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Case #15950 Rating: 3.3 out of 5
Four dogs neglected
Munising, MI (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 20, 2009
County: Alger
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Robert Johnson
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A 50-year-old Munising man is charged with animal cruelty after a complaint was made to the sheriff's department.
Robert Johnson is out on bond, charged with animal cruelty involving four to ten dogs, a two-year felony and a misdemeanor charge for those dogs being unlicensed.
Johnson surrendered four of the dogs to the Alger County Animal Shelter. Two are males, two females; the youngest about two, the oldest around eight. They've come a long way since first arriving at the animal shelter June 20, but they have a long way to go.
"They're sweet dogs, there's not a mean bone in their bodies," said manager of the shelter, Don Ostrom. "It's just they were brow beaten and yelled at and mistreated, not enough food, and then they start fighting with each other."
Each dog arrived with a list of medical problems from cancerous tumors to lacerations to skin infections. And then there's the behavioral problems--they don't seem aggressive, but all of them lack socialization.
Assistant Manager Amanda Wolfe added, "These huskies have obviously never been socialized in a caring, loving way and they've obviously never been loved, so they're shy and they're bashful."
It's about quality of life, and shelter managers say they'll give these dogs whatever they need to improve the time they have left.
The cost of sheltering a healthy dog typically costs less than $50; for these dogs, the cost in some cases is well over $500.
Two of the dogs need surgery, they've needed antibiotics and for Pat, the oldest, his health issues may be too much. If surgery and medicine don't improve his condition, he'll have to be put down.
It's the worst case scenario for animal shelters and with these dogs comes a message, because they say, it doesn't have to be this way.
Wolfe stressed, "Turning people in for animal cruelty is not a bad thing; you're not betraying people, you're saving animals."
The shelter is planning a number of fund-raisers and is accepting donations to help cover the cost of caring for these huskies. Employees at the shelter have vowed to help these animals and in time, when they're ready, find them the loving homes they've always deserved.
Case UpdatesThe Munising man who was charged with animal cruelty in June will spend five days in behind bars.
Robert Johnson pled guilty to animal cruelty involving two to three dogs instead of the original four to ten he was being charged with.
He also pled guilty to not properly licensing the animals. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Johnson will also spend 24 months on probation.
In an emotional address to the court, Johnson showed remorse for the dogs he is charged with neglecting.
"I thought I was giving the best. That is false when she says I have no remorse, my dogs mean everything to me. If I could do it over, I'd do it different."
As part of the terms of his probation, Johnson will not be allowed to own or possess any animals. | Source: Upper Michigan News - Nov 19, 2009
Update posted on Nov 19, 2009 - 4:16PM |
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