A pit-bull mix named Jewels was taken to the emergency animal clinic for surgery and her owner arrested after he allegedly slit her throat and beat her in the head with a rock, according to King County Superior Court documents filed Tuesday.
Stormy Gage, 49, who has convictions for domestic-violence assault, theft and driving while intoxicated, is charged with first-degree animal cruelty. If convicted, Gage could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
On Sept. 27 at Big Bend Park in Auburn, a man looking for a place to fish along the river heard a rustling noise in the bushes, then saw Gage strike the dog at least twice with a rock and heard it whimper before it broke away, charging documents say.
Auburn police were called and found Gage standing over the dog, which was covered in blood. Gage told them the dog had been hit by a car and he was trying to put it out of its misery. Officers found a blood-covered rock and knife at the scene.
Police took the dog to an emergency vet, where it underwent surgery for a cut jugular vein. The veterinarian said the dog's injuries were not consistent with being hit by a car, charging documents say.
While at the veterinary, a lump on Jewels' shoulder was diagnosed as cancer, but it was not immediately life-threatening. Her right leg was amputated. Even so, she is not expected to live more than a few more months, charging documents say.
Case Updates
An Auburn man charged with first-degree animal cruelty for allegedly beating his 8-year-old pit bull over the head with a rock and then slitting her throat pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday. But family members say the man was just trying to put the dog out of its misery.
Stormy Gage, 49, was released on his own personal recognizance after the judge ruled he wasn't a threat to society.
Gage was arrested last month after a witness claimed he saw the man repeatedly bludgeoning a dog with a rock near Big Bend Park on the afternoon of Sept. 27.
The witness reported the incident to the police, who arrived on scene and found the pit bull, named Jewels, with severe injuries to her head. The dog's throat had been slit, and officers found a wood-handled knife hidden under some nearby brush.
Gage told police that Jewels had been hit by a car and he was only trying to help the dog "go peacefully," court documents said. However, investigators said a veterinarian later told police Jewels' injuries were not consistent with being hit by a car.
The dog was rushed to Five Corners Animal Hospital in Burien for emergency surgery to repair the neck injury, which included a severed jugular vein. The veterinarian also discovered a cancerous tumor in the dog's right-front leg.
Jewels survived the attack, but had to have her leg amputated because of the cancer.
After Tuesday's arraignment, Gage's wife told KOMO News Jewels needed vet care for very serious problems they just couldn't afford to fix.
"To take a dog or any animal into any vet, it's a minimum of $150," Iola Gage said. "We just don't have that. We're barely surviving with maybe $75 a week after I pay the bills."
When asked if there was a more humane way that Jewel's situation could have been dealt with, she replied: "There probably was, but again, it takes money and we just don't have it."
Animal control shelter Sgt. Brenda Dyrdahl says since the incident, Jewels has regained her spirit.
"She's happy, she's just so happy," Dyrdahl said Thursday. "She just likes everybody. She's a happy, happy, dog."
Those caring for her say the cancer will likely come back, but Jewels remains in high spirits and they hope someone will adopt her when she's eventually ready.
If convicted, Stormy Gage could face up to five years in prison.
Animal welfare officials are hoping a compassionate person will come forward to adopt a dog beaten and slashed last month in an Auburn park.
The dog's former owner claims he was just trying to put the dog out of its misery after it was hit by a car, but prosecutors call it a case of animal cruelty.
The dog, an 8-year-old pit bull named Jewels, has showed surprising resilience despite her severe injuries.
Jewels was bashed repeatedly over the head with a rock and her jugular vein was slashed with a knife. The veterinarian who treated her also had to amputate her right leg after cancer was found in it.
Animal control shelter Sgt. Brenda Dyrdahl says it's one of the worst cases she's seen.
According to court documents, the incident occurred near Big Bend Park on the afternoon of Sept. 27.
The dog's former owner, Stormy Gage, 49, was arrested last month after a witness saw the man repeatedly bludgeoning a dog with a rock.
The dog's throat had been slit as well, and officers found a wood-handled knife hidden under some nearby brush.
The vet who treated Jewels said he could find no evidence that the dog had been hit by a car despite the owner's claim.
Now on the road to recovery, Jewels has regained her spirit
"She's happy, she's just so happy," Dyrdahl says. "She just likes everybody. She's a happy, happy, dog."
Those caring for her say the cancer will likely come back, but Jewels remains in high spirits and they hope someone will adopt her when she's eventually ready.
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