Man gets 2 years in prison for whipping his pet dog

Frederick News Post ^ | Thursday, March 18 2004 | Susan C. Nicol

[HairOfTheDog]

His arguments show very little logic as did his actions. Cruelty to either man or beast is unacceptable in my book. And yes, I confess that animals are my most liberal 'cause'. I know I'm not alone on FR either. ;)

Mine too, but I find myself unwilling to convict this guy as yet, without proof of injury. He may have lost his temper with the dog, but his punishment motive was understandable. I want cruelty charges, not for bad discipline in an otherwise well-cared-for dog, but for the malicious torture and mutilation or outright starvation and neglect of dogs. As an animal lover, I want good law to protect the poor beasts from vicious people. But good law draws much clearer lines than what might be debatable as punishment for poor behavior. There is a line where we all know abuse when we see it.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Assistant Public Defender Kevin Young said his client loved the dog.

Another LIAR-FOR-HIRE attorney defending a worthless client. I'm glad I wasn't there to see him whip that poor dog.

[AnAmericanMother]

AW, bless his sweet heart! The green fields of Heaven are his.

Mine, as you know, is a skinny jumpin' fool.

[HairOfTheDog]

HA! The attitude of that bold little doxie speaks to their temperament as well, standing there fully believing that he is a match for her even if she did break loose. I love to see labs competing in Agility with all them herders! - Good luck to her and keep me updated!

[monday]

"Something interesting is occurring."

Change "interesting" to "insane" and I will agree with you. The way things are going, soon courts will be giving house cats jail sentences for mouse torture.

[American_Centurion]

Well, everyone has to be defended, and this guy didn't hire this lawyer Kevin Young is a public defender.

They guy may very well have beat the dog because he loved him. I know I don't want mine to die being hit by a car for running off. I use other methods, but this guy just may not know them.

Funny thing, the dog was a rescue. Usually when you get a dog like that the rescue folks check you out extensively before you can take the dog. IMO this guy is probably a great dog owner when sober, but unworthy because of his alcohol abuse.

[AnAmericanMother]

It was a really funny encounter. The Doxie (a little male) was staring at her like he thought she was possessed, but he wouldn't retreat an inch and barked like mad. When she came down out of low orbit, they sniffed and wagged very happily. She's a friendly dog, and all her bouncing just means, "I want to play, but I'm on leash so I can't!"

Her next trial is April 3-4. I'm expecting the photos from her February trial any day now . . . it was her second trial, and she stayed on course (unlike the first trial) so the photog actually got some pictures!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

The guy may very well have beat the dog because he loved him.

That is a SICK thing to say.

[monday]

"If two guys decide to duke it out, that is a mutually agreed contract by two consenting adults with no "conviction" applicable."

So I guess I could say to this guy I don't like, "quit breathing or I'll whip your @ss", and if he doesn't want a whipping he had better hold his breath. hehe I like it;^)

[American_Centurion]

Thank you.

I'm glad you aren't one of those extremists who overblow everything. /sarc

[HairOfTheDog]

That is a SICK thing to say.

Tell that to me! I am not sick by anyone's definition.... but I have had dogs that were a little hard to get through to! I would have loved to see resistance free 'clicker-trainer' people try to tell me how to better deal with my dog. They'd thump him too when they couldn't get him off their little sheltie.

[mudblood]

Animal abuse for a dog that wasn't hurt. If you go to www.peta.org now you'll see a scrolling "java thing" on the front page proclaiming the eating of meat as "child abuse". Hyperbole is the left's favorite weapon.

[af_vet_1981]

The way things are going, soon courts will be giving house cats jail sentences for mouse torture.

No, that would be parental neglect. The parents would be liable to the Mouse Kingdom.

It is so bizarre. They toss laws that have been part of civilization for centuries and make the creature more important than the Creator.

Not that I would not outlaw and punish cruelty to animals, but the sense of balance is awry.

[Gargantua]

Works for me...

;-)

[Dr. Scarpetta]

But Assistant State's Attorney Kirsten Daggett said witnesses testified they saw him punching the dog as well as flogging and dragging it.

This guy got what he deserved and bravo to the witnesses that testified.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think he was hard on the dog. I might have intervened had I seen it. But I have also thumped my dog and drug him back to the truck. Lost my temper a few times when he really scared me runnin' into traffic.

But I don't want to jail people who are trying to train the dog and did it wrong. I want to save that space for deliberate malicious torture that we all know goes on.

[American_Centurion]

Remember that when your county changes speeding to a felony because of endangerment and you wind up in prison for 2 years instead of being fined.

Don't think this isn't what this discussion is about, if you just now figured that out because I told you, you really, really need to temper your extremist animal rights views.

Frankly, I'm surprised that people with such views can manage to see anything else conservatively.

[monday]

I think I might see a pattern here. People with large to medium size dogs seem much more forgiving of the guy than cat owners or people with no pets.

I have a Golden and an Australian. Both are great dogs and while they don't compete both know the basic commands and go everywhere with me. I haven't so much as raised my voice to them in years. We have been together long enough that they know what I want them to do before I do.

When they were young though. Well lets just say that 6 mo. old puppy/dogs often need an attention getter. I carried a rolled up newspaper in my back pocket at all times.

I was lucky in that my dogs were both fairly quick studies so that period didn't last long, but every dog owner goes through that difficult training period before you can relax and know that your dog won't immediately run out into traffic if let off leash.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Judge Bower said he listened carefully to all the testimony, saying he believed the witnesses to be credible and true. He also said he was impressed that they took the time to get involved in the matter. Ms. Daggett said it was Love's fourth alcohol-related offense. Judge Bower sentenced Love to two years in prison for the felony cruelty offense, 90 days for the other and two years for the driving under the influence. The terms will be served concurrently.

Kudos to the judge for putting a drunken driver with a fourth alcohol-related offense in jail.

[HairOfTheDog]

I dog-sat a mini doxie that was as fearless and aggressive as he was comically harmless. I wore my knee-high hunt boots into their house, and he would bite my ankles the whole time I was there. He was like a cartoon.