Georgia: Deputies searching for person who shot, paralyzed little dog

GEORGIA -- A dog found shot with a pellet gun in Forsyth County is showing everyone he has a lot of fight despite being paralyzed.

A handful of people have stepped in to rehabilitate him and hopefully allow him to walk again.

   

 

Channel 2’s Wendy Corona learned a pellet from a pellet gun hit 4-year-old Ryker in the spine last month in Forsyth County.

Chris Davenport first laid eyes on Ryker, the dog, in mid-July as he was getting ready to leave for work.

"He was just leaving a trail of blood from his feet trailing on the concrete," Davenport said. "I think he knew I was there to help and not harm him."

Davenport scooped the pup up and took him to the vet, where they learned the dog was shot with a pellet gun.

An X-ray showed where the pellet is in his spine, causing him to drag his hind legs. With the help of Two Tailz Rescue, however, he is rehabilitating.

A wheelchair was donated to Ryker, but his caretakers have a bigger wish for this unstoppable dog with a can-do spirit.

The rescue shelter hopes to raise approximately $3,000 to send Ryker to see a neurologist specialist. Then, the shelter could learn if the pellet can be removed from the dog and he can walk again.

Authorities are searching for the person who shot the dog in the back leaving him paralyzed.

A $500 reward is being offered in the case. The number to call at Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is 770-888-7308.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(WSB - August 3, 2017)

West Virginia: Tammara Briggs, 28, charged with cruelty over a pit bull puppy with a fractured spine

WEST VIRGINIA -- A Wood County woman is facing animal-cruelty charges related to the the abuse of a pit bull puppy named Casper.

Tammara Briggs, 28, of Mineral Wells, was arrested today by Wood County sheriff's deputies and charged with cruelty to animals.

She was arraigned in Wood County magistrate court and released on a $4,000 bond.

 

"He is not likely to ever walk again. His bladder needs
expressed  to urinate and he has no bowel control."

Deputies arrested Briggs at her home in Mineral Wells. Deputies say a second pit bull was removed from the residence and that it was taken to the Humane Society of Parkersburg.

Hopefully child protective services also conducts an investigation to make sure she isn't neglecting them as well.

Some locals are outraged over the mistreatment of a 7-week-old puppy who was later rescued by the Humane Society of Parkersburg.

Casper was found thanks to a tip from a friend of the owner, and on Monday the Humane Society stepped in to care for him, and took him immediately to the veterinarian.

ACCIDENT OR TORTURE?

Doctors say they don't think he will ever fully recover or walk again. The x-ray and MRI showed Casper had a fractured spine.

Thanks to help from the community, the shelter was able to cover the cost of the funds to help Casper.

On Thursday, he was transferred to a rescue in Maryland that works with pit bulls.

 

Casper is now released from hospitalization. He is on
pain medication and steroids. Still has no bladder control
but his spirit is strong. He is a typical puppy in every other way. 

Michelle Earl, executive director for the Humane Society of Parkersburg, was devastated when she saw what happened to the young puppy.

"We plan to be very involved with the prosecution of this," Earl said. "To take care of Casper and see how helpless he is now because of somebody inflicting trauma to him is just senseless, and we want people to know that we're not going to tolerate it. We are going to press charges and we are going to try to execute to the fullest extent to the law the punishment that we can give to people."

Casper has been renamed Trotter

PREVIOUS ARRESTS:

Full name: Tammara Kay Briggs
Race: White
Sex: Female
DOB: 04/24/1988

December 4, 2014
On Dec. 3, a traffic stop was conducted on vehicle on Camden Avenue after a deputy observed a vehicle without a headlight. The driver was unable to produce a registration card or insurance card. A check of her driver license showed suspended. A citation was issued to Tammara Kay Briggs, 26, of Scarce Fat Road, Mineral Wells, for driving on suspended license and no proof insurance

February 5, 2015
Tammara Kay Briggs, 26, 16 Scarce Fat Road, Mineral Wells, was arraigned on charges of driving on a suspended or revoked license for miscellaneous reasons and no proof of insurance and was released on a $600 personal recognizance bond.

April 1, 2015
Tammara Kay Briggs, 26, 16 Scarce Fat Road, Mineral Wells, was arraigned on charges of driving on a suspended or revoked license for miscellaneous reasons and no proof of insurance and was released on a $600 personal recognizance bond.

November 24, 2015
Tammara Kay Briggs, 27, 16 Scarce Fat Road, Mineral Wells, was arraigned on a charge of conspiracy to commit petit larceny and was released on $1,000 bond.

December 2, 2015
On Nov. 23, Tammara K. Briggs, of Mineral Wells, was issued a citation on a charge of shoplifting from Wal-Mart in the amount of $27.80.

(WTAP - Nov 4, 2016)

United Kingdom: Beloved little Maggie put to sleep after 'savage dog attack' during walk

UNITED KINGDOM -- A cherished family pet had to be put to sleep after being mauled by large dogs on a walk, her distraught owner has said.

Diane Scott said she is heartbroken after her devoted little Yorkshire Terrier had to be euthanized.

And she has appealed for help identifying a woman who was with the two animals she claims set on "the absolute love of my life".

Diane, from the Saintfield area of Co Down, said: "On Wednesday, October 19 in Rowallane Garden our little dog Maggie was being walked on her lead when she was savagely attacked by two large dogs.

"One was a German Shepherd and the other was a large black dog. They were being walked by a middle-aged woman. Both dogs were involved in the attack and the owner didn't say or do anything to try and stop the attack which was in no way provoked.

"They left Maggie with life-threatening injuries."

Diane said that despite the vets' best efforts, Maggie could not be saved.

"While in the vets we were told she had a large puncture wound in her side, additional smaller puncture wounds, liver damage, broken and cracked ribs, along with spinal cord damage.

"Maggie was transferred to the veterinary hospital in Belfast where we were told that she was paralyzed along with other complications due to the attack and nothing could be done to save her.

"Sadly Maggie was put to sleep while in my arms. We need help in tracing the owner of these two dogs as we don't want another dog or family to go through what we have these past few days."

(Belfast Live - Oct 23, 2016)

Zachary Brewer, 19, Who Allegedly Shot Cat, Kicked Him and Then Threw Him Over a Fence to Die is Charged With Cruelty To Animals

Sept 2015 update to story: Injustice in Tennessee: POS Zachary Brewer, 19, will spent just 5 DAYS in county jail after shooting 'Grandpa the cat' in the head, kicking him, picking him up and then throwing him over a fence before running off and leaving him to die



TENNESSEE -- A man who allegedly shot a cat with a pellet gun Wednesday morning was charged by Greeneville police with aggravated cruelty to animals.

Charged was Zachary Shannon Brewer, 19, of Biddle Street.

Police responded to a call about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday regarding an injured animal in the 300 block of Biddle Street.

Officers spoke with the owner of the cat. The owner showed the injured animal to police, Officer Eddie Short said in a report.

"The cat had an entrance wound to the back of the head and was paralyzed in its front paws," the report said.

A witness who lives on the street told police that she saw Brewer "outside shooting the pellet rifle at a pizza box," the report said.

Brewer then allegedly turned his attention to a cat.

"She said she witnessed Mr. Brewer walk over to the cat, place the barrel to the cat's head and pull the trigger," the report said.

Brewer noticed that someone saw the act "and he then kicked the cat, picked it up and threw it over the fence, and ran back into his house," the report said.

Brewer was taken into custody a short time later and charged with the aggravated cruelty to animals count, a Class A misdemeanor.

Bond was set at $5,000. Brewer remained in custody this morning at the Greene County Detention Center.

His first scheduled General Sessions court date is Friday.

Owners took the cat to a veterinary office.

Brewer's Crosman Fury air rifle was taken into evidence by police.

(The Greeneville Sun - Dec 11, 2014)

United Kingdom: Bilal Yilmaz killed pet rabbit by throwing it 40 foot off balcony; starved and crippled 2nd whose back legs had started decomposing while it was still alive

UNITED KINGDOM -- Bilal Yilmaz killed a pet rabbit by hurling it from a 40 foot balcony - and smashed another against a brick wall leaving it crippled and in constant agony, a court heard.

RSPCA inspectors found the second rabbit with a broken spine in the home of Bilal Yilmaz, 23, in Hull, East Yorkshire - after it had been dragging itself around the home using just its front legs.

The animal was so badly injured that its back legs had started decomposing while it was still alive, Hull Magistrates’ Court was told.

Inspectors said the decomposing flesh smell was so strong on the living rabbit that they had to move away to avoid being physically sick before rescuing the animal, when it was put to sleep.

Yilmaz - who will soon be sentenced for animal cruelty and also for assaulting his pregnant wife - laughed at police when they asked if he had hurt the animals, the court was told.

One of the pets had been unable to walk for more than month due to a broken spine and femur after being thrown against the wall - and had not been taken for any treatment.

RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer said: ‘This is an horrific case. Inflicting violence on any animal is completely unacceptable. It was an appalling, callous and cruel act.

‘This young rabbit would have been powerless to do anything to protect itself and she was then left untreated for weeks before she was found. 

'Doing this job, I have seen some horrendous consequences of cruelty and neglect - but this one will stick in my mind for a long time to come.

‘My heart sinks when I think about the immense suffering this rabbit will have endured at the hands of her owner - the very person who was meant to care for her.’

The second rabbit was found emaciated and immobile inside a cardboard box covered with a plastic carrier bag after they were called to the flat after a dispute with his partner in February.

Philip Brown, prosecuting, said: ‘The rabbit was emaciated and underweight. It was unable to move its hind legs and could only move by dragging itself along on its front legs.

‘Its flesh was decomposing and there was a strong, foul smell. The inspector felt physically sick and had to move away before she recovered it.’

Yilmaz claimed to have only ‘flicked’ the rabbit against a wall inside the flat after it bit him. However, a vet concluded the rabbit must have been forcefully thrown to inflict the injuries.

Mr Brown said: ‘The vet said he was horrified by the degree of suffering this animal endured, especially considering the owner had inflicted the injuries and didn’t make any attempt to alleviate the suffering.

'This was a deliberate act of cruelty by the defendant, which resulted in the animal suffering for a prolonged period of time.’

Aside from the animal cruelty, Yilmaz was also said to have tried to drag his wife - also his cousin - into a car to convince her to have an abortion and also assaulted a toddler. He admitted ‘accidentally’ slapping a toddler across the face and will remain in custody until he is sentenced later this month.

(Daily Mail - July 13, 2013)

Minnesota: Roseville K-9 officer Major, who survived stabbing, meets peaceful end

MINNESOTA -- Roseville police officer John Jorgensen used to joke that his K-9 partner was indestructible.

As a 2-year-old, Major developed bloat, an often fatal condition that causes a dog’s stomach to fill with gas. He had pots broken over his head. Suspects punched and kicked him.

On one police call, Jorgensen said, Major nearly drowned chasing a man in to a lake.

RIP Major

On Nov. 12, 2010, he proved his grit again when a man involved in a Maplewood burglary repeatedly stabbed the dog with a butterfly knife.

The assault left Major paralyzed in his hind legs and forced his retirement from the police department, but it didn’t kill him.

Two and half years later and in deteriorating health, Major was euthanized at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. He was 11 years old.

Using a wheeled sling to preserve mobility, he lived out his retirement with Jorgensen and his family.

“He was a tough dog. … He caught a lot of bad guys and made a strong name for himself and I was lucky and honored to have him as a partner,” Jorgensen said. “I miss him terribly, but I think he is in a better spot. He is probably chasing down bad guys on four good legs now.”

In his final days, Major had started to develop pneumonia and was going on his third bladder infection in three months.

“I promised myself and I promised him that we would make that decision if his quality of life deteriorated to the point where he was too weak and he didn’t have the same happiness,” Jorgensen said of the choice to put Major down. “It was just time.”

 

 

 

The old partners spent Major’s last day driving around to spots they’d patrolled together during Major’s eight years with Roseville police. For his final meal, he was given cheeseburgers from McDonald’s and ice cream from Dairy Queen.

The man who assaulted Major, Roel Joseph Perez Jr., was sentenced in February 2011 to 120 days in jail, but ended up serving a year after he violated the terms of his probation, Jorgensen said.

The Roseville police officer pushed for harsher penalties for those convicted of assaulting police dogs after the attack on Major.

In 2011, Gov. Mark Dayton signed new legislation that makes any assault resulting in substantial bodily harm to a police K9 a felony.

Major, a Roseville Police canine, was the guest of honor
at a bill signing ceremony Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at
the state capitol. Governor Dayton signed House File
141/Senate File 121, which will raise penalties for
people who kill or injure police dogs.
(Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

Officer Jorgenson and Major were on hand as legislators 
signed a law increasing penalties for injuring K9s.

Major’s death is a blow to the entire Roseville Police Department, said Lt. Lorne Rosand.

“They were great crime fighters,” Rosand said of the work Jorgensen and Major did for the department. “They did a lot of wonderful things for our agency and for the citizens of Roseville.”

Jorgensen has been working with a new police K9, Otis, for the past year.

“I always say if Otis ends up being half the police dog Major was, he will be phenomenal,” Jorgensen said. “He was truly a handler’s dream.”

(Twin Cities Pioneer Press - April 30, 2013)

Earlier:

• Minnesota: Justice for Police Dogs - Find out how one officer fought the law after his canine partner was hurt on the job
• Minnesota: Officer keeps paralyzed K9 partner, graduates a second dog

Minnesota: Justice for Police Dogs - Find out how one officer fought the law after his canine partner was hurt on the job

MINNESOTA -- On November 12, 2010, as Officer John Jorgensen, 39, and Major, his K-9 partner, headed home from the Roseville Police Department in Minnesota, the pair heard a radio call: A security alarm had gone off at a truck-parts company.

Within minutes, John, Major and another officer were on the scene. John shouted, "Roseville Police K-9. Surrender, now!" and got no answer, so he unleashed Major, who headed toward a wooded area, searching for the intruders.

Suddenly, Major's cries of pain shattered the silence. "I'd never heard him yelp like that," says John, who radioed for backup, then frantically searched the woods for his partner while the other officer went after the intruder.

When John's flashlight fell on the dog, he was horrified by what he saw.

"There was blood all over," he says.

As help arrived, John rushed Major to the squad car and sped to a nearby veterinary hospital.

As doctors fought to save Major's life, John learned the brutal details: Major had been stabbed four times by the intruder—his lung was punctured and his spinal cord damaged, leaving him partially paralyzed. 

"That could have been me," John says. "I tried to be strong, but when I got home I just sat and bawled."

Major spent 15 days in intensive care, but despite three months of physical therapy and more surgery, he lost the use of his back legs.

Though the attacker was apprehended and did plead guilty—and despite John's emotional testimony at sentencing—the man was given a stay of sentence of one year and a day for attempted theft and causing harm to a public safety animal. He was expected to serve a mere 120 days in jail.

Horrified that Major's sacrifice seemed to be in vain, John researched penalties for harming a police dog and found Minnesota's laws to be seriously lacking. Although it was a felony to kill a police dog, an assault was a gross misdemeanor. "You could cut off a dog's leg and it would only be punishable by up to a year in jail," he says.

With backing from the United States Police Canine Association, John began his campaign to change the law, working with Minnesota Representative Tony Cornish on a bill calling for stiffer penalties for attacks like Major's.

"I even testified before the State House and Senate about the crucial role of police dogs, who are deployed tens of thousands of times day and night," says John.

His efforts paid off: In March 2011, the governor signed the bill into law. Offenders can now be sentenced to up to two years.

Officer Jorgenson and Major were on hand as legislators
signed a law increasing penalties for injuring K9s.

As for Major, he's still serving his community, visiting classrooms with John to educate kids about K-9 police work. "This fierce police dog becomes so gentle when he's with the kids," says John. "It's perfect for him."

(Womans Day Magazine - May 2, 2012)

Texas: Gerald Davison may have been targeting wife when he tortured and beat Schnauzer

TEXAS -- A case of extreme animal cruelty has landed a local man in jail.

Gerald Davison is charged with animal cruelty. Investigators said on January 13 Davison beat a small dog so badly the schnauzer is at an animal hospital with brain damage.

The five-year-old dog named Chester is also paralyzed said a spokesperson with Animal Care Services (ACS).

When an area emergency hospital for animals took in the dog, workers say they knew the injuries were intentional.

Authorities said the dog was injured during a domestic dispute with Davison's wife.

Sandra Leticia Morales Davison owns Chester. She told police the she and her husband were in an argument over Chester when he grabbed the little dog and was violently shaking him and slamming his head against the wall, and then a bathroom tub.

 

Police say a friend tried to stop Gerald, and eventually managed to get the dog away from him.

"The animal at this time is still alive, but it's paralyzed and it has some serious body injuries that it's overcoming while it's in the hospital," says ACS' Vincent Medley.

Now, 30-year old Davison is in a good deal of trouble.

"Domestic violence and animal cruelty are closely linked. A lot of times the pets are treated worse or as poorly as people in the home are being treated," says Medley. "One partner may say to the other, 'Hey, if you do this or that, then the dog's going to get it.'"

 If convicted, Gerald Davison could face up to ten years in prison.

UPDATE: Chester the little schnauzer who was paralyzed after an assault, is expected to go to a veterinary rehabilitation soon.

(KENS - Jan 28, 2011)