Puppy's mouth taped shut, dies
Boulder, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009
County: Boulder
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Kenneth Gookin
A 26-year-old Boulder man faces animal cruelty charges after police arrested him Friday on suspicion of killing his 4-month-old beagle by taping its mouth shut.
Kenneth Gookin called animal control to an apartment in the 1800 block of 26th Street about 4 p.m. Dec. 9 because he “needed to dispose of a 4-month-old puppy who died there,” Boulder police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley said.
Initially, Huntley said, Gookin told officers that he didn't know how the dog -- named “Vicious” -- died but that he had "locked him in the bathroom and he was slamming his body against the door.”
Officers were concerned because there was blood around the puppy's mouth, Huntley said, so they took the animal to a veterinary clinic to conduct a necropsy -- which is like an autopsy for animals.
The clinic determined the dog died of asphyxiation, possibly due to strangulation, Huntley said, and police returned to Gookin's apartment on Friday to ask follow-up questions. In subsequent interviews, investigators learned that Gookin had become upset with Vicious because the beagle had been “chewing everything” and had ruined his phone charger, Huntley said.
Because he wouldn't stop barking and chewing things, Gookin taped the puppy's mouth shut and locked him in the bathroom while he went to Target to buy a new phone charger, according to Huntley. He left for Target about 12:30 p.m. and returned about 2 p.m., Huntley said.
When he arrived home, he found the beagle was not breathing and called police for help disposing of the animal, according to Huntley. Based on the new information, officers arrested Gookin about 7:45 p.m. Friday on suspicion of cruelty to animals.
Huntley said Gookin usually is a transient but has been staying with Elan Tuvia, 20, in his apartment for a few weeks. Tuvia doesn't face any charges in connection with the beagle's death, but he was ticketed for animal neglect after officers became concerned about his English bull dog.
Police noticed a wound on the dog's back, and Tuvia told them that he had been treating the animal for mite infestation with a cream but he had run out, according to Huntley.
Gookin remains in the Boulder County Jail on a $1,480 bond. References |
