Case Snapshot
Case ID: 3512
Classification: Stabbing
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Monday, Jan 3, 2005

County: Anne Arundel

Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 6 files available

Defendants/Suspects:
» Robert Lee Grim
» George Martin Treas - Alleged

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Someone brutally attacked, slashed and almost killed a dog in Anne Arundel County, Md., and police are trying to figure out who would do such a thing. The dog was reportedly found the morning of Jan 3 with its throat cut. His rescuers call him Clyde and police want to find the people responsible for his attack.

Police said it was Monday morning when a staff member found a bloody belt in the parking lot of Baldwin Methodist Education Center in Crownsville, Md. A trail of blood was also found that led across the parking lot into a fielded area. Police investigated and found nothing until the woman who found Clyde called animal control.

"I knew it had to be rushed to the vet," said Ken Roy from the Anne Arundel County Animal Control office. "It appeared to be somewhat scared and it was actually still a little bit friendly when I came up to it."

"We treat some pretty serious lacerations from time to time and this probably one of the worst ones I've seen," said veterinarian Dr. Gene Bauer.

The dog was rushed to the Bay County Veterinarian Hospital with a 9-centimeter cut to its neck. It had also lost a lot of blood.

"He was treated pretty aggressively for shock and blood loss," said Bauer. "(He) was taken quickly to surgery so we could repair the wound."

The surgery was a success. But officers admit they will have a hard time catching the people responsible. They will be passing out flyers containing what they know and if police find who did it, they face animal cruelty charges.

According to news sources, the defendants were seen stuffing the bound dog-who lived in the same house as Grim's estranged ex-girlfriend-into a van near the 3426 Seventh St. residence that they had been sharing. A day later, the dog was reportedly found bleeding from a large gash across his neck, and a bloodied towel was apparently found on the doorstep of the woman's residence. The dog, Casper, is said to be continuing his recovery.


Case Updates

A Pasadena man who slashed a dog's throat to get revenge on his ex-girlfriend was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday for felony animal cruelty.

After breaking up with his girlfriend, Sue Cantu, in January 2005, Robert Lee Grim, 26, wanted to send her mother, Marjorie Cooke - who disapproved of the relationship - a message. High on heroin, Grim and his friend grabbed a mixed-breed Labrador that hung out near their apartment, slit its throat and left it in a plastic bag on Coke's porch to die.

"Mr. Grim's revenge was a Mafia-style intimidation," Cooke said Tuesday in court.

Still alive, the dog walked over to a neighbor's house and collapsed.

Cooke was dropping her daughter off at the airport on the morning of the incident.

When she returned, she found a blood-soaked towel in front of her house and the tires of her 1983 Toyota slashed, "an image that struck my heart with fear and terror," she said.

Cooke's neighbor called the police. They found a bloody belt with dog hair, which they believe Grim used to hold back the dog's legs while he cut its throat.

Grim has been in and out of jail since childhood, according to court records, with at least 13 charges as a juvenile and more than 30 as an adult.

Casper, the mixed-breed Labrador, was operated on at Bay Count Veterinarian Hospital and eventually returned to its owner, Sabrina Grimes.

According to Assistant State's Attorney Kimberly DiPietro, the dog is still "skittish with strangers" and is unable to wear a collar.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Manck sentenced Grim to three years in prison for animal cruelty.

Cantu and Cooke had no comment about the sentence, but DiPietro said they were "relieved" by the outcome.
Source: Examiner - June 14, 2006
Update posted on Jun 14, 2006 - 2:12PM 
Grim is alleged to have threatened members of the woman's family after their relationship ended. News sources indicate that Grim was convicted in 1999 of assault and that both of the accused have been convicted of drug possession.

To send a polite letter to the prosecuting attorney, asking that he pursue this case vigorously and request jail time and mandatory counseling if they are convicted, write to:

The Honorable Frank R. Weathersbee
State's Attorney, Anne Arundel County
7 Church Circle, Ste. 200
Annapolis, MD 21401
Source: PETA Action Alerts
Update posted on Jan 18, 2005 - 5:24PM 
Anne Arundel County police have arrested two men in the slashing of a dog last week in Millersville. Police say Robert Grim and George Treas, both of Pasadena, have been charged with felony animal cruelty.

Officials say witnesses saw the men pulling the dog by what appeared to be a belt into a van. Casper had a slashed throat. Police say Grim was also charged with heroin possession.
Source: WJZ Channel 13 - Jan 9, 2005
Update posted on Jan 9, 2005 - 11:52PM 
The animal rights group PETA is offering a $2,500 reward and the SPCA of Anne Arundel County is offering a $500 reward to whoever provides information leading to the arrest of whoever slashed the throat of a Labrador-German shepherd mix dog.

Nicholas Haynes, the kennel control officer at Anne Arundel County Animal Control, said at least 50 people have offered to adopt Clyde, but that an owner has come forward and claimed the animal.

Haynes said Clyde is doing very well, and will continue to be observed while he recuperates. He said they are still searching for leads into who would have attacked the dog.

The animal control department has received numerous calls and requests from people who want to donate money to help alleviate Clyde's medical bills. Donations should be sent to:

Anne Arundel County Police Foundation
8495 Veterans Highway
Millersville, Md. 21108
Attn: Sergeant Urbas

They request all donations should have the words "Animal Control donation" in the memo section of the check
Source: NBC 5 - Jan 7, 2005
Update posted on Jan 9, 2005 - 7:03AM 

References

  • - Jan 5, 2005
  • - Jan 5, 2005
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