Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Terry Holland | | Judge(s): | Bill Tribble |
Images for this Case
Dog shot with arrow, dragged behind 4-wheeler
Dublin, GA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 12, 2008
County: Laurens
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: 13 year old boy
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Little Cassie Bennett wanted to help. So, she emptied her piggy bank, folded one of her blankets and picked out a squeaky toy. Her mother brought Cassie's offerings to Shamrock Vet Care for Yellow, the Golden Retriever-Lab mix who is recovering from being shot in the face with birdshot and in the leg with a razor sharp three-blade hunting arrow.
After second grader Brandon Foskey, 7, got out of school, his mother brought him to the veterinarian's clinic. Brandon proudly handed a zip-lock baggie filled with bills and coins to Dr. Beverly Hickman and then beamed as the dog rounded the corner and playfully nuzzled the child's arm.
"Can I pet him?" Brandon asked excitedly. Brandon seemed to overlook the gaping wound centered on the dog's nose, instead seeing only the gentle face of a dog savoring every stroke and hug.
"First I asked my principal for money," said Brandon, an East Laurens Primary student, as he proudly showed a flyer his mom made for him. "Help us help Yellow! Any donation will be appreciated and will be donated to help pay Yellow's veterinarian's bills that is a result of animal cruelty," the flyer said.
"This is the fourth animal abuse case we've treated this year alone," said Hickman. "Yellow is sadly one of many. Funds like the Humane Society's Nina Fund help when these tragic cases come along. I'd encourage anyone to contribute whatever they can so the Humane Society can assist when local veterinarians see cases like Yellow's."
Children and adults alike have stopped by Hickman's office to contribute whatever they can to raise the money for surgery to reconstruction Yellow's nose. The shot shattered the bone, leaving a cavernous hole, which now is about an inch and a half in diameter and so deep only the membrane above the roof of the mouth remains. The Georgia Veterinary Specialists clinic in Sandy Springs has agreed to perform the difficult surgery at a discount - $2,000 � and more will be needed for the dog's post-operation care.
On Oct. 12 the two- to three-year-old stray dog, which had befriended several families along Academy Ave., was rushed to the vet. Witnesses had heard a gunshot and saw an individual attempt to drag the dog by its neck behind a 4-wheeler. However, the rope slipped off and the dog escaped.
Once at the vet, Hickman discovered the arrow embedded in the dog's leg bone � but someone had taken the time to unscrew the shaft from the arrow. A juvenile has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty in the case.
"When I read the paper about what happened to Yellow, I started crying," said Jill Storey. "My son, Garrett asked me what was wrong, so we talked about the article." Storey said Garrett, 10, quietly went to his room and returned with five dollars, asking her to please make a donation to Yellow's surgery fund.
"I thought 'if a 10-year-old child is willing to donate, I bet I could raise more money at work'," said Storey, a hair stylist at Emerald Cuts.
"So for the next two days I talked to every client, so did the other stylists. Everyone was willing to give something - $5, $10 � we raised about $70. It was amazing how many truly concerned people are out there."
Storey and the staff at Emerald Cuts wanted to encourage other salons, other businesses, to donate as well. "If we all have hearts as big as Garrett we could help and to say that this sort of animal cruelty just will not be tolerated."
"Something has to be done to stop people from thinking its okay to do this to an animal," said Deborah Feathers. "I'm a former psych-nurse and I can tell you somebody needs to look deep at what causes someone to do something like this." As Feathers handed over a hefty check to Hickman, a tear rolled down her cheek. "I just want him to get his face fixed. The pictures in the paper just don't show how bad his wounds really are."
Since the news of Yellow's case, citizens have been stopping by the veterinary clinic to make a donation, and to meet the dog. Wednesday afternoon Yellow received a visit from a Macon TV news videographer. Yellow's story had reached Macon said Perry Smith of Fox 24 TV. As Smith maneuvered his video camera, Yellow obliged him with poses.
Yellow seemed to realize his celebrity status as he greeted everyone with a smile and a constant wagging tail. He shook hands, nuzzled his face and tried to convince visitors to take him for a walk.
Although favoring his injured leg, Yellow has begun walking on all four legs and can take brisk walks. However, Hickman limits his time outside
in order to prevent any contaminated exposure to his facial wound.
"Right now he is scheduled to for his surgery on Tuesday," said Hickman, "but I'm going to see if they can't work him in sooner. The longer that hole is exposed, there is more risk."
Hickman said after Yellow has fully recuperated, the dog would be adopted. "We had four or so really good offers, but it will have to be the right home because he is a very special boy and deserves the best."
A concerned reader emailed the Courier Herald with a quote which she said is fitting for Yellow's story: "I am sometimes asked 'Why do you spent so much of your time and money talking about kindness to animals when there is so much cruelty to men?' I answer: 'I am working at the roots'." - George T. Angell (1823-1909).
Case Updates"I am guilty." With those words, the 13-year-old charged with shooting Yellow, a former stray Golden Retriever, wiped a tear from his eye.
Just as the first witness was to be called in the animal cruelty case, the juvenile's defense attorney, Alana Devaney-Jackson, informed the court her client wanted to change his plea to guilty. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one felony count. The felony count was due to the permanent damage caused when the dog was shot in the face at close range with a shotgun.
Dr. Beverly Hickman, the veterinarian at Shamrock Pet Care who treated Yellow, has said the dog is now blind in his right eye and his sense of smell has drastically been affected due to the shotgun blast. Over 100 bird shot pelted the dog's face and remain embedded there today. The brunt of the blast shattered the dog's nose and left a crater over an inch in diameter and equally as deep. That wound required specialized surgery, which was paid through local, national and international donations.
With both his parents in the courtroom, the juvenile stood red-faced with swollen eyes before Judge Bill Tribble.
"You are charged with committing cruelty to animals in Laurens County on October 12, 2008 for the unjustifiable shooting with arrow in violation of the official code of Georgia 16-12-4b," Tribble said to the defendant as he read the charges. "Count two, also misdemeanor cruelty to animals committed on the same date for dragging the animal from a 4-wheeler. Count three, a felony cruelty to animals for knowingly and maliciously causing harm by seriously disfiguring the animal's face."
The judge called on Assistant District Attorney Terry Holland to state the facts of the case.
"On October 12, 2008, a neighbor of the defendant heard what he thought was a gunshot sound. Shortly after that he saw a dog and someone he could not identify at that point," stated Holland. "He saw the individual take a rope and tie it to a 4-wheeler and attempt to drag the dog. Neighbors called law enforcement and they found a badly injured dog... shot in the face at close range with a shotgun and shot in the leg with an arrow. Upon investigation officers went about the neighborhood and found a 4-wheeler fitting the description."
Holland said Laurens County Sheriff's deputies questioned the juvenile and his father. "The young man stated he had indeed shot the dog with a bow and arrow and after that attempted to do further harm with a shotgun and attempted to drag it away."
Although the hearing was closed in accordance with juvenile code, the juvenile's family, witnesses, court officers and child advocates listened intently as the judge addressed the defendant.
"The first two offenses are misdemeanors," Tribble said to the juvenile. "The third is a felony and a much more serious offense. Here is what happens when you enter an admission of guilt - you no longer have a right to a trial, you lose your presumption of innocence and you can no longer subpoena witnesses or testify. Are you freely and voluntarily admitting the charges?"
"I am guilty," the juvenile said.
In order to be certain, the judge asked the juvenile," are you sure... would you like to withdraw your plea?"
"I would like to plead guilty," the juvenile said.
A disposition hearing, or sentencing hearing, will be scheduled in January 2009, at which time a psychological evaluation ordered by Judge Tribble will be reviewed. The report will be considered in the sentence the judge imposes on the juvenile.
"We will be reviewing all the psychological reports and looking at a suitable recommendation to the court," said District Attorney Craig Fraser. "I'm proud to see the young man stepped up to take responsibility for his actions."
Until the January hearing, Tribble ordered the juvenile must remain under house arrest, which the judge first imposed in mid-November when the juvenile was arraigned on the charges.
The judge released the juvenile to the custody of his father but instructed him to have no contact with any of the witnesses in the case, and he is not allowed to be in the possession of any firearms, bow and arrows or weapons.
"I would like to come back during the disposition hearing," said Dr. Hickman. "I'd like to address the court, as I'm sure others would, before he decides the sentence."
Under state code, the judge may consider probation, restitution community service, an institution or commit the juvenile to the Department of Juvenile Justice. | Source: Courier Herald - Dec 16, 2008
Update posted on Dec 22, 2008 - 2:40AM |
An amazing recovery and a second chance after a community pours out their hearts and money to help a stray dog. Three and a half weeks ago ,Yellow a loving lab with a kind heart was the victim of a disturbing case of animal abuse.
According to police reports a suspected juvenile shot him the leg with a three blade hunting arrow and in the face numerous times at close range with a shot gun.
But now the unsightly hole on his nose is a closed hole.
"We sent him up to Georgia Vetrinary Specialist and Doctor Lori MacDougall whose one of the surgeons up there did an H Plasty which is they took skin from either side of his face, his muzzle, they undermined it and then they inched it foward" says Dr. Beverly Hickman with Shamrock Pet Care
MacDougall also sewed up Yellow's leg and examined his eyes where it was determined he was blind in his right eye.
But being blind in one eye won't be the biggest obstacle Yellow will have to face.
"So we think it's affected his sense of smell he probably will not have the same sense of smell that most dogs of his caliber do. But other than that he's gotta be careful, he's got a little soft spot and he'll always have a little soft spot there" says Hickman.
A soft spot on his nose and a soft heart, and any pet with a soft heart can only mean one thing, Adoption.
"Now although there are many families in this community requesting to adopt this hamburger loving pooch, the clinic says they are willing to keep him as a therapy dog"
Hickman says "He's gonna become a pet therapy dog so he'll have a lot of exposure in the community, it'll also give him a chance to give back to the community that has given so much to him" | Source: Fox 24 - Nov 8, 2008
Update posted on Nov 9, 2008 - 6:22PM |
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