Bruce Blunt, 40, whose brief trial drew some laughs from spectators, including attorneys, said he sometimes blew smoke into the mouth of his chameleon, Binna, because it seemed to calm the sometimes aggressive reptile.
Earlier this year, he posted a video of the two on Facebook that within days far exceeded 500,000 views and, according to trial testimony, triggered a complaint to Chicago authorities from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Chicago police arrested Blunt near his mother's home after conducting brief surveillance to find him over several days, according to trial testimony.
"I blew a little smoke on her and it didn't harm her," Blunt said outside the Branch 43 courthouse at 3150 W. Flournoy St. "It calms her down because I see a difference in her mood."
"She turns lime green," his fiancee Kellie Williams added. "She's more relaxed."
In the video, Blunt holds Binna in his hand and twice blows smoke into her mouth. Each time, the chameleon closes her mouth, appearing to ingest it and then opens her mouth again.
Prosecutors said the video proved Blunt had criminally mistreated his pet.
"It's just a little guy," said Assistant State's Attorney Mike Bagnowski, speculating what effect the marijuana smoke would have on Blunt's attorney before withdrawing the remark. "He blew smoke not once but twice into its mouth."
Attorneys went back into the chambers of Judge Robert Kuzas to play the video for him. After hearing brief closing arguments, Kuzas acquitted Blunt of the misdemeanor animal cruelty charge.
Blunt's behavior was "really, really uncalled for and immature" but didn't rise to the level of criminal behavior, said Kuzas, noting the reptile didn't appear to suffer.
"The chameleon didn't change it's demeanor, it didn't change its color," the judge said. "There's a finding of not guilty."
Judge Kuzas is a moron.
Stephanie Bell, PETA's cruelty casework director, said in a telephone interview that she was disappointed in the ruling and wished prosecutors had called an expert to testify about the harm marijuana smoke can cause small reptiles.
"Forcing any animal to breathe in smoke without their consent or understanding — especially of a mind-altering or psychoactive nature — it's cruelty, and obviously local officials agreed with us," she said.
Dr. Susan Horton, a veterinarian and owner of Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie, said it's quite common for veterinary clinics to treat birds harmed after their owners breathed marijuana smoke into their faces, perhaps not knowing the effect it has on the much-smaller creatures.
It can cause anything from "mild sedation to a full-on seizure," Horton said, adding that her clinic had to euthanize a cockatoo that had been severely brain damaged by marijuana smoke.
Horton said pet owners "think it's funny, but it's actually very cruel."
Now cleared of wrongdoing, Blunt hopes to get his beloved chameleon back from the city's Animal Care and Control center — both for his sake as well as that of his 10-year-old daughter. He still has Binna's terrarium in a spare room that also contains two geckos, a 75-gallon saltwater aquarium and a guinea pig.
"The (PETA) people, they really did a number on me, calling me a jerk ... and saying I'm abusing animals," Blunt said. "Man, if they only knew. I've never hurt an animal in my life — I take in stray cats and dogs. I love animals, man."
Would the judge think it was a crime to force a toddler to breathe in marijuana smoke? Animals and children both need protection from parents/owners who abuse and neglect them. A baby, like a pet, can't talk to say something hurt or scared them.
What would this guy do if some grown man blew marijuana smoke into his 10 year-old daughter's face and forced her to breathe it in? Would he think it was funny or would he be outraged?
(Chicago Tribune - May 27, 2015)
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