 Racing dog's tail tied to gate, torn off
Bridgeport, CT (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 6, 2005
County: Fairfield
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Shawn Smith
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available |
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A former employee of a Connecticut dog track faces cruelty to animal charges. He's accused of tying a dog's tail to the starting chute before a race. The greyhound's tail was torn off when it began running.
Shawn Smith, 19, said he had some fishing line in his pocket and used it to tie the tail to the rear of the chute as a joke. He was fired from the Shoreline Star in Bridgeport.
The dog, Silent Stalker, finished the Sept. 6 race and later underwent surgery to close the wound. His owner said the dog, which had nine wins in his career, would likely never race again.
Smith is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 1. He also faces charges of rigging a race. Case UpdatesA Superior Court judge has denied special probation to a Bridgeport man accused of ripping off the tail of a greyhound at the Shoreline Star dog track.
Shawn Smith, 20, on April 3, 2006, was denied an application for accelerated rehabilitation after both the prosecutor and the owner of the dog objected. The special probation could have led to criminal charges being erased from Smith's record. Smith's job at Shoreline Star included leading the racing dogs to the track and he was arrested weeks after an incident at the track on Sept. 6, 2006. Police said Smith tied the tail of one of the dogs, Silent Stalker, to the cage with a piece of fishing line. When the race started, the dog ran from the cage, leaving behind a piece of its tail.
Under accelerated rehabilitation, a program for first-time, nonviolent offenders, a defendant is placed on up to two years' probation. If he commits no other crimes during that period, the original charges are dismissed. Smith is charged with cruelty to animals and rigging a race. Smith told the Connecticut Post he tied the dog's tail to the cage as a joke, but had no intention of hurting the dog. | Source: Boston News - April 4, 2006
Update posted on Apr 5, 2006 - 8:33PM |
Shawn Smith, 19, of Hallet Street, charged with cruelty to animals and rigging a race, filed an application in Superior Court for accelerated rehabilitation. The case was continued to Nov. 22.
Under accelerated rehabilitation, a program for first-time, nonviolent offenders, a defendant doesn't plead guilty to the crime, but is placed on up to two years probation. If he commits no other crimes during that period, the original charges are dismissed.
Assistant State's Attorney Pamela Esposito, who said her office is investigating the case, declined further comment.
Smith, who worked at the dog track leading the racing dogs to the track, was arrested Oct. 25 after police said that on Sept. 6 he tied the tail of one of the dogs, Silent Stalker, to the cage with a piece of fishing line. When the race started, the dog ran from the cage, leaving behind a piece of its tail. | Source: Connecticut Post - Nov 2, 2005
Update posted on Nov 7, 2005 - 3:56PM |
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