Tag: animal cruelty

NFL’s Terrence Cody ‘Intentionally Tortured’ and ‘Cruelly Killed’ his Dog, Indictment Says

MARCH 24, 2016 UPDATE: Terrence Cody was sentenced today to nine months in the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Disturbing details were released today regarding the Baltimore County grand jury indictment against Terrence Cody. The NFL player, who was cut from the Baltimore Ravens last week, is facing 15 charges, including two felony aggravated cruelty charges involving his dog.

Monday’s indictment, published today by the Baltimore Sun, alleges that between Dec. 19, 2014 and Jan. 19, 2015, Cody “did intentionally torture” and “did intentionally cruelly kill” his dog, resulting in the two felony counts. (His dog, named Taz, is referred to as a Presa Canarios Mastiff, not a Bullmastiff, as previously reported.)

The five misdemeanor animal abuse counts are for inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain on his dog; not providing his dog with nutritious food in sufficiency quantity; not providing proper drink; not providing proper space; and not providing necessary veterinary care.

Cody’s agent, Peter Schaffer, insisted last week that Taz died from worms. “If the dog was being treated cruelly, why take it to a vet?” he said, according to TribLIVE Sports. “When the dog passed away, Terrence was in tears.”

But an unidentified source told Aaron Wilson, who covers the Ravens for the Baltimore Sun, that Taz was severely underweight.

“Dog that died owned by Terrence Cody was roughly 50 pounds, should have had a body weight at least twice as high, per source,” Wilson tweeted today.

The source said a bone was discovered in Taz’s stomach, which may have been causing him not to eat. Taz died shortly after he was finally taken to a veterinarian.

If Cody is convicted, he faces a maximum of six years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine for the felony animal cruelty counts, and up to 90 days in prison and a maximum $5,000 fine for the five misdemeanor counts. He is also charged with misdemeanor animal abuse and neglect counts related to his pet alligator.

Cody could also be disciplined with a suspension or fine under the NFL’s recently toughened-up personal conduct policy. “If another teams signs him, he would be held accountable under the policy,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email to the Baltimore Sun.

Cody is free on $10,000 bail. He has not commented on the charges, and has not yet been assigned an arraignment or court date.

Photo via Twitter

No Charges yet for Shooter of Dog Playing ‘Too Rough’ at Houston Dog Park

MARCH 10, 2015 UPDATE: Diesel’s shooter, Joseph Potts, has been arrested and charged with one count of felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal.

A man at the Bay Area Dog Park in Houston yesterday morning thought a 2-year-old, black-and-white Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Diesel was playing too roughly with his own dog.

So the man kicked Diesel, knocking him down, then pulled out a handgun and shot him three times at close range in the back and leg. Diesel was rushed to a local emergency animal hospital, where he had to be euthanized a few hours later due to the extent of his injuries.

“I just can’t believe somebody would do that when the dog wasn’t even being aggressive,” Melanie Merritt, who saw the shooting, told KHOU.

Another eyewitness told KPRC-TV the dogs appeared to have been playfully tussling at the Bay Area Dog Park. “His dog was not in danger,” he said. “I witnessed everything. No one was in danger.”

No charges have yet been filed against the man, who has not been identified.

While it’s legal to carry rifles and shotguns in Texas, handguns require a permit. Using one to kill a pet dog, in an area filled with families on a weekend morning, seems not only cruel but downright dangerous.

After being questioned by Harris County sheriff’s deputies, the shooter — who, according to KHOU, told them he did it in self defense when the “Pit Bull” tried to attack his dog — was released. The Sheriff’s Office issued a statement this morning that it will bring its completed investigation of the case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for further review.

“He doesn’t have any remorse,” the eyewitness told KPRC-TV. “He’s angry. All of that aggression. We’re all telling him, ‘I hope you go to jail.’ I don’t understand how they are not pressing charges.”

Last night KPRC-TV reporter Bill Spencer said he spoke via phone to Diesel’s pet parents, who plan to press criminal charges against the shooter today.

“They’re absolutely heartsick and they are sick to their stomachs,” Spencer said. “And they are confused as well — shocked that the man who shot their dog is not behind bars tonight.”

Photo via Twitter

 

 

Terrence Cody, Under Investigation for Dog Abuse, Cut from Baltimore Ravens

MARCH 24, 2016 UPDATE: Terrence Cody was sentenced today to nine months in the Baltimore County Detention Center.

“Deflate-Gate” isn’t the only major NFL story today. Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Terrence Cody, who is currently being investigated for animal cruelty, will be dropped from the team after the Super Bowl.

The official Ravens announcement today made no mention of the investigation by the Baltimore County State’s attorney’s office, however.

According to Cody’s agent, Peter Schaffer, Cody paid $8,000 for a Bullmastiff from Spain. When the dog became seriously ill, Cody took him to a vet. Schaffer said the dog died from worms.

He didn’t mention what kind of worms the dog had or the duration of the dog’s illness before Cody sought treatment. No further details about the investigation have been released.

If the dog had hookworms, PetMD.com notes that they can be fatal, especially for puppies: “These blood-sucking parasites can invade, inhabit and live in the dog’s small intestines. In their fourth-stage larvae, the hookworms can cause anemia and inflammation in the dog’s small intestine. Active worms leave bite sites and those sites continue to seep blood. … Death can come suddenly if the dog is not immediately treated.”

Schaffer is upset with the Ravens for canning his client. “This young man’s dog has died and the Ravens were so worried about possible ramifications from the league that they took a preemptive strike,” he told the Baltimore Sun. “The fact that the NFL has created such an atmosphere of hysteria that tramples on due process rights, the right of law and common decency is a tremendous problem in our league and our society.”

The “atmosphere of hysteria” is in reference to the NFL’s toughened-up personal conduct policy, which followed last year’s suspension of another Ravens team member, running back Ray Rice. In that domestic abuse case, an elevator camera captured Rice punching his fiancée in the face, knocking her unconscious. Rice later won his appeal of the suspension and it was overturned. Yesterday the NFL Players Association filed a grievance against the NFL to challenge the new personal conduct policy, ESPN reports.

Schaffer insisted that Cody loved his dog. “If the dog was being treated cruelly, why take it to a vet?” he said, according to TribLIVE Sports. “When the dog passed away, Terrence was in tears.”

No charges have been filed yet against Cody.

“If I find out that anyone holds anything against my client because of this, I will take every and all legal action to make sure my client’s rights are vindicated and that he’s made whole,” Schaffer told the Baltimore Sun.

Back when he was still whole, in March 2013, dog dad Cody announced on Twitter that he was selling one of his 5-month-old Presa Canario pups for $4,000.

Photo via Twitter

Adoption Offers Pour in for Dog Abandoned When Owners Moved

A family moved out of their Phoenix house Wednesday, leaving behind a sofa by the curb for trash pickup — along with their pet dog.

When a neighbor got home from work late Thursday afternoon, she noticed the 3-year-old Pit Bull hunkered down between the sofa cushions, and snapped a picture of him.

“I guess the old owners left him there,” the neighbor, who declined to be identified, told ABC15.

After unsuccessfully trying to contact a rescue, the neighbor called Mariposa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC), which picked up the dog and then transferred him to the Arizona Humane Society.

In the meantime, the neighbor posted her photo on Facebook. It has gone viral, with thousands of shares.

“We’ve been inundated with calls, people, rescue groups, people that want to step up and help,” the MCACC’s Melissa Gable told ABC15.

When Gable saw the photo, her reaction was probably similar to that of most animal lovers.

“I almost cried,” she told ABC15. “He looks so pitiful and tiny.”

The Phoenix Police Department is investigating the case. The dog’s owner, if he’s found, may be (should be) facing animal cruelty charges.

Gable told azfamily.com the dog is doing well. “We just want to let the public know that he’s okay,” she said.

Photo via Facebook

60 Emaciated Dogs Rescued From Alabama Dog-Hog Fighting Operation

During their investigation of a suspected Cottonwood, Ala., operation that raises dogs to fight hogs, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and local police found 60 dogs in such horrible condition that they rescued them today.

Hog-dog fighting is illegal in Alabama (as well as in Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi), according to the HSUS. During these fights — which are often billed as “family entertainment” — the dogs chase trapped hogs. The dogs are ranked by how quickly they bite a hog’s face and bring the screaming animal down.

“To give the dogs an advantage, handlers may outfit them in Kevlar vests, or cut the hogs’ tusks off,” the HSUS notes. “Dogs in training may be set upon helpless farm hogs. The hogs may die after dogs tear off their snouts, ears or jaws.”

The dogs rescued from the Cottonwood operation are mainly Dogos Argentinos, along with two French Bulldogs and one German Shepherd. Ranging in age from 4 months to teens, the emaciated dogs are suffering from malnutrition, skin infections and other health problems.

Animal cruelty and felony drug-related charges are pending. The operation is still under investigation.

“These dogs are lucky that the authorities responded quickly to this situation,” Chris Schindler, manager of animal fighting investigations for the HSUS, said today in a press release. “With the recent cold temperatures and the dogs’ poor condition, they needed immediate attention. We are glad to have been called in to assist in this case, and we will continue to be part of the investigation and prosecution process.”

The dogs were taken to a temporary shelter, where they are being treated by veterinarians. PetSmart Charities is providing supplies and enrichment items for this case.

The HSUS said the dogs will evaluated for potential adoption via its Dogfighting Rescue Coalition, a national network of shelters and rescue groups dedicated to giving the survivors of dog-fighting operations a chance at a new life.

“The cruelty these dogs were shown is painful to see, and we couldn’t stand by and allow them suffer,” Colonel Jim Smith, public safety director for the town of Cottonwood, stated. “We are thankful that the HSUS was able to assist on this case, and especially glad to see these dogs off to better lives.”

To make a $10 donation to the HSUS to help support these rescues, text LOVE to 20222, or go to humanesociety.org/hogdog.

Photos via Facebook

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