Animal Abuse: Severely injured dog left in trash bin - Decatur, AL

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Case ID: 7414

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior

Animal was bound

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Case #7414 Rating: 3.0 out of 5

Severely injured dog left in trash bin
Decatur, AL (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 22, 2006
County: Morgan

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 7 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Samuel Bernard Sanders

Case Updates: 15 update(s) available

The search is on for those responsible for dumping a severely injured dog into a trash bin. The staff at Osborne Animal Clinic in Decatur has named the dog "Lucky". When he was brought in Wednesday, he had many bruises, a swollen eye, and a severed leg. It's believed Lucky was used as bait to train dogs to fight. Lucky was allegedly bound with duct tape in several places.

Animal cruelty is a Class C felony. The community has raised $6,200 as reward money for information about what happened to Lucky. If you have any information, call the Decatur Police Tip Line at (256) 341-4636.

Case Updates

Samuel Sanders won't spend any time in jail on charges of second degree animal cruelty and filing a false police report. Instead, a judge placed him on a total of 4 years probation.

Sanders testified during his trial back in March that he wrapped Lucky the dog's snout with duct tape, put him in a garbage bag, and placed him in a trash bin.

Sanders' Attorney Scott Anderson says his client deserves credit for a clean past and shouldn't do time for a first offense.

"I told a jury Sam is a good person. I told the court that today. I proved it," says Anderson.

Dr. Steve Osborne, the veterinarian who took care of Lucky, believes Sanders' punishment should have been tougher.

Osborne and others in support of Lucky sent letters asking that Sanders serve the maximum sentence.

Osborne says the punishment, in this case, doesn't fit the crime.

"From the very beginning he was trying to do everything he could to get out of trouble. What was going on the court complexity let him get away with it," says Osborne.

Sanders was also sentenced to 200 hours community service and he must pay $4,000 in fines and another $2,000 in restitution.

Source: WAFF- May 18, 2007
Update posted on May 18, 2007 - 3:30PM

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A jury convicted a man of misdemeanor animal abuse Friday after he admitted taping his dog's mouth, sealing him in a garbage bag and placing him in a garbage bin to die after being mauled.

Samuel Sanders testified that he got rid of the animal for fear of wrongly being labeled a dog fighter.

The dog, which was rescued by a city sanitation worker, has since been named "Lucky." It lost a leg to infection but has otherwise recovered.

A judge set sentencing for May 17, when Sanders could receive a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Sanders testified that he had two dogs, the one that was injured and a pit bull. He said he came home from work early on Feb. 22, 2006, and later found Lucky with injuries including a broken leg and bites.

"I thought he was dead or almost dead," Sanders said.

He said he wrapped Lucky's snout with duct tape so that he would not make noises, leaving room so that the dog could breathe. Then he put him inside a garbage bag, leaving his head sticking out, and took him to a garbage bin.

Sanders, 27, denied harming the animal and said he panicked "because I was young, I was black and I had a chewed-up dog and a pit bull."

Assistant District Attorney Paul Matthews urged the jury to convict Sanders of felony animal abuse.

"Even if you believe what he tells you, he's guilty of cruelty to an animal in the first degree," Matthews said.

Dr. Steve Osborne, a veterinarian who treated Lucky, told The Decatur Daily it appeared the animal had been in a fight with another dog.

But Sgt. Rick Archer testified that he and another officer searched Sanders' home and found no evidence that dogs were being trained for fighting there.

Archer, however, said Sanders lied in a written statement, initially claiming someone stole Lucky two months before the dog was found in the garbage bin.

Later, Sanders apologized for lying and the way he handled the situation. He said he wanted to take the dog for treatment but he was afraid of being stereotyped as a dogfighter.

Source: Mongomery Advertiser - April 2, 2007
Update posted on Apr 2, 2007 - 9:59PM

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The trial for Samuel Sanders began yesterday afternoon. It is expected to continue through the end of the week. Sanders is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly dumping a severely injured dog into a trash bin.

The staff at Osborne Animal Clinic in Decatur named the dog "Lucky". He was brought in with many bruises, a swollen eye, and a severed leg. Lucky was allegedly bound with duct tape in several places, and is believed to have been used as bait to train fighting dogs.

Source: Morgan County Case# CC06237
Update posted on Mar 29, 2007 - 2:45PM

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The man accused of abusing Lucky the dog will have to wait a few more days for his trial. Samuel Sanders' animal abuse trial was set to begin Monday, but had to be delayed.

Source: WHNT - March 26, 2007
Update posted on Mar 27, 2007 - 5:48AM

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The trial for Samuel Bernard Sanders has been set for March 26, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at the Morgan County Courthouse, located at 302 Lee St, N.E., Decatur, AL 35602.

Source: Docket # CC06237
Update posted on Jan 31, 2007 - 4:17PM

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This week Lucky was to have his day in Morgan County Circuit Court seeking justice for the alleged abuse but the case got postponed.

"We received a letter in the mail from District Attorney Bob Burrell saying that Judge Glenn Thompson had continued the case," said Kim Osborne.

She and her husband, Veterinarian Steve Osborne, adopted Lucky after saving his life. He now lives at their home and sometimes at the clinic. She said her husband told her the defense attorney asked for continuance of the case. Osborne, who treated Lucky for free, assessed his injuries as consistent with dog fighting.

Osborne started a fund with $500 that rapidly grew to more than $16,000, proportionate to public outcry of Lucky's mistreatment. That reward drew the tip that cracked the case, according to reports.

Police investigated and found Lucky's owner.

Samuel Bernard Sanders surrendered to Decatur police on March 16. He claimed ownership of Lucky, whose original name was Rocky. Sanders disclaimed using the pooch for dogfighting. He told police that another of his dogs injured Lucky while he was not home.

Lucky had duct tape around his snout and his body was badly mangled when he was discovered Feb. 22.

A grand jury indicted Sanders for dog/cat cruelty, a felony, and giving a false report to law enforcement and second-degree perjury, which are misdemeanors.

Initially Sanders told police that someone stole Rocky from his backyard two months before he was found. He then filed a report alleging the theft and that report later yielded the perjury and false report charges.

Investigators said they had no information that led them to believe that Lucky was used as a bait dog for fighting.

"We're in a situation where we have to follow the evidence that we have," Sgt. Rick Archer said in March. "The conclusion that I have come to based on the evidence is that he was not."

Lucky's plight drew national attention.

"Inside Edition" aired Lucky's heart-tugging story in April.

Lucky's support came from near and far away. His biggest help came from the Osbornes, who gave him love and a home. Today he's doing fine.

Losing his right front leg doesn't slow him.

"He's totally healed from the wounds and he's happy and energetic," said Kim Osborne. "The leg being gone doesn't bother him at all."

Lucky will get his day in court when officials re-schedule the case for trial.

Source: Decatur Daily News - Dec 12, 2006
Update posted on Dec 12, 2006 - 12:54PM

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"Inside Edition" will air the story of Lucky the dog Friday.

Crews filmed in Decatur on Wednesday and talked with those who played a role in helping Lucky.

Among those interviewed were veterinarian Dr. Steve Osborne, who amputated Lucky's badly injured leg, and Decatur police Sgt. Rick Archer, the detective who hunted down the dog's alleged abuser.

Lucky was found inside a trash bin Feb. 22 with his snout duct-taped and suffering from multiple injuries.

Samuel Sanders, whom police say wrapped Lucky in a trash bag and left him for dead after Sanders' pit bull attacked him, is currently out of jail on $26,500 bond. A grand jury indicted him last month on a felony charge of animal cruelty.

According to the "Inside Edition" Web site, the show will run at 3:30 p.m. on Friday on WHNT-19.

"With all the stuff they got, they could do a three-hour documentary," Osborne said.

"All along, they have said that their focus on the piece was Lucky's new owner, new family, new home and his existence from this point forward ... the happy ending, if you will," said Osborne.

Osborne recently announced that he would be Lucky's new owner, allowing the dog to continue to spend time at Osborne Animal Clinic, where the staff �" including Kramer, a puppy who acts as the clinic's greeter, has become quite attached to him. Lucky will also divide his time between Osborne's Decatur home and Osborne's farm.

"It's really an opportunity to showcase Decatur as much as anything," said Osborne.

"Even though this was perpetrated by a citizen of Decatur, far more citizens of Decatur rose to the occasion to make it right, and it does have a happy ending. ... This is a perfect town for Lucky to spend the rest of his life, and I hope that's the way they present it."

Lucky, Osborne said, is exercising and undergoing deworming and vaccinations to make sure he stays healthy.

"He's gained 10 pounds over what he weighed when he came in, and you have to take into account that he lost one of his legs," Osborne said.

Lucky will soon undergo an operation to neuter him, but Osborne said the elective surgery is not at the top of the to-do list.

Lucky has made a few public appearances since his recovery from the amputation, but Osborne doesn't want to overdo it.

"He's getting offers to go everywhere and do all kinds of things. People want to use his picture. We may have to copyright his image or something," said Osborne.

Osborne said Lucky is bound to continue his work as an icon for animal treatment, but he hopes any fundraising Lucky participates in will go to the animal shelter.

Speaking of fundraising, the over $17,000 in reward money donated by people from across the country who were appalled by what happened to Lucky has yet to be disbursed.

One tip helped lead police to their arrest and the tipster will likely receive a cut of the reward money, Osborne said.

Anyone with more information in the case should come forward, because they too could receive a piece of the reward, Osborne said.

Source: The Decatur Daily - April 6, 2006
Update posted on Apr 7, 2006 - 4:08PM

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A man accused of taping a dog's mouth shut and leaving it to die inside a trash bin has surrendered on animal cruelty charges.

Samuel Bernard Sanders, 26, was freed on bond Friday. He turned himself in a day earlier after grand jurors indicted him on a felony animal cruelty charge and a misdemeanor perjury charge.

Police Sgt. Rick Archer said Sanders owned the dog that came to be called "Lucky" after it was found in a trash bin on Feb. 22 with duct tape wrapped around its snout and a leg that was wounded so badly it had to be amputated.

Dr. Steve Osborne, a veterinarian who treated Lucky for free, believed the dog was injured while being used to train fighting dogs.

Sanders admitted leaving Lucky in the trash bin but denied any link to dogfighting, Archer said.

Sanders said another of his dogs hurt Lucky while he was not home, according to Archer. Sanders wrapped duct tape around Lucky's snout to silence him, stuffed him in a garbage bag and dumped him in the bin, Archer said.

"We can't prove at this point that he had anything to do with Lucky's injuries," Archer said. "Our contention is that the treatment inflicted on Lucky in trying to dispose of him was cruel."

Sanders could not be reached for comment; there was no telephone listing in his name.

A $16,000 reward for information about the dog brought in a tip that helped result in the indictment, Archer said. The tipster told police Sanders had owned a dog named "Rocky" who met Lucky's description.

When questioned about it, Sanders told investigators someone stole Rocky from his backyard in late November or early December 2005.

"We found that story unlikely, so we took him down to the police station, where he identified a picture of the dog," Archer said.

Sanders then filed a police report alleging the dog's theft. "It was that report that was the basis for the second-degree perjury charge after Sanders later acknowledged that that report was false," Archer said.

Source: Associated Press - March 17, 2006
Update posted on Mar 17, 2006 - 2:01PM

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Lucky the dog has almost fully recovered from surgery to amputate his leg, Dr. Steve Osborne said Monday.

Osborne said he is still giving Lucky antibiotics, but Lucky is no longer running a fever.

"It was a week ago today we did our third surgery on him to manage the fluid. That seems to be working. We removed sutures and about half the drains today," Osborne said.

"We've said all along that we thought it would take about two weeks for him to recover from the surgery. This Wednesday will be two weeks, so I'd say he's right on schedule. He still has some healing to do and getting accustomed to that weight on the leg."

Since his discovery in a trash bin in Decatur on Feb. 22 with his mouth duct-taped and his right front leg all but severed, Lucky has inspired public outcry over illegal dog fighting.

Decatur police believe Lucky was used as bait to train fighting dogs.

After police announced that investigators tracked down Lucky's owner and the case will go before a grand jury this week, everyone is on the edge of their seats, Osborne said.

The only person who doesn't seem worried about whether justice is served is Lucky, who seems quite content. He runs and plays during brief walks that clinic staffers take him on about four times daily.

Putting Lucky up for adoption will be difficult because the staff at Osborne Animal Clinic has grown attached to the good-natured pooch, Osborne said.

Source: Decatur Daily - March 13, 2006
Update posted on Mar 16, 2006 - 12:57AM

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Decatur police will show evidence to a Morgan County grand jury next week that investigators believe will lead to the arrest of the person who abused Lucky. Lt. Nadis Carlisle said tips from callers helped with the discovery of Lucky's owner and that the dog's original name was Rocky. He declined to give any details, such as whether the suspect had dog-fighting items, saying he didn't want to affect the grand jury proceedings. He did say the department's findings bring closure to the two-week-old case. Presenting the case to the grand jury instead of arresting the suspect this week was the advice of the Morgan County district attorney's office, he added. If convicted, the suspect could face one to 10 years in prison.

Lucky was found Feb. 22, 2006 in a trash bin near Wilson Morgan Park with a mangled leg and a duct-taped snout. Officials suspect he was used as bait for training pit bull fighters. The dog continues to recover and could be ready for adoption in about three weeks.
Veterinarian Dr. Steve Osborne, who amputated Lucky's leg last week, immediately put up a $500 reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of Lucky's abuser. Donations from around the country have increased the reward to more than $15,000. Carlisle said he couldn't say at this time whether the reward was the key to finding the suspect. "I can't say that it didn't," he said. Sgt. Rick Archer, head of the homicide/robbery unit, said solving the case was merely a matter of sifting through the overwhelming number of tips reported by citizens. "Every day, I would have two dozen calls," he said, noting that many were related to dog fighting and not specifically to Lucky.

The decision on the reward will come after a conviction, said Osborne, president of the Decatur Animal Shelter Advisory Board. If the case reveals that it was no specific tip that led to the conviction, the money will be returned or used as seed money for a fund-raiser to build a new animal shelter. If that's the case, all the high-dollar contributors will be contacted to ask their permission, he said. More than 10 people donated $500 or more, and one person donated $1,000. "A lot of people have already told us they don't want the money back," he said. "When we first started, we thought there'd be five or six people (contributing), not more than 100 from 20 states." Archer said the investigation hasn't put police on the direct trail of illegal dog fighting operations, but that he wouldn't be surprised if eventually they made some arrests because of the tips they received. "We're going to follow up on every tip we got, eventually," he said.

Police announced their findings at a press conference March 7, 2006 at the Decatur Animal Shelter, attended by Councilman Ronny Russell, Mayor Don Kyle, Police Chief Joel Gilliam, Criminal Investigations Capt. Ken Collier, Animal Shelter Director Danny Melson and members of the animal shelter advisory board and the Animal Friends Humane Society. Russell said the story of Lucky shows what the community can do when it works together, adding that he hopes the same spirit will continue as the city pursues more animal cruelty cases and improves the shelter. In the past year, the shelter hired an animal control officer and is in the midst of training him to investigate animal cruelty cases. In addition, the city plans to begin a capital campaign this year to build a new shelter.

Source: The Decatur Daily - March 8, 2006
Update posted on Mar 12, 2006 - 9:03AM

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More than 150 people have put their names on a list in hopes of adopting Lucky since he was found left for dead in a trash bin Feb. 22. And not just local animal lovers.

Osborne Animal Clinic, where Lucky had his injured right front leg amputated Tuesday, has received adoption inquiries from California, Indiana, Georgia, Virginia, Wisconsin and Mississippi, as well as from across Alabama.

Donors to a reward fund set up to find Lucky's abuser have also hailed from all over.

"California, Connecticut, Oregon, Georgia, New York, Florida, everywhere," said Kim Osborne, wife of Dr. Steve Osborne, who has provided free care for the dog suspected of being used as defenseless bait to train fighting dogs.

The reward fund was up to $14,160 on Friday morning, which includes $63 from students at Gordon-Bibb Elementary School.

Some gift bringers have thought of other ways to help.

Decatur General Hospital's Outpatient Services sent a basket of bones, dog cookies and toys. An individual brought Lucky an orthopedic bed.

"We've had several teachers come in saying their students ask about Lucky every day," Kim Osborne said. "They would like to come in and see him, and they want to know how somebody could do that to him. So this has been wonderful for raising awareness."

Since the story of Lucky broke 10 days ago, THE DAILY has received numerous e-mails from readers across the country, asking for updates and ways to help.

Source: The Daily - March 4, 2006
Update posted on Mar 6, 2006 - 2:15AM

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Doctors amputated Lucky's right front leg February 27, 2006. That's after they learned his leg won't fit a prosthetic. The reward to find the person who put him there now stands at $10,702.

If you have any information about what happened to Lucky, call the Decatur Police tip line at (256) 341-TIPS.

Source: WAAY News - February 27, 2006
Update posted on Feb 28, 2006 - 5:54PM

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Anyone wanting to add to the reward fund can write a check payable to Justice for Lucky and send it to Wachovia Bank, 922 Beltline Road S.W., Decatur AL 35601 or Osborne Animal Clinic, 914 Beltline Road S.W., Decatur AL 35601.

Anyone with tips on the case should call Decatur police officer Greg Sexton at 353-2515.

Decatur police will determine who gets the reward if they find the culprit. If police arrest no one, the money will be returned to the donors.

Source: The Decatur Daily - February 27, 2006
Update posted on Feb 28, 2006 - 2:35PM

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Lucky, the dog found duct-taped in a Decatur trash bin, is being considered for a prosthesis for its amputated right leg. Dr. Steve Osborne, the veterinarian who is treating Lucky, said a vet in Tallahassee, Fla., who specializes in prosthetics and works with the Humane Society of the United States, contacted him about Lucky's condition.
Following news reports about the abused dog, a reward fund for an arrest in the case has reached $7,000, Osborne told The Decatur Daily.

Osborne did an initial surgery to amputate the leg, but it needs more surgery. "I'll probably wait a couple of days," Osborne said. "I've got to send some X-rays to the vet in Florida." He said there's only an outside chance that Lucky is a candidate for a prosthesis. "This has struck a tremendous chord in people," Osborne said. "We've had people call angry. We've had people call crying. It's been amazing." Several people inquired about adopting Lucky, but Osborne said it would probably be weeks before his clinic begins adoption procedures. Osborne said his staff passed a couple of leads to the Decatur Police Department, which is investigating.

Source: Associated Press - February 26, 2006
Update posted on Feb 28, 2006 - 2:05PM

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The dog has multiple injuries to its face, including bit marks, and will need its right leg amputated. Osborne said he will amputate and reconstruct the leg if somebody qualified agrees to adopt the dog. Decatur Animal Shelter Director Danny Melson said he is working with police to find and prosecute the offender, but they have no suspects.

Source: Associated Press - February 23, 2006
Update posted on Feb 27, 2006 - 5:23PM

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References

- Feb 24, 2006
- March 16, 2006
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Severely injured dog left in trash binDecatur, AL (US)

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Severely injured dog left in trash bin
Decatur, AL (US)