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Case #12338 Rating: 3.5 out of 5
3 month old puppy beaten, hanged, set on fire
Mobile, AL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, May 19, 1994
County: Mobile
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Juvenile
» Juvenile
» Male
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
On Thursday, May 19, 1994, a three month old Chow-husky mix from Mobile was hanged from a tree by his neck, repeatedly smacked in the face and kicked, and finally doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. The puppy somehow managed to escape from his teenaged assailants and, still ablaze, ran under a porch. He was rescued, with the help of a neighbor of the girl who owned him, Dr. Doug James, an adjunct communication arts professor at Spring Hill College, who was in the neighborhood only because he was trying to sell a house he owned there.
James initially tried to steer clear of the puppy's woes, but circumstances prevented him from doing this. He ended up taking the burned puppy home with him that night to administer the supportive care he was able to give, even though he expected Gucci to expire from his injuries before morning. The resilient little dog didn't die, however, and the next morning James was on the phone to friends and associates in an effort to best determine how to arrange what surely would be extensive, expensive veterinary care for a dog who belonged to someone else. A veterinary pharmaceutical sales rep recommended that Dr. Ann Branch perform the initial evaluation. She took one look at the puppy with second and third degree burns covering his face, head, and neck and agreed to treat him at no charge, on the condition that he never be returned to the cruel environment from which he had been rescued. Not knowing yet how to respond to Dr. Branch's admonition, James thanked the generous vet and left Gucci in her care for the time being.
Meanwhile, Dr. James had made attorney George Hardesty, a dog lover and defender of animal welfare, aware of the assault on Gucci. Hardesty was not encouraging, given the lack of animal protection laws in the State of Alabama at that time, but promised to lend as much support as he could.
James had also contacted a friend at the Mobile Press-Register about doing a story in an effort to raise funds for Gucci's veterinary needs. George Werneth interviewed James that morning and took pictures at Dr. Branch's clinic. The story and a picture of the maimed puppy were front page news on Saturday, May 21, 1994.
James' telephone rang nonstop that morning, as did the phones at Dr. Branch's office and the Press-Register. Included in the calls were inquiries from Mobile police officers who were just finding out about the case. Officer Tommy Menton immediately launched his own investigation of the crime, as did Ryan Russell, a private investigator. By the first of the next week, four males had been identified as being associated with the attack on Gucci. Less than two weeks later, a nineteen year old and two sixteen year olds had been arrested, taken into custody, and charged with animal cruelty.
In the midst of the media and law enforcement attention surrounding him, Gucci remained in Dr. Branch's care, continuing to heal fairly steadily from his injuries. He patiently and quietly tolerated any procedure necessary in the treatment of his wounds. Eventually contractures from the burns on his face pulled his eyelids upward so that he could no longer blink or close his eyes. The decision was made to take him to Auburn University's School of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation for surgical intervention. There Gucci underwent a series of surgeries to ease the tension on the skin of his eyelids. By the end of 1994, he had healed sufficiently to appear in a segment on "Inside Edition" which aired August 30th. He and Dr. James were also invited, and drove all the way, to New York in December of that year to appear in a special program on survivor dogs for the "Maury Povich Show", which was televised January 16, 1995.
Gucci's media exposure in newspapers and magazines, and on radio and local and national television networks, including CNN, caused a deluge of letters, cards, and telephone calls from all over the Unites States, as well as from Canada and countries as far flung as Australia. He received gifts of money and treats from both private and corporate donors. He also benefited from frequent appearances at fundraisers held by humane societies across Alabama and in Florida.
In November, 1994, Gucci underwent surgery once more for bilateral hip dysplasia via Auburn's veterinary orthopedic surgery department. In March, 1995, he received a final operation on his left eyelid. By June of that year, after also being neutered, he was released by his Auburn caretakers, who declared him healed and in need of no further surgeries.
Gucci's original owner, a fifteen year old girl who had no means of providing for the serious medical needs of her puppy, had long since turned him over to Dr. James. She told James she hoped he could find the puppy a good home, but preferred that he keep him as one of his own, if possible.
Through the efforts of George Hardesty and Judge James Strickland, in July, 1994, Gucci's two juvenile attackers were each given 200 hours of community service, preferably in settings where they would have to participate in animal care, and ordered to pay fines of $250 plus court costs. After multiple delays, the 19 year old assailant's case finally came to jury trial on February 3, 1995. He pleaded guilty as a felon, and two days later was sentenced to three months in jail (of which he served six weeks), two years' probation, and was ordered to pay restitution for Gucci's surgical bills.
Gucci is now 12 years old, healthy, and strong. Over the years he has been the recipient of awards, citations, and other forms of recognition too numerous to mention here. He was named "Alabama's Official State Spokesdog Against Animal Cruelty" by Governor Fob James in February, 1998. In May, 2000, exactly six years following his abuse, the Alabama State Legislature passed a bill making intentional cruelty to domesticated animals a Class C felony, punishable with a prison term of up to 10 years. The bill was signed into law by Governor Don Siegleman, with Gucci looking on, on May 20, 2000.
Since 2004, May 15 is "Gucci Day" in Mobile, and in May of this year, Gucci Lane was dedicated and is the street which leads to the Mobile Animal Shelter.
Case UpdatesGucci, the chow mix whose torture as a puppy in 1994 led to a tougher animal abuse law that was named after him, died Wednesday.
Born March 15, 1994, Gucci was grabbed by a group of men at 12 weeks old, beaten, hung in a tree by his neck, doused with lighter fluid and set on fire.
At 16 years old, the dog had been in failing health for several years, said owner Doug James, the Spring Hill College professor who rescued Gucci from his tormentors.
James said it was time for his beloved pet to be spared further decline, and he was euthanized at the veterinarian's office Wednesday.
"He was the perfect dog," James said.
Gucci's first year alternated between surgeries at Auburn University's small animal clinic and appearing as evidence in the court cases against his abusers.
Each of the three abusers was punished for animal cruelty, with one adult sentenced to six months in jail. The others received hundreds of hours of community service.
After Gucci's story received national attention, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill making intentional cruelty to animals a Class C felony, punishable with a prison term of up to 10 years.
Called the Pet Protection Act, the bill became more commonly known as the Gucci Law.
"I think Gucci's legacy is that animals do have rights in Alabama," James said. "We now have official legislation to punish abusers."
Besides local media coverage, Gucci appeared on the "Maury Povich Show" and "Inside Edition." He and James also made numerous visits to area schools and pet organization events.
In 2008, despite his scars, Gucci took on the role of Sandy the dog in the local Playhouse in the Park's production of "Annie Jr."
"He would never be hostile to anything or anybody," James said. "He was the perfect poster dog for animal cruelty."
Brenda Cashdollar, vice president of Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter, put it this way: "If ever there was a dog that should hate people it should be Gucci, but he loved everyone."
During his 15th birthday party last year, Cashdollar said, Gucci was unable to walk. After being carried in, "he just lifted his head and wagged his tail" when someone came up to greet him.
A party planned to mark his 16th birthday at noon Saturday at B&B Pet Stop in Mobile will now serve as a memorial event, organizers said.
Gucci will be cremated, James said, and his remains eventually placed in a memorial at the local animal shelter.
In his last days, James said, he would often carry Gucci out to a deck off his bedroom, where the dog spent time watching traffic.
"He loved the FedEx trucks," James said, chuckling. "He would always bark at them. That was his duty." | Source: AL.com - Mar 25, 2010
Update posted on Mar 25, 2010 - 2:27PM |
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