Animal Abuse: Dog beaten by trainer-surveillance video - Loveland, CO

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Case ID: 18349

Classification: Beating, Kicking/Stomping, Other

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Josh Ritter
Defense(s):	Rachel Michael
Judge(s):	Greg Lammons

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Case #18349 Rating: 1.0 out of 5

Dog beaten by trainer-surveillance video
Loveland, CO (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Jul 17, 2011
County: Larimer

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Ryan Christopher Matthews

Case Updates: 5 update(s) available

Ryan Matthews, the owner and head trainer of
The employee said she also witnessed Matthews repeatedly strike Montage in the head with a closed fist and kick him in the side and legs, according to the affidavit.

After viewing a video of the incident, the animal control officer examined Montage in a small cage, finding her fearful, but not severely injured. A veterinarian later confirmed that the dog was not severely injured, having only a small abrasion on each paw.

Matthews' first court appearance is scheduled Tuesday, and he is free on $500 bond.

On the Off Leash Dog Training website, Matthews claims to have trained over 950 dogs "with a 100 percent success rate."

On his Facebook page, Matthews describes himself as a six-year Army veteran who has trained police and working dogs since 2002.

"While in the Army I worked with the United States Secret Service on presidential and vice presidential protection missions and have been called to serve on numerous bomb threats in support of local police departments. Also I served as an explosive canine handler in Mosul, Iraq," he wrote on Facebook.

Matthews could not be reached for comment.

Case Updates

He had pledged to better the lives of dogs, but instead, a Loveland dog trainer was sentenced Tuesday to jail for abusing his own dog.

30-year-old Ryan Matthews had originally been charged with felony animal abuse, but the district attorney dropped it to misdemeanor animal abuse.

It still means jail time and two years supervised probation.

"Hi. I'm Ryan Matthews with off the leash dog training." In his company's marketing video, Matthews speaks volumes about his expertise in training attack, narcotics and explosives dogs.

Matthews had nothing to say after his sentence in court, after he pled guilty to abusing his own dog Montage.

A surveillance camera at his former company "Off Leash Dog Training" in Loveland captured the violent attack.

An employee turned him in.

"It shows Mr. Matthews beating his dog with his fist, multiple times; throwing him against the wall and it breaks the drywall. It's very shocking," says Larimer Humane Society law enforcement officer Bill Porter, who viewed the video.

Porter says during the beating the dog is also shocked with an electrical collar.

An arrest affidavit released earlier says Matthews also body slammed the dog, at least twice, onto the carpeted floor by the dog's neck. The whistleblower says she saw Matthews kick the dog in the side of his body and behind the front legs.

"It's obvious the dog is in pain. Obvious that it's cruelty," says Porter.

It's pain measured out to 30-days in jail for Matthews.

A sentence the Larimer humane society says is fair.

"There are some animal cruelty charges that been reduced to misdemeanors and not recognized with any sentencing. This is one charge where we have seen sentencing. So I think it's a huge step forward for us as a nation. In terms of prosecuting those that harm animals," says Marcie Williams, Larimer Humane Society spokesperson.

Starting January 18th, he'll spend 29 days in jail--getting credit for one day already served.

And during his probation, he can't have contact with any animals.

He must also pay a $500 fine.

The humane society also tells us Matthews has since sold his training facility and his two dogs were adopted out together to a Fort Collins family.

Source: kdvr.com - Nov 29, 2011
Update posted on Dec 1, 2011 - 9:56AM

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A Loveland dog trainer accused of severely beating his own dog pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty and faces 30-days in jail and two years supervised probation.

Ryan Matthews, 30, would not be allowed access to any animals during those two years, according to his plea deal with prosecutors. Matthews also must submit to a mental health evaluation and a pre-sentence investigation.

His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29 in Larimer County District Court.

According to the arrest affidavit, Matthews shoved the muzzled head of a female Belgian malinois named Montage through wallboard, body-slammed her by the neck and punched her in the face. Montage and Ruca, another malinois owned by Matthews, were relinquished to the Larimer Humane Society.

The dogs were then adopted by an area family and have acclimated well to their new home, said Marcie Willms, spokesperson for the Larimer Humane Society.

"Both animals are doing well and are in the same home," said Willms, who saw Matthews enter his guilty plea.

Matthews declined to comment Tuesday.

According to his resume posted on his business website, Matthews spent six years in the U.S. Army military police, where he trained bomb-and drug-sniffing dogs. After leaving the military, he become the owner and lead dog trainer of Off Leash Dog Training.

Several people praised Matthews and his dog-training abilities on his website.

Matthews told police that he never kicks or punches the dogs he trains.

But one of his employees contacted the Larimer Humane Society on July 17 to report the abuse suffered by Montage and a survelliance video collaborated her claim, according to the arrest affidavit.

An online campaign was waged to pressure the Larimer DA to hand Matthews the maximum sentence for the original charge field against him - felony aggravated cruelty to animals.

"Ryan Matthews must be held accountable for his terrible actions to such loving, helpless animals. He should feel the pain he put his animals through and he should NEVER be able to own another animal again!" wrote a Facebook poster.

But Willms said she was satisfied with the plea bargain.

"I think the proposed sentence indicates that the county does not take animal abuse lightly," Willms said.

Source: denverpost.com - Oct 11, 2011
Update posted on Oct 11, 2011 - 6:30PM

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Attorneys have six weeks to work out a plea agreement for a Loveland dog trainer accused of abusing his own animal.

Ryan Matthews, 30, appeared in 8th Judicial District Court on Friday, and his case was delayed for attorneys to work on a plea bargain. Matthews is now due in court Oct. 11.

Source: timescall.com - Aug 26, 2011
Update posted on Aug 26, 2011 - 4:24PM

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A small group of dog enthusiasts protested punitive training methods Friday at Larimer County Justice Center, where a Loveland dog trainer accused of beating and punching his own dog appeared in court.

Ryan Matthews, 30, is charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals. Montage, his Belgian Malinois mix, remains in custody of Larimer Humane Society.

"I hope he gets what he deserves, and I hope this leads to legislation for dog trainers," Becky Myers, a Petco dog trainer from Loveland said. "It's heartbreaking, and it's very upsetting that anyone can be a dog trainer."

State officials have said Matthews' business, Off Leash Dog Training, didn't need a state license because he was training dogs when the owners were present. Under the rules, only training facilities that keep animals overnight or train without their owners present need to have a license.

An employee of Matthews' business told an animal control officer that a large hole in the training center's wall was created when he slammed Montage's muzzled nose through the sheetrock. A carpeted concrete floor nearby was where Matthews "body slammed," the dog, the employee told the officer. The employee said she also witnessed Matthews repeatedly strike Montage in the head with a closed fist and kick him in the side and legs, according to the arrest affidavit.

Surveillance video supported the accusations, according to the affidavit.

Matthews' attorney, Rachel Michael, told District Judge Greg Lammons on Friday that she expects the criminal case will result in a plea agreement in a few weeks. The possible disposition hearing is set for Aug. 26 at 9 a.m.

Michael declined a request for comment on the case until after it is resolved.

Meanwhile, Montage will remain in Larimer Humane Society's custody. Matthews has paid a bond to prevent adoption or possible euthanasia of the dog.

Protestors' signs Friday included one with a circle-slash symbol over the words, "Shock Collars;" others said "Treating Not Beating" and "Man's Best Friend Deserves Better."

Matthews, a military veteran, has previously written a column for the Coloradoan defending his use of shock collars as effective for dog training. The column compared the collars' shocks to a light tap on the shoulder.

"If anyone is using a remote collar and it is causing pain to a dog, he or she is using it improperly; pain should not be a motivator. For those of you who think the collar is abusive, hurtful or inhumane, I encourage you to take me up on the offer of a free demonstration so I can educate and show you a successful way to use the collar," according to his according to his Dec. 20, 2008 column.

Myers, who works at Petco and runs a dog rescue, told the Coloradoan that she's previously seen Matthews conduct demonstrations at Horsetooth Park with a Belgian Malinois in an open area. She said the dog misinterpreted a hand gesture and came toward him, so Matthews used the remote-activated shock collar, and the dog "whimpered" as it returned to the spot where it had been, she said.

"If some think it's OK to use punishment in their training methods, it doesn't surprise me they'd use physical methods to correct or train dogs," Myers said.

State law allows for the licensed training facilities to use shock collars and similar devices such as shock prods and electric fences only with written consent from the pet owner.

Dr. Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, assistant professor and clinical coordinator with the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, works almost exclusively with dogs and cats. She was not involved with the protest or court hearing, and she spoke with the Coloradoan in a phone interview.

She said CSU animal-behavior experts do not recommend shock collars, which can cause muscle damage at higher levels.

"Even if the level is set properly … If they don't deliver (the shock at) the right moment, it can actually confuse the dog, and that aggravates behavior you don't want to have," she said. "It's very tricky."

It would be "highly suspicious" for any veterinary training program to promote shock collars, which are typically advocated by people who train guard dogs and hunting dogs, Ruch-Gallie said.

She said positive reinforcement is the first type of training recommended, and gentle alternatives such as head halters can focus a dog's attention without the need for electric shocks.

Source: coloradoan.com - Aug 5, 2011
Update posted on Aug 5, 2011 - 8:48PM

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The Loveland dog trainer accused of abusing his own animal may enter into a plea agreement in district court.

Ryan Matthews, 30, appeared in 8th Judicial District Court before Judge Greg Lammons on Friday morning. His attorney, Rachel Michael, explained that once prosecutor Josh Ritter has finished his investigation, she believes they can negotiate a plea agreement.

"I'm confident we can reach an agreement," said Michael.

Together she and Matthews left the courthouse, refusing to comment on the aggravated animal cruelty charge faces by the military veteran and dog trainer. She said they would make a statement after the completion of the criminal case.

Matthews spent six years in the U.S. Army as a military policeman, where he trained bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs, according to his resume posted on his business Web site. After leaving the military, he became the owner and lead trainer of Loveland's Off Leash Dog Training.

One of his employees called the Larimer Humane Society on July 17 to report that she saw Matthews abuse his Belgian malinois by shoving her muzzled head through a wallboard, body-slamming her by the neck and punching her face, according to an arrest affidavit. Animal control investigators, in the affidavit, allege that a surveillance video backs up her claim.

Matthews has not formally entered a plea to the charges nor spoken publicly about the allegations, although he did tell a police detective that he does not kick or punch the dogs he trains, the affidavit states.

Several area residents praise Matthews' ability with dogs in testimonials on his Web site. Through their reviews, past clients say they were amazed by his abilities and would recommend him.

However, another dog trainer, an animal rescuer and a dog-lover showed up at Matthews' hearing Friday with another story. They claim he uses inhumane shock collars and abusive measures.

But the women, who picketed outside the courthouse before Matthews' hearing, hope lawmakers will take hold of this case and make state licensing mandatory for all dog trainers.

"It's concerning that anyone can become a dog trainer," said Beki Myers a Fort Collins dog trainer.

Loveland resident Vikki Dennis added, "What happened was horrible, but if it affects change, it will be good."

Source: noco5.com - Aug 5, 2011
Update posted on Aug 5, 2011 - 8:43PM

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Dog beaten by trainer-surveillance videoLoveland, CO (US)

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Dog beaten by trainer-surveillance video
Loveland, CO (US)