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Case #7090 Rating: 3.6 out of 5
Dog's spine broken, old unset fractures
Oakland, TN (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Dec 27, 2005
County: Fayette
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Jeffrey Meyer
» Sonya Meyer - Dismissed
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
An Oakland couple charged with animal cruelty was arrested Jan. 17 after failing to appear in court earlier that day.
On Dec. 27, 2005, Jeffrey and Sonya Meyer of 490 Oak Hill were charged with cruelty to animals after their cocker spaniel Ginger suffered a broken spine on their property.
The two were scheduled to be in Fayette County General Sessions Court at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 17. When neither arrived, Judge William Rhea issued a bench warrant for their arrest and levied a penalty of 10 days jail time.
Arrested the same day, the defendants were incarcerated and held overnight before being released on their own recognizance by Sheriff Bill Kelley. A new court date was set for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 30.
A Fayette County Sheriff's Office report indicated that witnesses saw Jeffrey Meyer enter his home on the evening of Dec. 27. Minutes later, a white and orange cocker spaniel owned by the defendants was seen exiting the house and "dragging its back end."
Upon closer inspection, witnesses determined that the dog's spine had been broken near the hind legs.
Paul Pitts has lived across the street from the Meyers since July 2005. He was playing with his wife and son in their front yard when the incident occurred. Police reports indicate that he saw Ginger crawling from the Meyers' house.
"She dragged herself to the edge of the yard and started to the street," he said. "So, I ran over to her, and I could immediately see that the dog's spine was snapped in half at a 90-degree angle."
Pitts said he then asked his wife to get his cell phone, so he could call the police. While his wife was retrieving the phone, Pitts said he knocked on the Meyers' front door.
Jeffrey Meyer opened the door, and Pitts told him that there "appeared to be something wrong with his dog." When Meyer expressed indifference and contempt for Ginger, Pitts called the police.
He then waited with the dog until Fayette County Animal Control Officer Thomas Petrowski arrived on the scene.
When Ginger's spine could not be repaired, she was put to sleep by veterinarians. An autopsy revealed that the dog had previous breaks in her hind legs that did not heal correctly due to a lack of medical attention.
Along with other neighbors and family members, Pitts is scheduling a "peaceful protest" outside the Fayette County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Jan. 30 to "demand the maximum penalty" if the defendants are convicted.
Case UpdatesAn Oakland man was found guilty of animal cruelty last week, while the same charge against his wife was dismissed, in Fayette County General Sessions Court.
Jeffrey Meyer of 490 Oakland Hills Drive was fined $50 by Judge William Rhea and sentenced to 11 months, 29 days in jail, with the sentence suspended except 48 hours. He was also ordered to pay $332.50 restitution to Fayette County Animal Rescue.
"He is allowed until June 5, 2006 to pay his fine, cost and restitution," the judge said. "He will be placed on supervised probation if it is not paid by that date."
Because Meyer spent 12 hours in jail after his arrest, Rhea gave him a choice among three consecutive Fridays to begin serving the remaining 36 hours of his sentence. The defendant chose to report at 7 p.m. this Friday to the Fayette County Jail in Somerville.
Regarding Meyer's wife Sonya, Rhea said he had seen "no proof submitted" that "in any way makes her guilty" of animal cruelty.
On Dec. 27, 2005, the Meyers were both arrested on the charge after their orange and white cocker spaniel named Ginger suffered a broken spine on their property.
Paul Pitts of 495 Oakland Hills Drive testified during the Meyers' March 20 trial that, on the evening of Dec. 27, he, his wife and son were in their front yard playing with remote-control cars. Pitts said he saw Jeffrey enter the Meyers' residence through the front door.
"A few seconds later," Pitts said, he saw Ginger come out, "dragging her hind legs." She then "scooted around to the middle" of the Meyers' yard.
"My son started calling the dog to come over," Pitts testified. "We told him not to call her, but she came anyway. The dog's back was at a 90-degree angle."
Pitts said he told his wife to get his cell phone, because he was going to call Sonya. In the meantime, he went to the door of the Meyers' residence and told Jeffrey that something appeared to be wrong with Ginger.
"He said, 'Good. I don't care if the dog dies,'" Pitts recalled. When his wife brought his cell phone, Pitts called the Oakland Police Department. He said Sonya then drove up and asked what was happening.
"She asked who hit her," he noted. "I said, 'I don't know, Sonya. She came out of the house that way.'"
Sonya testified that, when she drove by her house and saw police cars and other officers outside it, she thought they might be conducting a burglary investigation. Because she had her children with her, and she did not want to subject them to that situation, she drove around the block before returning to the house.
Fayette County Animal Control Officer Thomas Petrowski testified that, when he arrived, Ginger was lying on her side next to the road in front of the Meyers' residence, and Pitts was comforting her.
Petrowski said she was whining and moving her front legs, but not her back end. He also testified that Jeffrey told him he did not care if the dog died.
After Sonya drove by and returned a short time later, Petrowski said he told the Meyers he was going to seize the dog. He talked to Fayette County Animal Rescue, who asked him to take Ginger to Dr. Stephen Galloway, a Somerville veterinarian, the next day.
Galloway, who is the "contract veterinarian" with Fayette County Animal Rescue, testified that Ginger was brought to his office at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2005. Noting that the dog was lying on her right side, he said her front legs were "locked in extension," and she was unable to stand.
Her back was "arched," he noted, and fecal material was present around the anal region. Although the skin was normal, and there were no signs of bruising, Galloway said Ginger's bladder was distended and her abdomen was tense.
"X-rays showed a break in the back," he testified. "The spinal cord was severed, the hind limbs were paralyzed, and there was no sensation in the rear end."
Galloway's diagnosis was that Ginger's injury had been caused by "blunt force trauma" localized at the center of her back within 24 hours prior to her first exhibiting the symptoms. He also said the lack of "generalized injury," such as lung contusions, skin bruising and abrasions, meant it was "extremely unlikely" that the dog had been hit by a car.
While he acknowledged that the prognosis for Ginger surviving the injury was "excellent," Galloway noted that the prognosis for a "meaningful quality of life" was "grave." Surgery would not have changed the prognosis, he said, and she would have required "extensive daily care."
On his recommendation, Galloway said, Fayette County Animal Rescue made the decision to euthanize Ginger. He administered a "lethal injection" of a "barbiturate derivative" to put the dog to sleep. | Source: Go Fayette - March 30, 2006
Update posted on Mar 31, 2006 - 12:03AM |
The trial of an Oakland couple charged with animal cruelty began at 1 p.m. March 20, 2006 in Fayette County General Sessions Court.
Both defendants were present with their attorney David Douglas. On Dec. 27, 2005, Jeffrey and Sonya Meyer of 490 Oak Hill were charged with cruelty to animals after their cocker spaniel Ginger suffered a broken spine on their property.
The two were scheduled to be in Fayette County General Sessions Court at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 17, 2006. When neither arrived, Judge William Rhea issued a bench warrant for their arrest and levied a penalty of 10 days jail time. A Fayette County Sheriff's Office report indicated that witnesses saw Jeffrey Meyer enter his home on the evening of Dec. 27, 2005. Minutes later, a white and orange cocker spaniel owned by the defendants was seen exiting the house and "dragging its back end." Upon closer inspection, witnesses determined that the dog's spine had been broken near the hind legs. When Ginger's spine could not be repaired, she was put to sleep by veterinarians. An autopsy revealed that the dog had previous breaks in her hind legs.
The verdict of the trial was not known by press time. | Source: Fayette News - March 23, 2006
Update posted on Mar 24, 2006 - 8:14PM |
Oakland resident Paul Pitts will lead a peaceful rally at 12:30 p.m. March 20 on the north lawn of the Fayette County Courthouse.
The purpose of the rally is to "demand the maximum penalty" for an Oakland couple, if they are convicted of a charge of cruelty to animals in Fayette County General Sessions Court.
Jeffrey and Sonya Meyer of 490 Oak Hill were charged on Dec. 27, 2005, after their cocker spaniel named Ginger suffered a broken spine on their property. Their trial is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. March 20. | Source: goFayette.Com - March 16, 2006
Update posted on Mar 16, 2006 - 11:08AM |
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