Terrence Cody Gets 9-Month Jail Sentence in Animal Cruelty Case

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody, who was found guilty in November of five counts of animal neglect but acquitted of felony animal cruelty charges that he “intentionally tortured” and “cruelly killed” Taz, his Presa Canarios Mastiff, was sentenced today to nine months in the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Cody was facing more than two years in jail, but apparently Judge Judith C. Ensor decided to be kinder to him than Cody was to his dog.

“He was a guy that portrayed himself as knowledgeable about animals — he knew about animals, he’s trained animals, he owned animals,” Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Lippe told WJZ today, “but he turned on this one dog.”

Back in November, before Ensor charged Cody with the five counts of animal neglect, she said was aware that not every “morally reprehensible” action is against the law, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Caroline Griffin, former chairperson of the Baltimore Anti-Animal Abuse Commission, told WBFF this week she didn’t understand why Ensor dropped the felony animal cruelty charges Cody had been facing.

“I think the public believes and a jury very likely would have found this to be a felony,” she said. “I think people are scratching their heads as to why he was convicted only of several misdemeanors.”

According to the disturbing details in a February 2015 indictment, Cody and his girlfriend, Kourtney J. Kelley, inflicted unnecessary suffering or pain on Taz. They did not provide their dog with nutritious food or proper drink in sufficiency quantity, did not provide proper space for their dog, and did not provide necessary veterinary care.

Taz weighed only 50 pounds when he died in January. The average weight for a Presa Canarios Mastiff is about 100 pounds.

“The evidence in this case was that he directed all his attention or lack of attention to this one animal,” Lippe told WBFF. “He deliberately picked on one of his dogs. The other dogs were fat and happy. Taz he decided to kill.”

Cody was dropped from the Ravens after the February indictment was made public.

Last month, Kelley was sentenced to 60 days in jail for animal cruelty.

Cody was also sentenced today to probation for the illegal possession of an alligator and possession of drug paraphernalia. He cannot own or possess an animal during his 18 months of supervised probation (after which, apparently, he’s free to buy and starve another dog). Cody must also undergo mental health treatment.

Photo via Twitter

RIP Puppy-Mill Survivor Harley, 2015 American Hero Dog

Harley, a 15-year-old Chihuahua who spent the first 10 years of his life in a puppy-mill cage before become a “spokesdog” against these cruel facilities, died yesterday.

“He went on his own terms … he chose his moment, he did not suffer, and he was not in pain,” wrote a friend of his family on Harley’s Facebook page. “He passed peacefully, surrounded by the love of his mom and dad.”

In September, Harley was named the American Humane Association 2015 American Hero Dog.

“It was just four years ago that he was pulled from the cage in the puppy mill and left to die,” said his dog mom, Rudi Taylor, when she accepted the award. “We never would have ever thought he would live this long and make such a difference for so many puppies.”

Rudi’s husband, Dan, added that Harley had an indomitable spirit. “That spirit is allowing him now to be the voice for dogs who cannot speak for themselves…and give everybody hope that tomorrow’s going to be a better day,” he said at the awards ceremony.

While living in the puppy mill, Harley suffered heart disease, a fused spine, broken tail, gnarled toes, deformed legs and rotted teeth. He lost an eye when his cage was power-washed while he was still in it (believe it or not, this is a common practice in puppy mills).

Harley was rescued in 2011 by the Taylors, who were told the Chihuahua would probably only live for a couple of months. But Harley thrived and was able to spend almost five years with his loving forever family in Berthoud, Colo.

He became the inspiration for the “Harley to the Rescue” campaign, which raises funds to rescue and provide medical care for more other puppy-mill dogs. Harley went along on the rescue missions to comfort the sad, scared dogs.

“As you all know, Harley’s life was very public,” Rudi wrote on Harley’s Facebook page today. “He didn’t only belong to Dan and I, he belonged to you — his friends, his people.”

Harley spent his last night as he usually did, happily cuddled between his pet parents.

“We were in bed and he was so happy getting a belly rub from Dan,” Rudi wrote on Facebook. “Right after that belly rub, he gave us both kisses and then he went to sleep. Harley was a funny sleeper, always changing positions — on his back, tucked under my chin or into Dan’s armpit — he wasn’t easy to sleep with, but we never complained.”

Rest in peace, Harley. My condolences and gratitude to Rudi and Dan for turning his tragic life around and spreading awareness about the horrors of puppy mills.

To honor Harley and help save other puppy mill dogs, you can make a donation to the Harley to the Rescue campaign. And be sure to tell anyone who’s looking for a new dog to adopt, not shop!

Photo via Twitter

RECALL ALERT: Fromm Family Foods Canned Dog Food

Fromm Family Foods is voluntarily recalling all lots of three canned dog food products because they may not contain the recommended level of added vitamins and nutrients, and may contain elevated levels of vitamin D.

The company sent a letter to distributors March 14, but has not yet announced the recall.

The follow 12-ounce canned dog products are included in the recall:

  • Fromm Gold Chicken Pate — Can case code: #11893; UPC: 72705 11892
  • Fromm Gold Chicken & Duck — Can case code: #11895; UPC: 72705 11894
  • Fromm Gold Salmon & Chicken Pate — Can case code: #11891; UPC: 72705 11890

The recalled products were shipped to distributor warehouses from December 2015 through February 2016. The letter asked distributors to quarantine these products and notify customers about the recall.

“This recall is being implemented in an abundance of caution, as symptoms should only be noted in situations where dogs have eaten the affected products as their only meal for an extended period of time, which could lead to depression of appetite,” wrote Tom Nieman, president of Fromm Family Foods, in the letter. “While there have been no reports of any health problems, Fromm is recommending the affected products not be fed.”

According to comments on Dog Food Advisor, this is the first recall in Fromm Family Foods’ history. The fifth-generation family-owned artisan pet food company, based in Mequon, Wisc., was started in 1904.

Last week, Nestle Purina voluntarily recalled some Beneful and Pro Plan dog food, also because it did not contain the recommended amounts of added vitamins and minerals.

Fromm Family Foods can be reached at 800-877-7919.

Photo via Fromm Family Foods

5 Weeks Later, Dog Lost at Sea Rescued from Island

As Nick Haworth pulled in lobster traps on a boat off the coast of San Diego last month, his 1-year-old German Shepherd/Husky mix, Luna, jumped into the water and disappeared.

Haworth and others on board “looked everywhere for her,” Sandy DeMunnik, spokeswoman for Naval Base Coronado, told the Associated Press. “They couldn’t see her. The water was dark, and she’s dark.”

Along with Navy personnel, Haworth continued searching the water for Luna for two days, with no luck. Still, Haworth refused to give up hope that Luna had managed to swim 2 miles to nearby San Clemente Island. Navy personnel searched the island for a week by land and air, but there was no sign of Luna.

“She blended right in,” Navy wildlife biologist Melissa Booker told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Ten days after Luna disappeared, Haworth finally gave up hope. “RIP Luna,” he wrote on his Facebook page Feb. 20.

But Tuesday morning, five weeks after she went overboard, Navy personnel found Luna sitting by the side of a road on San Clemente Island. (The island, owned by the Navy and not open to civilians or pets, is used as a training base.)

“She was just sitting there, wagging her tail,” DeMunnik told the AP.

The crew members “literally opened up the car door, whistled and she jumped right in,” Booker told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Although she had lost some weight, Luna was otherwise healthy and uninjured. She apparently survived on a diet of rodents and dead fish that had washed up on shore.

When the Navy called Haworth with the good news about Luna, he was “so happy and grateful and thrilled,” DeMunnik told the AP.

Along with the weight, Luna lost her ID tag. The Navy gave her a new one, inscribed with “For Luna, Keep the Faith” — an important lesson taught to Navy and Marine personnel in the island’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) course.

Haworth has been working out of state, but will be reunited with Luna this afternoon. Stay tuned for an update on what’s sure to be a tissue-box-worthy event.

“Beyond stoked to have Luna back,” Haworth wrote on his Facebook page yesterday. “I always knew she was a warrior.”

UPDATE:

“I’m just glad to have her home,” Haworth told the Associated Press after he was reunited with Luna tonight. “I never thought I’d see her again, to be honest with you.”

Haworth said Luna will join him again on the fishing boat soon, but some changes will be made.

“We got to keep a better eye on her, keep her on a leash on the boat, maybe even a doggy life jacket,” he told the AP.

Photo via YouTube

Tissue Alert! Watch a Senior Golden Retriever Reunite with Her Soldier Dog Mom

There’s nothing quite as touching as videos of soldiers reuniting with the beloved dogs they had to leave at home — especially when the dog is a senior who had never before been separated from her pet parent.

That was the case for a 13-year-old, arthritic and partially deaf Golden Retriever named Buddy. Her dog mom, 21-year-old Hannah Foraker, had Buddy ever since she was a puppy, and had never been away from her home in Cleveland when she joined the Army last year.

After a three-month separation, Foraker was able to return home for two weeks at Christmastime. A video of her reunion with Buddy she posted on YouTube in late February is now going viral.

“Buddy came running, as best as she could, out of the house and said hello to everyone,” Foraker told FOX 8. “At first she didn’t even realize I was there, but she did a double take and came bounding over to me, whining nonstop in pure glee.”

While Foraker was away at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, she tried to communicate with Buddy using Skype.

“She doesn’t understand that her mommy is on the other side of the screen, but she can hear me (with the volume all the way up) and always perks her ears and starts wagging her tail,” Foraker told FOX 8.

Foraker said Buddy never left her side during her visit in December. She just wishes she’d taken more photos.

“I’ve just recently been informed that I won’t be able to go home again until next Christmas,” she told FOX 8. “A lot can happen in a year, but Buddy is a fighter.”

Here’s hoping their reunion next December will result in another viral video.

Grab a tissue — heck, grab the whole box — and enjoy Buddy and Foraker’s happy reunion.

Photo via YouTube

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