Animal Abuse: Dog beaten nearly to death during burglary - Riverton, UT

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Case ID: 14387

Classification: Beating

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Dog beaten nearly to death during burglary
Riverton, UT (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Aug 15, 2008
County: Salt Lake

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: 17 year old male

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A Riverton couple is in shock after they say their home was robbed and their dog was badly beaten. Vicky & Ryan Kunz say their home was broken into Friday night while they were on vacation.

They say after a few items were taken someone severely beat the family dog. Vicky Kunz says, "My husband and kids opened the door to find our dog in a pool of blood having seizures."

The Kunz say little Ranger is fighting for his life at Southeast Valley Veterinarian Hospital. They say after the initial shock of being robbed the Kunz and their kids are now dealing with anger. They're angry when they think of the suffering that Ranger has gone through.

Ryan Kunz says, "Robbery is robbery but I think the main thing is the violence to the animal."

Vicky Kunz says, "Why, you know. The only thing I can think is maybe they're on drugs or whatever. But, why beat a little defenseless dog. "

Doctor Evan Caplis at Southeast Valley Veterinarian Hospital says Ranger has severe head trauma. He has a fractured bone in the front of his skull.

The doctor says he's not sure Ranger will have a full recovery. Meanwhile the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is working to find the alleged robber and dog beater.

Case Updates

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office has made one arrest and said charges were pending against a second in connection with the severe beating of a 13-pound dog in August that was left for dead.

Ranger, a 13-pound cockapoo, was left fighting for his life after being attacked during a home burglary in Riverton. The dog suffered a fractured skull but eventually recovered enough that he could go home from the vet clinic.

Through "good dogged police work," investigators were able to come up with a couple of names of juveniles known to frequent the area, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak. Over the weekend, that work paid off when a 17-year-old boy was arrested Saturday and booked into juvenile detention for investigation of animal cruelty, aggravated burglary, theft and a stealing a firearm.

The teen was booked for investigation of felony animal cruelty. If prosecutors agree with deputies' original assessment and decide to charge him with a felony, it would make it the first test of the state's new animal cruelty law.

Ranger, who belongs to Vicky Kunz and her family, was at home the weekend of Aug. 16 while the family was out of town on vacation. Detectives believe two juveniles broke into the Kunz house, one of them armed with a weapon, Jaroscak said.

Neighbors noticed the next day that the family's garage door was open. When the Kunz family arrived home, they found Ranger lying in a pool of blood. The family said Ranger is very protective of her home and believes he may have nipped at the ankles of the intruders. But they can't fathom someone feeling so threatened by a 13-pound dog that they'd resort to such violence.

Animal rights groups offered a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Once the two suspects came onto the sheriff's radar, Jaroscak said it took some time to compare forensic evidence and conduct interviews with their boys and their parents. Charges against the second suspect, also 17, were pending Monday, Jaroscak said.

Source: Deseret Morning News - Sept 29, 2008
Update posted on Sep 29, 2008 - 1:43PM

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A veterinary technician says a family pet severely beaten during an apparent burglary of a Riverton home is showing signs of improvement.

Southeast Valley Veterinary Clinic tech Rachel Gaines says Ranger is eating a bit and has regained the use of his back legs.

The 13-pound cocker spaniel-poodle mix suffered a skull fracture. His owners found him Saturday lying in a pool of blood when they returned from vacation.

Salt Lake County sheriff's Lt. Paul Jarosack says investigators are following a few leads and recovered a partial fingerprint from the break-in at the home.

The Utah Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Executive director Gene Baierschmidt says the agency has collected a little more than $500 in donations to help pay for Ranger's care.

Anyone with information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for beating Ranger may email the Animal Advocacy Alliance of Utah at [email protected] or call (801) 583-8821.

Source: ksl.com - Aug 20, 2008
Update posted on Aug 20, 2008 - 2:59PM

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Dog beaten nearly to death during burglaryRiverton, UT (US)

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Dog beaten nearly to death during burglary
Riverton, UT (US)