Dog neglected, found with multiple fractrures Bloomington, IN (US) Incident Date: Thursday, May 17, 2007 County: Monroe Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Charges: Misdemeanor Abuser/Suspect: Robert E. Fulford

Case ID: 11783 Classification: Beating, Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in IN (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Bloomington man has pleaded guilty to mistreating a 9-week-old pit bull puppy.

Robert E. Fulford, 45, 3809 Sims Lane, was charged Monday with cruelty to an animal.

Monroe County Sheriff�s deputies responded to Fulford�s home on an unrelated call May 17. At the time, deputies noted a small puppy with a severe neck injury, according to a report by Deputy Rebecca Brown.

On May 18, deputies went back to check on the puppy. Fulford said the male dog, named Amadeus, had accidentally almost hanged himself while chained to a tree. Deputies advised Fulford to take the animal to a vet.

Deputies returned on May 19 and initially did not find Fulford at home. After checking with a few veterinarians, deputies could not verify that Fulford had taken the dog to be checked out. Deputies returned to the home later in the day and arrested Fulford, who signed over ownership of the dog.

The animal was taken to Town and Country Veterinarian Clinic, which determined the dog had �multiple healing minimally displaced rib fractures.� He also had a compression fracture at the base of the neck.

On May 23, Amadeus began occasionally vomiting blood, which a veterinarian believed suggested blunt force trauma to the dog�s thorax.

During another examination on May 25, a veterinarian reported the dog was underweight and unable to see, but the dog�s sight eventually returned.

On June 4, Amadeus developed an upper respiratory infection. Although the dog began receiving antibiotics, several hours later, he began foaming at the mouth and having seizures, according to the report. The dog was put to death later that day.

Fulford was arrested on Monday and pleaded guilty Tuesday. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 16 by Monroe County Judge Mary Ellen Diekhoff.

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References

Times-Mail - July 17, 2007

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