CONVICTED: Was justice served?
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "People’s Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Case #10848 Rating: 1.6 out of 5
Puppy's ears cut off with scissors
Brisbane, QLD (AU)Incident Date: Sunday, Feb 25, 2007
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Linh Chi Nguyen
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A Brisbane man could face jail if found guilty of cutting the ears off an eight-week-old puppy with a pair of scissors, the RSPCA said. Inspectors from the animal welfare group seized the American staffordshire terrier south of Brisbane at the weekend after a tip-off about a cruelly mutilated animal.
The ears had been cut off to make the puppy "look tough", a practice that is carried out in illegal dog fighting circles, RSPCA inspector Daniel Young said. "It's an eight-week old American staffy male pup," Mr Young said. "We received information about a dog having its ears chopped off. "We attended the address and located the pup, obviously with no ears, and we've spoken to a person of interest who later admitted to chopping its ears off with scissors." The dog had received no sedation or pain relief following its ordeal.
Mr Young said he was appalled someone would inflict such pain on an animal, particularly one so young.
"I have seen dogs with their ears chopped off in the past, but I've never seen an eight-week pup with its ears cut off."
Named Van, after artist Vincent Van Gogh, who once cut off his own ears, the pup has now been temporarily fostered with a Brisbane family. It was starting to recover and had suffered no damage to its hearing, but would be scarred for life.
Police said any charges would be laid by RSPCA inspectors under the Animal Care and Protection Act, which carries a maximum $75,000 fine and two years in prison. The RSPCA was hoping any penalty imposed would act as a deterrent to others. "Magistrates are starting to realise that issues like this are not tolerated by the public and are starting to give heftier fines," Mr Young said.
Mr Young said a man in his early 20s was under investigation. It was believed he had recently bought the animal from a Logan breeder.
Case UpdatesMs Kubiak saw Van about a year ago and knew the earless pup was the one for her. "There are people out there who have kids who have had a rough life - they've been through the wars," Ms Kubiak said.
"You don't treat them any different just because they've been knocked around - you love them just the same and it's the same with Van."
In February last year, 24-year-old Linh Chi Nguyen, of Inala, cut the then eight-week-old puppy's ears off with scissors and no anaesthetic.
Nguyen was charged with animal cruelty under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and served three months in jail.
The maximum penalty under the act is a $75,000 fine or two years in prison.
Ms Kubiak saw Van shortly after he had been rescued by RSPCA inspector Daniel Young.
"I met Van when I was working at NightOwl at Yeronga, which is just down the road from the RSPCA shelter," she said.
"A worker used to come in for morning tea on the way to the vet. I spent an hour holding him and I fell in love with him."
Ms Kubiak said she did not think Nguyen's cruel act had affected Van's personality long-term.
"Considering his start to life, he's done a complete turn around," she said.
"Even at the Million Paws Walk he was very friendly. For so many dogs to be in one place at the one time - all he wanted to do was play with everything." | Source: Queensland Times - July 11, 2008
Update posted on Jul 11, 2008 - 7:48PM |
A Brisbane man will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to cutting the ears off a two-month-old puppy.
The Richlands Magistrates Court has heard that 24-year-old Linh Chi Nguyen acted out of ignorance and insensitivity and mutilated his dog to make it look frightening.
The RSPCA found the injured dog at Nguyen's home in February 2007. Prosecutor Ian Diehm said the dog was severely injured and may suffer recurring ear problems. | Source: ABC News - June 4, 2007
Update posted on Aug 16, 2007 - 9:37AM |
References
|
