The three charges were filed against Scott D. Bertles, 44, of Pennsville, by Officer Ned Shimp of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on June 11.
They include maiming or needlessly mutilating a living animal, needlessly killing a living animal, and inflicting unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal by any direct or indirect means, according to the complaints.
A police report on the incident alleges that Bertles used a pocket knife in the incident which occurred on Thursday, May 9.
Police responded to Harding Avenue in response to an animal complaint around 5 p.m. that day.
Upon arrival, police were told that Bertles had allegedly stabbed his neighbor Amy Krupski’s two-year-old pit bull terrier when he was walking his own dog down the street, authorities said.
According to authorities, the pit bull terrier, named Hades, had gotten loose from Krupski’s property by jumping the fence and then became engaged with Bertles’ six-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever.
The police report states that Bertles then allegedly pulled a pocket knife and stabbed Krupski’s dog.
The 100-pound pit bull “appeared to have incurred a horizontal slice to the top of its back ...” and “a puncture wound to the left side” that was “significant enough that some internal tissues was protruding from the wound,” the report said.
The dog was taken to a vet.
According to the police report, Bertles was then located in front of his home with his dog where he admitted that he used his pocket knife on the pit bull to stop an attack. The police report states that Bertles said the pit bull “viciously attacked” his dog.
The report said the policeman at the scene found Bertles had no physical injury and that Bertles’ dog did not appear to experience any injury — “just some wet fur around the neck area,” the police report said.
On May 10, police spoke to Krupski by phone who explained to authorities that due to the dog’s injuries, her dog was euthanized, according to the police report. The pit bull had been taken to the St. Francis Veterinary Center.
Bertles appeared in Pennsville Municipal Court on Wednesday for trial, but due to evidence discovery, the case was postponed to a future date.
“The charges are completely false — it was self defense,” Bertles said Friday afternoon.
According to Shimp, who issued the SPCA complaints, if found guilty, Bertles could face up to $1,000 in fines or the possibility of 30 days community service to six months in jail.
The case is being handled by Judge John Jordan. The municipal prosecutor is Jean Chetney.
Krupski was also issued two animal control charges for her dog being unlicensed with the township and allowing an animal to roam.
However, Krupski said she is only pleading guilty to having an unlicensed dog.
(South Jersey Times - August 05, 2013)
ReplyDeleteseems like you cant just defend your dog against a pitbull attack , you have to wait until there are significant injuries inflicted by the pitbull before you can act , otherwise you will be considered the one in the wrong . so typical of what happens nowadays ,..... perverted justice .