Dog beaten, kicked
Summerfield, FL (US)Incident Date: Friday, Apr 14, 2006
County: Marion
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Paul M. Harris
A 42-year-old man was jailed April 20 after being accused of brutally beating his Great Dane the week before.
The arrest came hours after Paul M. Harris had refused to help a sheriff's deputy get past a pit bull in his Summerfield home that morning to serve a warrant on the beating accusations.
Officials waited until Harris was to show up at a court hearing later that day on a 2004 charge of sexually assaulting a juvenile. He was out on $30,000 bail, according to a spokeswoman with the Sheriff's Office.
During the hearing, the judge raised his bail from the sex assault case to $105,000 - forcing Harris back to jail. Sheriff's spokeswoman Sue Livoti said charges of felony cruelty to animals were expected to be added later.
"We take animal cruelty cases very seriously," said Marion County Code Enforcement Director Sam Luckey. "We will not tolerate animal cruelty here in Marion County."
Code Enforcement received a complaint about a person beating a dog at Harris' 16120 S.E. 95th Court address on April 14.
Susan G. Vogel, public information officer with the county, said witnesses stated Harris kicked his Great Dane in the stomach, hit it in the head with a wooden object and threw items at it. That breed of dog grows to a minimum height at the shoulder of 28 inches and typically weigh in excess of 100 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club.
When officials arrived at the residence, Harris wasn't there. Cruelty Investigator Carol Cichy observed items in the yard matching the description given by witnesses.
She also noticed injuries on the dog. An evaluation by a local veterinarian revealed minor abrasions, tenderness to the thorax, sore right stifle - commonly known as the knee - and hip, probable bruising and evidence of hemorrhage in both eyes.
Vogel said Harris admitted to officials he hit the dog with an open hand and threw tennis balls at it for discipline but denied other allegations.
The case was forwarded to the State Attorney's Office, which determined charges would be filed. However, on Thursday morning, a deputy went to the home to serve a warrant on felony cruelty to animals and the gate was locked - with a pit bull inside.
Livoti said the deputy called Harris on the phone to get into the yard, and Harris responded with an expletive before hanging up.
The dog is still alive, but it was not clear what condition it is in. References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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