Resident dog vs. family dog
What is the difference between a “resident dog” and a “family dog?”
Abuse, neglect, cruelty in Oregon:
March 2010: Sheriff’s deputies in Benton County found 15 malnourished pit bulls with old scars or fresh wounds last week, providing a glimpse into dogfighting rings in the area.
Deputies also found three dead dogs buried under trees in a 6-acre property in Alsea. “They were being prepared for organized dog fighting,” said Lt. Greg Ridler of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say one man was arrested in connection with dog fighting. Corvallis resident Cody Hufeld was arraigned on 15 felony counts of dog fighting, and three felony counts of possessing dogfighting paraphernalia, including heavy collars used for strength training. He also faces drug charges with two other people.
Benton County Sheriff Diana Simpson said the absence of a fighting pit at the Alsea property suggests the dogs were being transported elsewhere for the fighting. “We’ll continue to investigate and see if others were involved, see where it leads,” Simpson said.
The 15 dogs rescued are at the Heartland Humane Society. “Pit-bull rescues are just overrun. There are so many pit bulls that need help,” said shelter operations director Brittany Gardner. “We don’t know what’s going to happen with these guys.”
August 2009: A Sheridan woman was charged with animal neglect after Yamhill County Sheriff Deputies and Animal Control officers found her 3-year old pit bull, Zeus, dead in her yard. Investigators said it was a 102 degrees outside on July 27 when they went to Jeanette Bell’s home on Monroe Street.
Deputies observed Zeus lying in vomit in a doghouse with a chain wound tightly around his neck, restricting him from access to water outside. Authorities also noted family members cooling off in an above-ground pool 30 feet from where Zeus apparently died.
Bell and her boyfriend, Chris Morris, claim Zeus was well cared for and given plenty of food and water daily. “This ticket is wrong,” said Morris. “The cops told me to keep him on a chain because he’s a pit bull. I keep him on a chain. Now I’m getting a neglect ticket? This is (expletive deleted).”
The family believes Zeus was poisoned by a neighbor, given the blood they observed trickling from his nose as they buried him in a friend’s backyard. However, they’re not planning a necropsy to prove it.
Neighbor Beth Wolfe said she has fed Zeus scraps and reached over the fence to put pans of water out for him. “That’s just torture, I think,” she said, rolling her eyes at the idea that she poisoned Zeus. “I felt ashamed to think I didn’t do something more for the dog and to let the dog die in this heat.”
Authorities said they went to the home after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor. Yamhill County animal control has been to the home once before, on an unlicensed dog issue.
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Sierra: Abused puppy
June 2009: Clackamas County - On May 22, Oregon Humane Society Investigators and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint at 9950 SE Lawnfield Road and seized a female pit bull puppy. The owner of the pit bull was charged with animal abuse for injuries that displayed constant and chronic abuse. George Davis, the dog’s owner who lives at the address, was cited for animal abuse in the second degree and animal neglect in the first degree.
The puppy, now named Sierra, was examined by OHS veterinarians and is being held in custody pending the resolution of the case. “The x-rays revealed that this puppy has multiple fractures of the ribs, fractures to both eye sockets, front of the skull and right front leg,” said Dr. Otteman, OHS Director of Shelter Medicine. “It is unfathomable to me that someone could hurt a defenseless puppy.”
The citation for animal abuse in the second degree is based on evidence indicating the suspect acted with the intent to cause physical injury to an animal. Davis will likely face charges of animal abuse in the first degree if the injuries sustained indicate protracted impairment for this puppy. The Oregon Humane society is recommending additional charges to the Clackamas County District Attorney based on medical findings and statements. Animal abuse in the second degree is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine; first degree animal abuse is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $6,250. The arrest for neglect was based on the fact that Davis commented that he knew the puppy was injured but did not seek medical care for her.
Davis has at least two prior arrests for assaults relating to domestic violence, though the complaints were dismissed prior to trial. “This is further evidence of the link between abuse to animals and abuse towards humans,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS Executive Director. “The level of injuries to Sierra is shocking, but not surprising given the level of cruelty she has been subjected to, yet she remains a friendly playful pup.”
June 2009: A Springfield man faces a felony animal abuse charge following a two-week police investigation into a puppy’s death. Lucas Xavier Fourmyle, 18, appeared in Lane County Circuit Court on a charge of first-degree aggravated animal abuse for allegedly beating to death a dalmation/Labrador pup, Springfield police Sgt. Richard Jones said.
The investigation began June 19, when a woman called police to allege that Fourmyle had injured her dog at an apartment in the 1900 block of Fifth Street, Jones said. The woman took the puppy to a local veterinarian’s office, where the animal died during an examination, Jones said. Police took the puppy’s body to Oregon State University for further tests. Jones said investigators concluded that Fourmyle used his hands and feet to beat the dog to death. Police arrested Fourmyle, and lodged him in the Lane County Jail.
While it’s fairly uncommon for someone to be charged with a felony for maliciously killing a pet, Jones said police regularly receive animal abuse complaints from the public.
October 2008: Forest Grove - A father and daughter were arrested and charged with neglect and abuse of their dog. Neighbors of Hyrum Long and Susan Johnson called 911 to report that a dog was buried alive, up to its neck, in the backyard of a home at 2235 Laurel Street in Forest Grove. Patrol officers arrived within minutes and could hear the dog yelping in the backyard. They found the dog buried up to its neck, but still alive. They dug the dog out and called for assistance from the Washington County Animal Control. The dog was found to be in extremely poor health, in addition to having obvious head trauma. The dog was taken to an emergency clinic for treatment and later euthanized.
Long, 75, and Johnson, 49, later told police they attempt to “euthanize” their “ailing” pet by striking it in the head with a hammer. They said that they thought the dog, which they suspected was suffering from cancer, was dead when then left to go to dinner.
A necropsy report from the Oregon Humane Society indicated the dog had suffered from a chronic skin disease, body sores from lying down for prolonged periods of time and the dog had suffered from long term lack of nutrition and chronic starvation.
May 2008: A Portland man beat his pit bull with so much force that he dislocated the dog’s hip. He was charged with first degree animal abuse. The dog was taken to the Oregon Humane Society where he was recovering after surgery to repair his damaged hip. OHS investigators and staff were impressed by the dog’s gentle behavior and were hoping to adopt the dog out, once the charges against the owner were adjudicated.
April 2008: A 22-year-old Hillsboro man was taken into custody for second-degree animal abuse by officers responding to a complaint that an animal was being abused. The man denied owning a dog, until police noticed blood on his hands and shoes, and found an injured pit bull inside his shed. The man then admitted to giving the dog a “roundhouse kick” and throwing her against the shed. Authorities then took the dog to a veterinarian, who treated her for her injuries.
April 2008: Two Klamath Falls woman spotted a dog surrounded by three boys, aged 10-12 years, wielding baseball bats. The boys ran off. The dog had suffered two broken front legs. The Chihuahua was taken to Klamath Humane Society. Following surgery, the dog was expected to survive.
March 2008: Washington County Animal Services picked up a badly emaciated pit bull-mix from a woman in Hillsboro. Initially the woman claimed she “found” the dog. It was later determined that she was the owner. She was convicted of animal neglect.
August 2007: Portland - After police raided a suspected dog fighting kennel in Portland, a grand jury charged Robert Lee Sheahart, 38, with 11 counts of dog fighting and three counts of possession of dog fighting paraphernalia. Police raided Sheahart’s home and “Dead Game Kennels,” and sezied eleven pit bulls. Sheahart was also charged with felony possession of a firearm, four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and three counts of child neglect. Police say the children involved are his grandchildren.
July 2006: Lynnwood - Two pit bulls were found hanging from a fence by ropes in their backyard. Their owner heard them yelping and crying and attempted to save the 1 year-old and 10-month old dogs, but they were struggling so much he could not release them. Both dogs died. The owner believes a neighbor may have killed them because of fear or hatred of the breed. Previously, when walking the two rescued dogs, the owner said that some residents expressed concern over having pit bulls in the neighborhood. Pasado’s Safe Haven offered a $2,50o reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
January 2005: Oregon City - Qyntel Woods, the Trail Blazer player who was under investigation for allegations of illegal dog fighting, pleaded guilty to one count of animal abuse in the first degree in an Oregon City courtroom. The judge sentenced Woods to 12 months probation and 80 hours of community service. Woods will also not be allowed to own any pets during his probation.
People who fight dogs:
Dog fighting, possession of dogs for fighting and being a spectator at a dogfight are all Class C felonies in Oregon.
National Canine Research Council