Dog eats meat laced with an estimated 80 needles - Monroe, MI

Wednesday, Nov 16, 2011

County: Monroe

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Gary D. Pinchoff

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Andy Wann said whoever killed his black Labrador retriever by intentionally sticking tiny needles in food she ate must be really sick.

The 8-year-old dog he called Jinx swallowed an estimated 80 needles and was humanely put to sleep Nov. 16. Mr. Wann said he intends to press charges against the perpetrator.

"I know who did it and how he did it, but you've got to have proof," the 49-year-old Frenchtown Township resident said Tuesday night. "I've only talked with the gentleman once in the past six to eight months. I've always been civil with him. He said my dog kept him up barking at 2 a.m. But it wasn't my dog. My dog was a house dog, and she never roamed the neighborhood."

Michigan State Police are probing the incident, and the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case. Killing or torturing an animal carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison with a $5,000 fine.

Mr. Wann, 49, said he found a pile of vomit from the dog with about 60 needles and meat in it. The needles were about a half-inch long and had their heads cut off. The needles were inside sections of hot dogs that had been cut up.

"I thought she got into something," he recalled.

After the dog vomited again and he found a pile of needle-tainted hot dogs by his mailbox, he became suspicious. He took the dog to a local veterinarian, who took X-rays that showed more needles still inside the pet. The veterinarian told Mr. Wann he could take the pet to a specialist, but it would cost him about $1,300 for surgery to remove any remaining needles inside the animal. Mr. Wann opted to euthanize the pet.

"The veterinarian was livid," he said. "She was really upset ..."

Trooper Michael Peterson of the Monroe post interviewed the suspect. Mr. Wann said there was another dog in the neighborhood that did run around, but the dog and its owner recently moved.

Police said the suspect owns two dogs himself.

Mr. Wann said the piles of vomit he found and the needles' heads being removed shows the perpetrator knew what would happen. Employed as a Mr. Wann said the piles of vomit he found and the needles' heads being removed shows the perpetrator knew what would happen. Employed as a tool and die maker, he said he is scared for the safety of his 16-year-old daughter who lives with him.

"The guy put a lot of work in it," he said. "This is really over the top."

Update 10:29 a.m. - This morning the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office has issued a one-count animal killing/torturing warrant against Gary Pinchoff, 64, of Calvin Street, Monroe, in connection with feeding needles hidden in meat to a neighbor's dog. Mr. Pinchoff retained Monroe attorney William Godfroy. Pinchoff faces up to four years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Case Updates

Friends and family of the Frenchtown Township man charged with stuffing needles into hot dogs that were swallowed by a neighbor's dog were disappointed with his sentence of 30 days in jail, with credit for one day already served. Gary Pinchoff, 64, who pleaded no contest to a reduced felony charge of animal cruelty, was sentenced Thursday afternoon by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Michael W. LaBeau. He was taken into custody immediately after sentencing for transport to the Monroe County jail. "This was a terrible thing you did," Judge LaBeau told Pinchoff. "Obviously, you exercised very poor judgment. There are other ways to take care of this problem. I can't imagine how upset your neighbor was. ... This was something that was bad, and I can't just sweep it under the rug." Pinchoff's sentence also includes two years' probation, during which he will not be allowed to own or live with animals. He was ordered to pay $798 in fines and $1,039 restitution to the neighbor for veterinary costs. He also will be required to undergo counseling and assessment and treatment through AniCare, a program developed by the Animals and Society Institute, Ann Arbor, which treats perpetrators of violence against animals. "Given that Mr. Pinchoff claims that he intended the needle-laden meat for other animals, namely wildlife, rather than a family pet, this counseling seems particularly appropriate," wrote Kenneth Shapiro, the executive director of the institute. Prosecutor William Paul Nichols had asked the judge to consider prison time for Pinchoff, since Pinchoff did not plead guilty to the original animal cruelty felony charge, which carried a maximum four-year prison term. The sentencing guidelines for the lesser charge of harming animals was up to six months in jail. The probation department recommended a one-month sentence. The charges against Pinchoff stem from a November incident in which authorities say he laced hot dogs with dozens of needles that then were swallowed by his neighbor's 8-year-old black Labrador retriever, Jinx. Authorities said the dog swallowed at least 40 needles and was euthanized because of the severity of her injuries. Pinchoff and Andy Wann are longtime neighbors. Authorities said Pinchoff claimed he put the meat outside for invasive wildlife after the meat he was putting in humane traps was being taken without an animal being captured. His lawyer, William Godfroy of Monroe, said his client didn't realize it was his neighbor's dog getting into his yard. "I made a mistake and wasn't using good judgment," Pinchoff told the judge. "I ask that you forgive me and what I did. It was never my intention to do any harm to this dog." Pinchoff's son, Grant, of Erie, Mich., said his father is an animal lover who fed the squirrels and would never harm the wildlife he caught with traps in his yard, instead releasing the animals in the country. Grant Pinchoff's fiancee, Whitney Miles, also of Erie, said her future father-in-law thought the needles would cut the animal's mouth and it would leave the yard. Mr. Wann, who said he was not in court for the sentencing because of work obligations, said he was glad that Pinchoff received jail time. He said Pinchoff threw the needle-laced hot dogs in his yard. "I found them by my mailbox," Mr. Wann said. "He can stick to his story, but I know who the hot dogs were intended for. It still makes me very mad. My daughter still talks about and misses Jinx."

Source: toledoblade.com - Mar 30, 2012 Update posted on Mar 30, 2012 - 9:43AM

A man accused of feeding a neighbor's dog numerous needles that led to the pet's death has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge. On Thursday Gary D. Pinchoff, 64, of 225 Calvin Dr., entered his plea to a charge of attempted animal killing or torture, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison, before Monroe County Circuit Judge Michael W. LaBeau. As part of the agreement, a charge of animal killing or torture, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, was dismissed. Monroe County Prosecutor William P. Nichols said he will be recommending jail time at sentence. "It's an outrageous act," Mr. Nichols said. "You want to send a message that this type of conduct will lead to severe sanctions." As part of the agreement, Mr. Pinchoff will be required to pay $539 in restitution to the victim. Michigan State Police reported in December that the dog, an 8-year-old black Labrador retriever, vomited about 20 needles after they were fed to him in hot dogs. The dog was euthanized after a veterinarian found 20 more needles embedded in the dog's stomach and intestines. Dozens more needles were found in the dog's vomit. The needles were about a half-inch long and had their heads cut off. Troopers said the suspect put the needles inside meat to prevent the dog from coming onto his property.

Source: monroenews.com - Feb 17, 2012 Update posted on Feb 17, 2012 - 11:27PM

An arraignment has been set for Feb. 17 at 8:30 a.m. in Monroe County Circuit Court in the case of the Frenchtown Township man accused of causing the death of his neighbor's dog after it ate needle-laced hot dogs. Gary Pinchoff, 64, faces up to four years in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted on the felony charge. Mr. Pinchoff's attorney, William Godfroy of Monroe, waived the pretrial that had been set for Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Pinchoff was released on $5,000 bond after entering a not guilty plea Dec. 8 on a charge of animal cruelty in the death of his neighbor's dog. Andy Wann of Monroe filed a report with the Michigan State Police's Monroe post after his dog, Jinx -- an 8-year-old, 60-pound black Lab -- swallowed hot dogs laden with needles and had to be euthanized. Mr. Pinchoff and Mr. Wann are longtime neighbors. Trooper Michael Peterson said Mr. Pinchoff told him he put the meat outside for invasive wildlife. Monroe County Prosecutor William Paul Nichols said he has consulted with both the local humane society and Mr. Wann, and has offered Mr. Pinchoff a plea agreement that includes restitution of $530 for veterinary bills and $500 to purchase another dog. Mr. Godfroy declined to comment on the offer.

Source: toledoblade.com - Jan 26, 2012 Update posted on Jan 28, 2012 - 1:12PM

A Monroe man has been released on $5,000 bond after being arraigned Thursday on a charge of animal cruelty in the death of his neighbor's dog. Gary Pinchoff, 64, Calvin Street, Monroe, is facing up to four years in jail and a $5,000 fine. A pretrial hearing is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 19 in front of First District Court Judge Terrence P. Bronson. Andy Wann of Monroe filed a report with the Michigan State Police's Monroe Post after his dog, Jinx - an 8-year-old, 60-pound black Lab - swallowed hot dogs laden with needles and had to be euthanized. Mr. Pinchoff and Mr. Wann are longtime neighbors. Trooper Michael Peterson said Mr. Pinchoff told him the meat was intended for invasive wildlife.

Source: toledoblade.com - Dec 9, 2011 Update posted on Dec 8, 2011 - 11:20PM

References

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