Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Curtain rod shoved down dog's throat

Curtain rod shoved down dog's throat
Glen Burnie, MD (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 1, 2005
County: Anne Arundel
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Alvin Burris

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 4129

Classification: Mutilation/Torture

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Glen Burnie man accused of disciplining a dog with a curtain rod, according to Anne Arundel County police. Police said an animal cruelty investigation began March 4 after the staff at Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic contacted police about a pit bull terrier that apparently had been abused.

The dog's owner brought the dog in for emergency treatment on March 1, according to police. A veterinarian determined that the dog suffered internal injuries to the throat and esophagus.

The investigation determined the injuries were caused by the dog owner's boyfriend, Alvin Burris, 28. Police said that while Burris disciplined the dog with a curtain rod, the rod became lodged in the dog's throat.

Surgery was performed because of an infection, police said. The dog is recovering at the clinic.

Burris is wanted on charges of animal mutilation and animal cruelty.

Case Updates

A judge has given probation to a Glen Burnie man convicted of shoving a curtain rod down a dog's throat.

Alvin Burris, 29, was sentenced last week to a year on probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. Circuit Court Judge Joseph P. Manck also suspended a six-month jail term.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Messersmith said he asked that Burris be sent to jail.

Burris entered an Alford plea Dec. 1, acknowledging the state had enough evidence to gain a guilty verdict, and was convicted of one felony count of animal mutilation.

Burris admitted he was upset when he got home on March 1 because his girlfriend's dog, a pit bull terrier named Kane, had gotten into the trash and scattered it around the house, according to charging documents.

Burris told a county Animal Control officer he grabbed the dog by its collar and shoved its face into the trash, telling him, "Bad dog!" After he cleaned up the trash and took Kane to the basement, he found the dog had also defecated in the basement of the home at 8099 Phirne Road East.

Burris again grabbed the dog and hit it on the back several times. After he cleaned up the mess, he tried to grab Kane by his collar, but the dog bit him, he said.

Grabbing a metal curtain rod nearby to defend himself, Burris hit the dog on the top of the head, he told the Animal Control officer.

"The dog then grabbed the rod in its mouth and grappled with the defendant," charging documents state, paraphrasing Burris' account. "In the process of grappling with the dog, the curtain rod went down the throat of the dog. The defendant then advised the dog 'yelped.'"

Burris left the dog chained up in the basement. When his girlfriend, Elizabeth Cullens, got home, she saw Kane lying in his own vomit and took him to a veterinary hospital. Doctors there suspected abuse and called police three days later.

Kane had emergency surgery for injuries to the throat and esophagus at Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic and later recovered.

Burris told Animal Control Officer Rachel Fabrizi, "In my own defense, I know I went too far," according to charging documents. Asked why, he said, "Because Kane ended up in the hospital."

Burris and Ms. Cullens couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.

After a trial in May, District Court Judge Megan B. Johnson convicted Burris, sentencing him to three years in prison and suspending all but 60 days.

She also put him on 18 months probation and ordered him to get anger management treatment, but Burris appealed the case to Circuit Court, something anyone convicted in District Court has a right to do.

Source: Hometown Annapolis - Dec 7, 2005
Update posted on Dec 8, 2005 - 9:34AM

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The 28-year-old Glen Burnie man was found guilty of animal cruelty and animal mutilation. On March 4, he attempted to discipline a pit bull at an Annapolis residence. The dog, which belonged to an acquaintance of the man's, suffered internal injuries. It recovered after surgery.

The man received a sentence of three years in jail with all but 60 days suspended, 18 months of supervised probation and a $5,000 fine, of which $4,500 was suspended. He was ordered to complete an anger management course and have no contact with the dog.

Source: Washington Post - June 16, 2005
Update posted on Jun 16, 2005 - 11:14AM

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	NBC Channel 4 - March 16, 2005
	WJZ

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Curtain rod shoved down dog's throatGlen Burnie, MD (US)

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Curtain rod shoved down dog's throat
Glen Burnie, MD (US)