var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime() Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Failure to follow vet recommended treatment - Dover, NH (US)
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Case ID: 12721
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Failure to follow vet recommended treatment
Dover, NH (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
County: Strafford

Charges: Summary
Disposition: Civil penalty imposed
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Brian M. Laurion

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

A local man faces charges of animal cruelty after allegedly ignoring his veterinarian's warnings and allowing his dog to chew his foot to the bone.

Brian M. Laurion was arrested Nov 20 night and charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Police say his 4-year-old Shiba Inu named Buddy was struck by a car on Sept. 19 and injured his right front foot.

Buddy was taken to Central Park Veterinary Clinic where a veterinarian concluded the dog had significant nerve damage and would need to have his foot amputated.

Against the veterinarian's recommendation, police say Laurion brought the dog home and then brought him back a few days later to have a catheter removed from his leg.

Police say Laurion again ignored the veterinarian's order to have the leg amputated and wouldn't take multiple calls from the veterinarian over the next month.

"Eventually the dog started to chew at his foot and because of the significant nerve damage he couldn't feel it," said Capt. Michael Raiche. "The owner took gauze and wrapped it around the foot with duct tape and the dog chewed his leg cleanly off."

By the time Buddy was taken back to the clinic, he had chewed his leg down to the bone, Raiche said.

Buddy's leg was amputated on Nov. 3 and police were notified about the situation shortly after, according to Raiche.

"He waited too long - it's neglect, it's cruel," Raiche said.

Laurion has been released on $500 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to appear at Dover District Court for arraignment on Dec. 7. He could not be reached on Wednesday afternoon.

Buddy has since been placed in foster care and will eventually be adopted, Raiche said.

"The dog is doing fine, he's running around and he's happy," Raiche said.

Animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.


Case Updates

A 48-year-old local man has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor. Brian M. Laurion of 712 Central Ave., Apartment E, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting a girl older than 13 but under the age of 16.

The charge was filed by the Strafford County Attorney's Office and alleges that on or about June 27, 2007, Laurion assaulted the female for his own gratification. The charge resulted from the victim coming forward to the county attorney's office.

The charge is punishable by up to a year in prison.

In March, Laurion pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty violation stemming from an incident in November 2007 where his dog gnawed its foot to the bone because of a lack of medical treatment.

As a result, he was forced to forfeit ownership of the dog.
Source: Fosters.Com - June 26, 2008
Update posted on Jun 26, 2008 - 10:02AM 
A local man recently pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty violation stemming from an incident where his dog gnawed its foot to the bone because of a lack of medical treatment.

As a result of pleading guilty, Brian Laurion, 47, of 712 Central Ave., Apartment E, had to officially forfeit ownership of the dog, Buddy, a Shiba Inu.

Laurion was scheduled to go to trial on March 24 on two misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty but ultimately decided to take a plea deal offered by Dover police that reduced the charge from a misdemeanor to a violation because he thought it was in the best interest of himself and the dog.

"I was offered a plea and thought I needed to run with it because I've been severely depressed," Laurion said. "They offered a few different ones, but this one seemed fair."

Since Laurion was charged in November 2006, Buddy has been in foster care and Laurion said he felt too much time had passed and thought removing the dog from its current situation would cause it damage.

"I had to think about what was best for Buddy. He's been there for five months. He's been readjusted and has settled in," Laurion said. "It wasn't in the best interest for Buddy and myself right now to go to trial - we just needed to be done with it."

Laurion could have faced one-year in jail and a fine of $2,000 on each of the misdemeanor charges if he was found guilty.

Police confirmed Thursday that Buddy was adopted and is doing well.

"The dog has been placed in a good and loving home," said Lt. Carey Beaulieu.

Laurion was also given a suspended $1,000 fine and is required to pay his veterinarian bill of $782 to Central Park Veterinary Clinic in Somersworth.

The dog was first taken to the clinic on Sept. 19 after a car struck it. Police say Laurion was told during multiple visits to the clinic the dog needed its right, front foot amputated because of severe nerve damage, but he ignored those recommendations.

They also said Laurion ignored multiple calls from the office. Laurion had said he was never told the dog's foot needed to be amputated. He said he was told to wait and see how the foot healed.

After a month, Laurion said the dog made progress and began to walk on the leg, but one day began to bite at the leg again, causing a small wound and prompting Laurion to wrap the leg with cotton, gauze and duct tape. Two days after Laurion treated the leg, Buddy chewed his foot to the bone because police say he couldn't feel it. The foot was amputated Nov. 3.

Laurion said he adored the dog but knew his chances of getting him back were slim.

"I loved him and wanted him back," Laurion said.
Source: Fosters - March 21, 2008
Update posted on Mar 21, 2008 - 2:11PM 
Two hearings await the local man accused of neglecting medical treatment for his dog, which eventually led to the dog gnawing its foot to the bone and, ultimately, needing to have the limb amputated.

Brian Laurion, 47, of 712 Central Ave., Apartment E, pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty during his arraignment Friday morning at Dover District Court. He now faces trial on Jan. 22 for the misdemeanor charges, each carrying a possible sentence of one year in jail and a fine of $2,000.

In addition to the criminal trial, Laurion is expected in court Dec. 14 for a custody hearing on his 5-year-old dog, Buddy, a Shiba Inu. Buddy is currently in foster care, and the state has filed a motion for permanent custody of the dog.

Laurion said during the arraignment he would apply for a court-appointed attorney.

"I don't even know where my dog is or how he is," Laurion said to Judge Stephen Roberts.

Buddy was struck by a car on Central Avenue on Sept. 19, and subsequently taken to Central Park Veterinary Clinic in Somersworth. Police allege Laurion was told during multiple visits to the office the dog needed its right, front foot amputated because of severe nerve damage, but he ignored those recommendations.

They also allege he ignored multiple calls from the office. Laurion has said he was never told the dog's foot needed to be amputated, rather that he was told to wait and see how the foot healed. He also claims the office called him and left messages only pertaining to billing issues, never mentioning the dog's health.

After a Sept. 26 visit to the veterinarian to have a catheter removed from the dog's foot, Laurion said he was told the dog's leg may still need to be amputated but it could also heal. For the next month, Buddy began to improve and walk on the leg, Laurion said.

On Oct. 30, Buddy bit his leg, resulting in a small wound. Laurion treated the small wound and wrapped it with cotton and gauze, putting duct tape around it. Two days later, Buddy chewed his foot to the bone because police say he couldn't feel it. The foot was amputated Nov. 3.

In the motion for custody, the state claims the veterinarian told Laurion the foot needed to be amputated during a visit to the clinic on Sept. 24. Laurion said he would dispute that fact, among others.

"The day is even wrong, Sept. 24 was a Sunday, the office was closed," he said after the arraignment.

Laurion remains free on $500 personal recognizance bail. A few weeks before his arraignment, Laurion was told by prosecutors he could settle on the charges and only pay a fine, but Laurion said he'd rather risk jail time than admit to something he didn't do. Prosecutors never told Laurion if he would get the dog back if he settled, Laurion said.

"It feels like I've already been convicted, and I'm trying to prove my innocence," he said.
Source: Fosters Daily Democrat - Dec 8, 2007
Update posted on Dec 11, 2007 - 12:50AM 
Brian Laurion, the local man accused of ignoring his veterinarian's warnings and allowing his dog to chew its foot to the bone, says he was never told his dog's foot had to be amputated.

Laurion, 47, of 712 Central Ave., Apartment E, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Police allege Laurion ignored warnings about an injury to the foot of his 5-year-old dog Buddy, a Shiba Inu, after a car had struck him on Sept. 19, eventually leading to the dog chewing his right, front foot to the bone.

From his home on Friday night, Laurion said he didn't ignore the orders of veterinarians at Central Park Veterinary Clinic in Somersworth because they never gave him any.

"We didn't know how much damage was done, we were told there was some neurological damage to the foot and there was the possible need for amputation," Laurion said.

After being in rough shape the night of the accident, Buddy began showing signs of improvement the next day and was moving better, according to Laurion.

Laurion wanted to bring Buddy home the night following the accident because the clinic didn't have overnight staff, and he was afraid of Buddy being alone. The veterinarian allowed it, asking Laurion to keep a close eye on Buddy and to call if there were problems, Laurion said. The veterinarian also allegedly told Laurion to keep massaging Buddy's leg because it could allow the feeling to come back.

Buddy then returned to the clinic the next day because he wasn't drinking or eating. After being hydrated, Buddy once again was allowed to return home.

"I spent that night sitting up with him. I slept on the couch with him, rocked him and carried him when needed," Laurion said.

Over the next few days Buddy made what Laurion called "remarkable progress," eating better, drinking better and walking better.

Buddy returned to the clinic on Sept. 26 to have a catheter removed from the leg. At that point, Laurion said the veterinarian told him to keep monitoring the dog; the leg still may need to be amputated but it could also heal.

"I really had hopes it was going to heal and so did they (the veterinarians)," Laurion said. "I was never given a timetable on when to follow up."

An October bill from the clinic provided by Laurion showed all of Buddy's visits to the clinic in September and showed no date for a follow-up visit, only listing Sept. 18, 2008, as the date for the dog's next physical.

Over the next few weeks, Laurion says Buddy continued to improve and began to walk on the foot, rather than drag it. It was also during this time frame when police allege Laurion ignored multiple calls from the veterinarian's clinic regarding Buddy's health. Laurion claims the calls were all about money he owed the clinic and said not one of them mentioned Buddy's health.

Then on Oct. 30 Buddy bit his leg for the first time, Laurion said, resulting in minor bleeding.

Laurion said he treated the small wound and wrapped it with cotton and gauze, putting duct tape around it. Two days later Laurion came out of the shower and found Buddy in his bedroom, bleeding heavily from the wounded foot.

Laurion then returned Buddy to the clinic where he spent the next few days before his leg was amputated on Nov. 3. It was in the days leading up to amputation where Laurion was allegedly scolded by the veterinarian and animal control officer for neglect. He was also told he would be charged.

Police say Buddy is now in foster care and will be put up for adoption. Laurion is seeking an attorney and has pledged to fight to get the dog back, and didn't rule out legal action to do so.

Friends have also come to Laurion's defense, filing statements with police. One of those friends is Wanda Boston, who accompanied Laurion on some of Buddy's visits to the clinic.

"(The veterinarian) said to just keep and eye on it (the foot) and there's a chance that it could come back," she wrote in her notarized statement. "To suggest that Brian neglected Buddy is literally crazy. The only being Brian has a tendency to neglect is himself."

Robert Earwood, a co-worker of Laurion's who accompanied him to the clinic the night when the dog was struck, is also supporting Laurion's claims.

"He was told to massage the back of the legs and there was a chance they might have to take it off but there was also a chance of getting feeling in the leg back," he said. "When I heard they filed charges, I thought it was crazy. Brian doesn't treat his dog that way, Brian loved that dog and that dog loved him."

Laurion is scheduled to appear at Dover District Court for arraignment on Dec. 7. Laurion has owned Buddy since July when he found on the Internet that a couple from Franklin was giving him away. He said he bought the dog as a companion after the last of his grown sons moved out. Since then he says he's been active with the dog, walking him everyday and taking him hunting and fishing.

"It was love at first sight," he said. "Since the first day I brought him home, we have bonded."
Source: Foster's Daily Democrat - Nov 24, 2007
Update posted on Nov 27, 2007 - 4:14AM 

References

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