Dog in therapy program for prison inmates is found dead

WPXI ^ | September 4, 2018

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Facebook LEBANON, Ohio - A nonprofit in Lebanon is pulling out of its program for inmates at the Warren Correctional Institution.

The program allowed some inmates to interact with dogs.

But one canine, a German shepherd named Evie, was recently found dead in the prison.

Katherine Hartung had been fostering Evie through Joseph's Legacy.

Evie had a tough life, "a broken hip, having surgery. Living on the streets... She was a part of our family," said Hartung.

--snip--

She says the dog was a Houdini of sorts, jumping over fences and even unlocking doors. So she handed her over to the Warren Correctional Institution's therapy program.

"I thought the jail program would be a good alternative because I was concerned for her safety. Then, we come to know what happened next," said Hartung.

Evie was found dead earlier this week in her crate.

Joseph's Legacy president Meg Melampy says the necropsy came back - showing blunt force trauma.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I can't imagine the evil person who would do this to a dog, even in a prison.

[chris37]

I can, even out of prison.

There are evil people in this world, and you will see the best in people and the worst in people looking through the prism of dogs.

They pay a very high price sometimes in being our best friend.

Poor Evie.

[ought-six]

“I can’t imagine the evil person who would do this to a dog, even in a prison.”

The perp is in prison, so the chances he is prone to violence is a given.

[madison10]

It was bound to happen sooner or later. A murderer is a murderer.

[righttackle44]

"Hey, I know. Let's put our doggie in a place filled with people who hate, murder, rape, and do all kinds of violent crime. Our doggie will be safe there with all of these guys petting and playing with her, some who even have home-made shivs and other weapons. What can go wrong?"

There's something badly wrong with the thought and reasoning processes of people who would expose an animal to such potential danger in such an evil environment--potential danger that turned out to be very real.

[Pollard]

Hmmm, what kind of people who hate dogs would be in prison?

If it was a goat.....

[nclaurel]

Lots of Muslim converts in prison. Muslims hate dogs. I would question that.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

God DAMN them.

[eastexsteve]

They will seek justice for the dog? OK, so you will seek a charge of cruelty to animals for the perpetrator who is likely in that prison already for a felony conviction of rape, murder, or aggravated assault. Do you really think that will solve anything?

They put a helpless animal into an environment which would greatly increase it’s chances of being abused. The people who need to be charged with a crime are the ones who placed the animal there. Texas tried this once, and also learned the same hard lesson. Of course, the people who operate the criminal justice system don’t seem to be any smarter than the dogs.

[bgill]

Good case for an eye for an eye.

[Boomer]

I can't imagine the evil person who would do this to a dog, even in a prison.

Have you seen some of the comments in the anti-Pit Bull threads that spam FR? Oh yeah; FR has plenty of these kind of dog killers.

Muslims would pay other inmates to kill dogs in prison if they didn't have access.

I personally think the punishment for this crime should be loss of genitals and solitary confinement on bread and water for 6 months then one regular meal a day with another 6 months of solitary confinement. Why the loss of genitals? So he has nothing to play with of course.

[riverrunner]

Lead a very sheltered life haven’t you.

[Peeps47]

I’m just glad the poor dog wasn’t raped too. I can almost guarantee that someone knows exactly what happened and who did it. There are no secrets in prison. I don’t think they should put therapy dogs in a prison.

[hal ogen]

Prisons are full of psychopaths. No surprises there.

[Norski]

I am very sorry to hear this. I am not against programs like this.

I have seen in the past past a number of stories regarding dogs (and in some cases, cats) being allowed into some prisons by various programs and organizations - some to foster the animals, some to train - and all were supposed to have had the inmates either highly checked out or used as good behavior or therapy for both. A reward system for good behavior for inmates, as well.

This is the first news story I have seen about an animal’s death, apparently by inmate. I very much doubt that it is the first time it has happened.

This is a prison. It is a high-risk area, and a prisoner is a high-risk caretaker. The dog here was a high-maintenance dog. Human beings are far from perfect, and inmates are well-known for having poor impulse control. This is one reason they are there in the first place. Given the items listed, the outcome is not particularly surprising.

I find it ironic that someone would now think to demand “justice” for a dog, when the responsibility should be shouldered by the persons and system which placed such a “Houdini” dog in this particular program.

This actually is collateral damage - for the program of placing animals with inmate caretakers. Risk is always there, for both animal and inmate caretaker. Did this organization believe that the death of an animal by inmate would never happen? I find that an unrealistic expectation, and an event such as this should have been anticipated and a procedure prepared for by the organization and prison from the beginning.

Nothing is one hundred percent.