge storm -- with reported winds over 60 mph -- rocked the boat and knocked the pooches off the catamaran into the rough water.

Bittencourt jumped in after the dogs and her husband soon followed, but he couldn't find her. It's unclear if the dogs were ever found. Sestini was rescued a few hours later and Bittencourt's body was found late Monday near a beach.

Bittencourt's 17-year-old daughter, Isabelle, confirmed the death on social media, saying, "We are grateful for the support and affectionate messages we have received from Carol's friends and fans. This energy drive fills our hearts with so much love."

"Little Women: LA" star Todd Gibel vows to save his marriage ... but he knows he's gotta take care of himself first, so he's seeking professional help to treat his depression.

Todd tells TMZ ... he noticed signs of depression about 2 years ago but it's significantly gotten worse over the last 6 months to the point it's severely affected his marriage to Christy. Todd says, "Right now Christy and I still live together, but we are just co-existing."

He vows to change that ... beginning with therapy. He started his first session earlier this week. He says Christy once brought up the idea of going to marriage counseling but with ZERO cameras trained on them ... and he hopes she's still up for it once he betters himself.

Todd -- who tied the knot with Christy back in 2014 -- says some signs of his depression include a daily struggle just getting outta bed. He says he also plops himself on the couch and has no motivation. But, then came a pivotal moment that triggered an alarm for help.

Todd tells us it happened last week while sitting on the patio watching his 3 dogs -- Daisy, Elvis and Axel. He says, "One of the dogs [Axel] is lazy and doesn't play with the others and never gets off the couch. When I was on the patio, something changed [with Axel] and he came out to play with the other 2 dogs. And the other dogs were so happy. That's when I realized I needed to change."

The move to seek help comes on the heels of a tumultuous season 7 of 'Little Women.' True fans know how much Todd and Christy have argued -- most notably about her weight and his lack of support -- so now that Todd's getting help is welcomed news for all.

Ray J and Princess Love have been reunited with their beloved Boogotti ... but the man who returned their missing dog has aroused suspicions about his involvement in the ordeal.

We broke the story ... the couple's Maltese went missing early this month from Ray's parents' home while they were dogsitting, and Princess offered a $20,000 reward for his safe return.

But, based on surveillance video, Ray J believed Boo was dognapped by a guy in his early 20s who pulled up in a Dodge Charger after the dog escaped through a gate on the property, grabbed him off the street and bolted.

Flash forward to Thursday ... sources close to Ray and Princess tell us she was contacted by a man who claimed he believed his neighbor had their pooch. She asked him if he could get a picture for proof and he did, and sure enough ... an unknown person was holding Boogotti!!!

Here's where it gets weird -- we're told Princess showed the photo to a friend, who happened to recognize the unknown person ... and believed the man who contacted Princess had close ties to that person.

Our sources say the man told Princess he'd get the dog from the neighbor and return him as long as he got the $20k reward, and she agreed as long as they met somewhere safe. The 2 agreed to meet Friday in front of the local police station.

We're told when Princess arrived the guy was already there and handed over the dog, but instead of handing him $20k ... she confronted him about knowing the person in that photo who was holding Boogotti. The man allegedly got freaked out and took off.

Our sources say Princess saw cops nearby so she informed them of what had just gone down, and they are now investigating it as a possible theft. Boogotti's a pricey pup -- $3,000 -- so stealing him makes it a felony too.

Sad news ... one of the 7 puppies dumped in a trash bin by a woman in Coachella has died.

The Riverside County Animal Services said the puppy died Wednesday after it couldn't recover from last week's traumatic experience. As we reported ... a woman was caught on video throwing a bag filled with the 3-day-old puppies into a dumpster on an incredibly hot day in the desert town.

Fortunately, a Good Samaritan rummaging through the dumpster found them and alerted authorities.

The Animal Services said, "The little one might have been on the bottom of the bag when the woman dumped the puppies into a trash bin." A volunteer taking care of the puppies wrote on Facebook, "He was just so weak and held on for as long as he could."

The volunteer went on to say ... "When I got him he was pale and kind of flat looking, so I think he was the cushion that saved his siblings. As the lady threw them in the bag, i think he was at the bottom and took the hit when all of his siblings landed on him."

The Riverside County Animal Services released a video Thursday showing the 6 remaining puppies that continue to recover.

As you know ... Deborah Sue Culwell, a 54-year old resident of Coachella, is facing 7 felony counts of cruelty to animals. If convicted on all counts, she could get up to 7 years in prison. Her disgusting actions pissed off just about everyone ... including Lisa Vanderpump.

Lisa Vanderpump is absolutely disgusted by the Coachella woman caught dumping puppies in a dumpster ... she says it's disgusting, barbaric and completely irresponsible.

We got Lisa out in Los Angeles Wednesday and our photog asked for her reaction on the woman who was seen tossing a bag of seven 3-day old pups into the garbage ... and the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star didn't hold back her disgust.

As we've reported ... Deborah Sue Culwell, a 54-year old resident of Coachella, is facing 7 felony counts of cruelty to animals after cops say she was caught on camera throwing the dogs in the trash.

The woman is staring down 7 years in prison if convicted, and Lisa says she deserves jail time. Lisa's kinda got a dog in the fight ... she runs a dog rescue biz, Vanderpump Dogs.

4/23 9:45 AM PT -- Culwell has been charged with 7 felony counts of animal cruelty, plus 7 misdemeanor counts of abandoning the dogs. She's facing 7 years in prison, if convicted.

6:43 PM PT -- A suspect is now in custody. Deborah Sue Culwell, a 54-year-old resident of Coachella, was arrested Monday around 5:30 PM PT.

Authorities are about to nab the woman caught on video throwing a bag of puppies into a dumpster in the city of Coachella ... TMZ has learned.

The Riverside County Animal Services has ID'd the woman and the agency says an arrest is imminent. We're told she'll face 7 felony counts of animal cruelty.

As we reported ... the woman was caught on video last week pulling up in a white Jeep Wrangler. She was seen carrying a bag of what turned out to be seven 3-day-old puppies ... which she then dumped into a trash bin. The puppies damn near died were it not for a Good Samaritan.

As you know ... it can get really hot in Coachella. It was in the mid-90s when the puppies were found. They were barely breathing when they were found by an individual rummaging through the trash bin. The puppies were taken to an Orange County shelter where they recovered.

If convicted on all counts, she faces up to 6 years behind bars.

This is utterly despicable.

A woman in Coachella was caught on video throwing a bag of 3-day-old puppies in a dumpster ... and now cops are on the hunt to find her.

The Riverside County Animal Services released security footage showing a woman pulling up in a white Jeep Wrangler at a local business earlier this week and tossing a bag filled with 7 puppies into the trash bin. About an hour later, someone rummaging through the trash bin discovered the puppies.

As you know, this time of year it's incredibly hot out there ... and it was around the mid-90s when this terrible incident happened. Fortunately, the puppies survived the ordeal and are being cared for at an Orange County rescue shelter.