Michigan: Meatball, the quiet, lovable Mastiff mix allegedly beaten by his owner, John Sporer, gets moved from cage to animal rescue

MICHIGAN -- “Meatball,” a canine that was allegedly abused by its owner and caught on video, has been moved to a Clinton Township dog shelter while the owner’s criminal case proceeds.

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith issued a press release Wednesday to indicate that the three-year-old mastiff mix has been released from a veterinarian clinic, where it was caged, to Bed and Biscuit dog kennel, where Meatball has freedom to roam on one acre of property off Harper Avenue.

“You can see him running around the yard here,” Bed and Biscuit owner Karen Cameron said Wednesday. “He loves to run. It’s beautiful. He’s the sweetest dog.”

 

Meatball was moved after lobbying to get him out of the cage appeared on social media including Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue’s Facebook page.

Meatball had been in the restrictive setting since February when he was taken away from John Anthony Sporer, 24, of Eastpointe, who police say was caught on video by his neighbor abusing 106-pound Meatball, police said.

Sporer faces a June 16 preliminary examination in 38th District Court on charges of animal torture, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, and two misdemeanors -- cruelly beating an animal and possession of an unlicensed dog.

Eastpointe police were alerted to the claimed abuse by Tim England, who filmed Sporer with his dog, according to a report on wxyz.com. England was assisted by Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue in coaxing police to investigate.

Eastpointe police provided updates to the investigation on its Facebook page.

Sporer was arraigned in February but the case has been delayed due to the defendant switching lawyers and obtaining information, Smith said. Smith vowed his office’s attorneys will follow through in seeking to prosecute Sporer.

A neighbor videotaped Sporer severely beating the dog

“Meatball is a big, sweet, friendly dog, but he doesn’t bark very often,” Smith said. “He can’t speak for himself in this case, so we’re going to do the speaking for him. We show zero tolerance for animal cruelty in Macomb County.”

Meatball will be kept at Bed and Biscuit until the case is completed; the dog may be needed for evidence. After the case is over, Meatball may be made available for adoption.

UPDATE:

What a great prosecutor! Taking the time to let the animal lovers know what's happening with this case.

(The Oakland Press - June 8, 2016)

Earlier:

• Michigan: John Sporer, 24, arrested accused of severely beating his dog named Meatball