Dog neglected, beaten with 2x4
Charleroi, PA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 2, 2008
County: Washington
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: George Hickman
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Even with his back legs broken and bones painfully scraping together, the pit bull mix named Alex is still sweet enough to give slobbery kisses to his new caregivers at Washington Area Humane Society.
The dog was taken from a Charleroi home last Friday night when police responded to an argument there and found the dog had been beaten and severely malnourished.
Charleroi police charged 25-year-old George Hickman with cruelty to animals on Thursday, and he will be sent a summons by District Judge Larry Hopkins. Police said Hickman was staying with a female friend at 853 Lincoln Ave. when they received the call about a fight.
Police said the dog's hips were broken last month when he was beaten with a wooden board at the residence. The dog also had open sores on his face, neck and body, and witnesses told police scalding water was poured on him.
"The dog was in pain," said Officer William Gardner, who filed the charges. "I've seen this before, but this is probably the worst one."
Hickman told police the dog got into a fight with another dog, but veterinarians told Gardner the injuries indicated otherwise.
Alex had been unable to walk since the alleged beating on July 17, Gardner said. However, veterinarians who performed successful surgery Thursday to repair the damage suspect his hips were broken for at least six weeks.
"I'm an animal lover, so that kinda bothered me," Gardner said. "The main thing is he was in pain, and now he'll get someone to take care of him."
Lorie Schooley, manager of the humane society, said the dog will need extensive physical therapy before walking again because the muscles in the hind legs had not been used for more than a month.
"It's horrible," Schooley said. "On top of the abuse, there was so much neglect. Completely emaciated, kept in a crate, malnourished and with a skin infection. Usually you see one or another. You don't see both (abuse and neglect) happening."
She said despite the abuse, Alex playfully licked a coworker's face even while they could hear his dislodged hip bones creaking. Since coming to the shelter last week, Alex spent most of his time sleeping on a couch next to the society's workers.
"That's probably one of the most heartbreaking things of the whole thing," Schooley said. "He is such a lovely creature."
People have been calling the humane society offering donations to help pay for the surgery or inquiring how to adopt Alex. Those interested in helping can call the shelter at 724-222-7387.
Case UpdatesA Charleroi man facing drug and cruelty to animal charges was jailed Tuesday after failing to appear on an unrelated summary charge.
George Hickman, 24, of 904 Shady Ave., was scheduled to appear on criminal mischief and disorderly conduct charges for alleged breaking the windows out of a house at 922 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi on June 4.
He was arrested on a bench warrant after failing to appear for the hearing before Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins in Charleroi.
Hopkins also arraigned Hickman on two other cases and sent him to the Washington County Correctional Facility after he failed to post $50,000 bond.
Hickman was charged with cruelty to animals for allegedly beating a dog with a piece of wood as well as punching and kicking the animal. The incident is alleged to have occurred July 17 at the 853 Lincoln Ave. residence where he was living at the time, police reported.
Hickman was additionally charged Aug. 22 with possession of a controlled substance, firearms not to be carried without a license and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
According to police, Hickman was arrested in the 1100 block of Crest Avenue after police allegedly found a bottle of Oxycontin along side his vehicle. | Source: Valley Indepdent - Sept 4, 2008
Update posted on Sep 6, 2008 - 2:54PM |
References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Washington County, PA
|
