Illinois: A man accused of allowing his dog to die in its pen on a cold, snowy day has been sentenced to 12 months of probation and 50 hours of public service, including 20 hours at an animal shelter.
Edwinne Garrett, 57, of Madison, was also fined $1,000 and ordered not to own any animals during his term of probation. If he is alleged to again violate an animal control law, he would be charged with a felony.
He was originally charged with animal cruelty after the dog was found with its ribs protruding in a pen that was shut tight. Assistant State’s Attorney Katie Bucher Warren argued in a Feb. 8 trial that the dog was chained so has to make his doghouse inaccessible.
The animal cruelty charge is a Class A misdemeanor, but Associate Judge Luther Simmons found Garrett guilty of a lesser, included, charge of violation of an owner’s duty, a Class B misdemeanor.
During the Feb. 8 trial, Madison officer Eric Schellhardt testified that he was called to Garrett’s residence in Madison about 7:20 a.m., Feb. 14, 2014, and found the dog dead in a pen littered with dog waste and partially covered with snow. He said there were traces of blood in the pen, and Garrett did not answer the door when he knocked.
Schellhardt said there was a container for water in pen, but the container was iced over. There was a container that contained food, but the food was frozen.
The officer said the temperature was below freezing, and there was light, blowing snow. Schellhardt said there appeared to be no accessible food or liquid water.
A neighbor testified that she rigged up a rope and a bucket to feed the dog over the fence. Garrett testified the dog became sick after the neighbor fed her. He said he asked her not to feed the dog because it was being overfed.
On cross-examination from defense attorney Joseph Brown, Madison Animal Control Officer Michael Reeter testified that he took the body to a landfill. He testified that he did not have an autopsy conducted and that he could not say for certain how the dog died. He said that when he found the dog dead, he contacted Madison Police.
In addition to Bucher Warren, Assistant State’s Attorney Jeanna Storment prosecuted the case.
Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons said he is satisfied with the outcome.
“The judge’s verdict in this case vindicates our commitment to holding animal abusers accountable for their crimes. We will continue our for justice in our community by protecting the most vulnerable among us, he said. I am grateful to the Madison Police Department, the prosecutors in my office and the brave citizens who came together to make this victory possible.”
(The Telegraph - May 18, 2016)
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