South Carolina: William Dodson gets no extra jail time for duct taping his dog's muzzle shut causing her face to swell like balloon

SOUTH CAROLINA -- A South Carolina man who wrapped electrical tape around a dog's muzzle to stop her from barking has been sentenced to five years in prison.

The Associated Press reports William Dodson's sentence Friday represented the state's maximum for animal cruelty. However, Dodson's sentence for mistreating Caitlyn won't extend his prison time.

The 43-year-old man was sentenced a day earlier in federal court to 15 years on a gun charge stemming from a traffic stop months before Caitlyn was found in spring 2015.

Under a plea agreement, the two sentences will run simultaneously.

This is also referred to as sentences running concurrently aka at the same time. 

The judge could have ordered the sentences to run consecutively aka one after the other. 

 

This would have meant a 20 year sentence and would have made more of an impact - that Dodson was sitting in a jail cell for _ amount of time BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID TO THIS POOR DOG.

Instead, it was, "Ok plead guilty to doing this, but don't worry, we won't give you any extra time for it."

"I wish I could give you more," Judge Markley Dennis told Dodson in court Friday.

Still, the sentence sends a message that animal cruelty won't be tolerated, said Charleston Animal Society's director of anti-cruelty and outreach, Aldwin Roman.

"We're going to do everything we can within the law to stop this, and then we're going to go beyond and change our laws and make them stronger," he told The Post and Courier of Charleston.

Dodson, who was free on bail from the traffic stop, had chained Caitlyn outside after wrapping her muzzle nine times. But the then-15-month-old Staffordshire pit bull terrier mix escaped and was found in critical condition.

The tape cut off blood flow to her tongue. Veterinarians at the Animal Society unraveled it after an estimated 36 hours.

"I remember seeing the fear... in her eyes," Roman said. "That was 36 hours of torture."

The case sparked international outrage after photos of Caitlyn's tightly bound snout spread on social media. She required repeated surgeries and lost part of her tongue. Her snout is still scarred.

Dodson pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty last August.

Charleston Animal Society CEO Joe Elmore said at the time that Caitlyn was living with a new family but continued to suffer from anxiety and stress.

Dodson still faces state drug charges stemming from the March 2015 traffic stop. Prosecutors say he tossed a loaded pistol, along with cocaine and marijuana, as he ran from North Charleston police officers.

(ABC11 - March 25, 2017)

Earlier:

• SC dog found with muzzle taped shut, reward offered
• Dog sold for $10 returns to previous owners with muzzle tied shut with electrical tape
• William Leonard Dodson arrested for taping dog's mouth shut

Arizona: Woman finds small dog with its legs taped together abandoned in river bed to drown

ARIZONA -- Flagstaff Police Department investigated a case of suspected animal cruelty.

According to the police report, a Flagstaff woman heard a dog barking through the night on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the 500 block of South Verde Street. She heard the barking again the next day after it started raining. The woman thought it was strange and went outside to investigate.

At about 6:40 p.m. Nov. 20, the woman saw a small, approximately 6 pound terrier mix dog down in the section of the Rio de Flag that passes under South Verde Street. It was just barely above the rising water level on a raised embankment.

Someone had taped the dog's front and rear legs together and left it on the river bank. The dog was unable to move to safety as the Rio de Flag filled with water.

The woman hiked into the river to rescue the dog. It was soaking wet due to the rain. The temperature outside was about 40 degrees. The woman gave the dog a warm bath, food and water. She told police she would take it to the veterinarian the next day

(Arizona Daily Sun - Dec 14, 2016)

Canada: Nicolino Camardi, convicted of torturing and killing animals, re-arrested

CANADA -- The Calgary man who tortured a dog and kitten and left them to die has been arrested again, and faces new animal-related charges.

Nicolino Camardi is charged with breaching his probation conditions on Wednesday, accused of drinking and living with an animal.

Nicolino Camardi

It's very concerning," said Brad Nichols, the head of the Calgary Humane Society's animal cruelty investigations. "This one is probably more concerning than most given the intentional cruelty inflicted on the animals."

In 2014, Camardi — who was 18 years old at the time of his arrest — pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty after a two-year-old husky and a kitten were found dead in a southeast alley with their muzzles taped shut.

 

A necropsy found the husky died of starvation while the nine-month-old kitten had been strangled and had suffered other injuries to its body.

Camardi abused the animals over a period of two to three months. He got them from a family who was giving them away on Kijiji (a site similar to Craigslist).

Nichols says in his 10 years in animal cruelty investigations, this was the worst case he's ever seen.

"This one on the face of it was a very intentional cruel act for no apparent reason at all," said Nichols. "On a scale of whom you might be most concerned about re-offending, this one ranks up there."

 

Camardi's lawyer, Jack Kelly, asked for leniency at the sentencing hearing, arguing his client was using a "stunning" amount of prescription and illicit drugs and was abusing alcohol at the time of the offences.

22-month sentence

After taking into account the 16 months credit Camardi was awarded for the time he had already served, there was just six months left of the 22-month sentence handed down by a provincial court judge last March.

A former girlfriend of Camardi's told police she witnessed him abusing animals and that he spoke to her about murder and killing humans.

 

That information came out in a court transcript from a hearing in which Camardi's ex-girlfriend was seeking an emergency protection order against him.

It is unclear when he was released, but on Wednesday Camardi was arrested by a peace officer at a home in the northeast community of Temple.

Camardi made a court appearance on Thursday afternoon and will remain in custody. His next appearance is Feb. 4.

(CBC.ca - Jan 28, 2016)

Earlier:

• Dead dog, cat found muzzled in southeast Calgary alley
• Accused animal torturer's girlfriend told police he spoke of killing humans, sought protection order  
• Release sought for accused in animal cruelty cases
• ‘Horrific’ Case Of Animal Torture And Starvation
• Nicolino Camardi, Calgary Man Who Tortured, Killed Dog And Cat Sentenced

POS judge tried to use his position and influence to help son who tortured kitten; only one commission member had the you-know-whats to vote to "boot" him from office

NEW YORK -- A upstate judge got his wrist slapped for trying to keep cops from charging his son with torturing a kitten — because it could keep the troubled teen from getting hired by the local sheriff’s department, officials revealed Wednesday.

Whitestown Town Justice Daniel Sullivan abused his position through “highly improper” conversations with the town police chief and the cop who caught his son inside a women’s bathroom at a public park with “two small kittens,” the state Commission on Judicial Conduct said.

Joseph Sullivan with his Daddy the judge

“One of the kittens had been hog-tied with tape, and there was a lighter nearby,” according to the commission’s majority ruling.

Joseph was released to his dad’s custody without charges following the July 19, 2013, incident, and the older man called Police Chief Donald Wolanin’s cell phone the next day, urging him not to “go piling on” or “overcharge” in the case.

Sullivan also spoke with arresting Officer Frank McCully following a court session two days later.

Sullivan said an arrest would “ruin (Joseph’s) chances of getting a job with the Oneida County sheriff,” and “argued that because the kittens were not actually injured, a charge of cruelty to animals did not apply.”

“(Sullivan) also said that that his son’s drug rehabilitation had cost (him) and his wife nearly all their life savings,” according to the commission.

Joseph, then 19, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “carrying an animal inhumanely” in March 2014 and was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and ordered to stay away from any cats and the park.

In a split decision, eight commission members voted to censure Sullivan, saying his “paternal instincts” and subsequent cooperation warranted “the most severe sanction available short of removal.”

Another taped kitten found at Whitestown park

One member — lawyer Richard Emery, who also heads the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board — voted to boot Sullivan from office.

Sullivan didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment

(NY Post - July 22, 2015)

Earlier:

• Judge's son caught in ladies bathroom preparing to torture kittens to death. Dad insists, "He's a good kid."

Related:

• Another taped kitten found at Whitestown park

Pennsylvania: Lisa Peterson and William Knauff charged with 15 counts each of animal cruelty

PENNSYLVANIA -- Two Delaware Township residents have each been charged with 15 counts of animal cruelty, accused by agents from the Mercer County Humane Society of mistreating 15 dogs at a home along Oniontown Road.

Charges were filed Friday against 45-year-old Lisa Peterson and 41-year-old William Knauff (Will Knauff, Bill Knauff).

Neither lives in the mobile home, according to humane agent Renee Dorogy, who said the home is in "deplorable" condition and is likely not habitable.

They've basically turned it into a dog kennel full of dogs, feces and urine.

Dorogy said six adult dogs and three puppies are locked inside the mobile home, several of them tied on very short ropes to the front door. The other six dogs are outside, she said.

Dorogy said she spoke with Knauff on the telephone about a month ago and told him the home had to be cleaned.

"Dogs cannot live stuck in their own feces and urine. Those conditions cause upper respiratory infections," she said.

Other than covering up a hole in the floor, Dorogy said no other improvements had been made.

She also said the only outside access for several of the dogs was a hole in a piece of plywood, but the hole is several feet above floor level and the animals must jump up to try and get out. And one of the dogs is blind, Dorogy said.

"Imagine that blind animal trying to jump up to get out that hole," she said.

Dorogy said the society was notified in May by neighbors, who claim that Peterson and Knauff burn the dog feces at night and that the stench is "overwhelming."

Mercer County Dog Warden Ira Custer filed charges in May against Peterson and Knauff for failing to license the dogs or have the animals vaccinated against rabies. According to paperwork on file in District Judge Lorinda Hinch's office in Mercer, neither Peterson nor Knauff has responded to those charges.

The dogs are still in the mobile home, she said, but she has asked Hinch for permission to take the animals. She is searching for foster homes for them, she said.

If the ammonia levels in the trailer are at dangerous levels, get a search warrant and seize them.

Duct tape that had been wrapped around the dogs'
faces in an effort to keep them from barking

(Sharon Herald - July 3, 2015)

William Leonard Dodson arrested for taping dog's mouth shut

SOUTH CAROLINA -- North Charleston Police have made an arrest in the animal cruelty case that has been spread worldwide.

William Leonard Dodson, 41, is being charged with ill treatment of animals and torture. He was found in the area of Quitman Street and Calvert Street. He is expected to be in bond court on Tuesday.

Caitlyn the dog was found in critical condition last week on a Good Samaritan’s doorstep with electrical tape tightly wound around her muzzle.

The tape was so tight around Caitlyn’s muzzle that her tongue was caught between her teeth, stopping blood flow to her tongue. Officials think that the tape was on Caitlyn for up to 36-48 hours.

The Charleston Animal Society Senior Director of Veterinary Care, Dr. Lucy Fuller, DVM, said “Caitlyn is in a lot of pain, her condition is critical, and her prognosis is guarded.”

She also said that “A large part of her tongue may need to be removed surgically if the tissue dies from the lack of blood flow. She may be severely disfigured, or the large amount of dead tissue may cause life-threatening complications.”

 

The story of Caitlyn, the North Charleston dog who had her muzzle taped shut, is now worldwide.
We talked with one man at the Chinese Deli in the Chicora-Cherokee community. That is where the dog was discovered earlier this week. “You gotta think, what kind of cruel person is gonna take their time to that to a dog?”

“It’s many things that’s not good that comes through my mind when I hear it…it’s cruel. It’s degrading. Wrong. Life threatening. Sick. It’s like, the mere thought of it is, I mean, why?? That’s one question that comes through my mind when I look at it, is why?”

Kelli Klein, the director of emergency care at Veterinary Specialty Care in Mount Pleasant says Caitlyn is doing better. “She’s been doing really, really well since transferring to us last night.”

Caitlyn was placed in a hyperbaric chamber Friday to give her more oxygen, to help her wounds heal faster. “She’s had three full meals. She’s been able to (take in food) and swallow it.”

She is scheduled for her first surgery either Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Treatment for Caitlyn will be paid for by Toby’s Fund, Charleston Animal Society’s medical fund that is only made possible by donations from the community.

“This is the most malicious case of animal abuse I have ever seen in my entire career,” said Charleston Animal Society Director of Anti-Cruelty & Outreach Aldwin Roman. He continued, “to leave this dog in pain, unable to eat or drink and to now leave her in the position where her life is at stake because she may lose her tongue is heartbreaking.”

North Charleston Animal Control is investigating the case and looking for whoever is responsible.

Charleston Animal Society is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, and Friday the Humane Society of the United States added another $5,000.  If convicted of ill treatment of an animal, the guilty could face up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
(KXAN - June 2, 2015)

Earlier:

• SC dog found with muzzle taped shut, reward offered
• Dog sold for $10 returns to previous owners with muzzle tied shut with electrical tape

Dog sold for $10 returns to previous owners with muzzle tied shut with electrical tape

UPDATE TO STORY: William Leonard Dodson arrested for taping dog's mouth shut

SOUTH CAROLINA -- A dog whose owners sold for $10 later found her way back to their yard with her muzzle taped so tightly that her tongue may have to be cut off, WGHP reported.

The 15-month old Staffordshire mix may have been left with the electrical tape trapping her tongue in her teeth for more than 48 hours, the report said. After doctors removed the tape, her muzzle swelled so much–double its size–that she may need surgery to save her life.

The dog, who was named Diamond but was renamed Caitlyn by rescuers, was sold because her old owners needed the money, WCIV reported. She returned to their yard a few days later.

Caitlyn’s former owners said they contacted animal control and provided information on the man who bought her, who offered to pay for her after he seeing her on Memorial Day.

The couple, who was not identified, said they were in such a dire situation that they agreed. They also said they never expected the abuse to happen.

 

“Don’t let me find you because that’s part of my family you just did some foul things to,” he told WCIV.

Officials at the Charleston Animal Society said Caitlyn’s condition is improving, and she’s beginning to want food and water again.

“This was intentional,” said Dr. Kelli Klein. “Someone was trying to hurt her and they did it. They did what they went out to do. Just thankfully someone intervened so she didn’t die.”

“I’m making it sound like she’s doing so great, and she is, but these are serious, serious injuries,” Klein said. “She still has a long way to go. Regardless of whether there are surgeries or not surgeries she will be in recovery for months before she is deemed normal.”

The animal society is offering a $6,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people responsible.

(Pix11 - May 30, 2015)

Earlier:

• SC dog found with muzzle taped shut, reward offered

Criminal charges considered after dog's mouth taped shut

TEXAS -- Criminal charges of animal abuse and neglect are being considered against a Freeport couple after their dog was found chained to a front yard tree at their Brazoria County home with its mouth taped shut, reportedly to keep it from barking.

"With what appeared to be some type of white athletic tape," said Freeport Police Lt. Ray Garivey who says Freeport Animal Control officers responded after complaints by a next door neighbor at Old River Street and N. Avenue C.

 

That neighbor, Sydney Gay, says he and his wife had seen the dog with its mouth taped shut numerous times.

"This is wrong. I can't take it," said Gay of the dog chained to tree in the side yard next to his home. "He was trying to shake his head. Trying not to let them put it on, and whimpering."

"The husband and wife (owners of the dog) admitted that they taped the dog's mouth shut because the dog was barking too much," said Lt. Garivey.

The dog, named "Bear" is now in the custody of Freeport Animal Control and was scheduled to be checked out by a veterinarian Tuesday to make sure it didn't have any lasting injuries.

"Dogs cool themselves by panting, they have their mouth open. If he can't pant, you know he can't cool down," said Freeport Animal Control officer Tiana McPherson. "Food, water, and shelter, those are the basic necessities that any animal needs. And to be deprived of it is just cruel."

"Actually the owners said they didn't think it was (cruel)," said Garivey. "They compared it to a muzzle and they believed that taping the dog's mouth shut wasn't a problem." Animal Control officers say a muzzle, compared to a tightly wound band of athletic tape, would have at least allowed the dog to open its mouth enough to breathe freely.

KHOU 11 News reached a woman identified by neighbors and police as the owner of the dog. She declined comment, said the dog was not hers, and drove away from the Freeport home.

Freeport Animal Control says the dog, if cleared by a veterinarian, will be offered for adoption or placed in a foster home while the Brazoria County District Attorney decides if criminal charges will be filed.

(12News Now - May 29, 2015)

SC dog found with muzzle taped shut, reward offered

 

UPDATE TO STORY: William Leonard Dodson arrested for taping dog's mouth shut

SOUTH CAROLINA -- The Charleston Animal Society needs help finding the person who taped a dog's muzzle taped shut. The dog, Caitlyn, is now in critical condition after it was found on a Good Samaritan's doorstep with electrical tape tightly wound around her muzzle.

The tape was so tight around Caitlyn's muzzle that her tongue was caught between her teeth, stopping blood flow to her tongue. Officials think that the tape was on Caitlyn for up to 36-48 hours.

 

The Charleston Animal Society Senior Director of Veterinary Care, Dr. Lucy Fuller, DVM, said "Caitlyn is in a lot of pain, her condition is critical, and her prognosis is guarded."

She also said that "A large part of her tongue may need to be removed surgically if the tissue dies from the lack of blood flow. She may be severely disfigured, or the large amount of dead tissue may cause life-threatening complications."

Treatment for Caitlyn will be paid for by Toby's Fund, Charleston Animal Society's medical fund that is only made possible by donations from the community.

"This is the most malicious case of animal abuse I have ever seen in my entire career," said Charleston Animal Society Director of Anti-Cruelty & Outreach Aldwin Roman.

All images from Charleston Animal Society

He continued, "to leave this dog in pain, unable to eat or drink and to now leave her in the position where her life is at stake because she may lose her tongue is heartbreaking."

North Charleston Animal Control is investigating the case and looking for whoever is responsible.

Charleston Animal Society is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. If convicted of ill treatment of an animal, the guilty could face up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

(WBTW - Myrtle Beach and Florence SC - May 28, 2015)

Taped up boxes containing 17 kittens and seven cats found dumped on roadside

UNITED KINGDOM -- Seventeen kittens and seven cats have been found after they were shamelessly abandoned and dumped by a roadside in two taped-up boxes.

Five of the youngest were dead and another kitten and adult cat have died since they were found - they appear to have been purposefully trapped in the cardboard box.

The youngest kittens were only several days old and the oldest are between five to six weeks. Two of these were pregnant when they were callously thrown away.

  

They were all taken into the care of the St Neots and District Cats Protection in Cambridgeshire.

Since arriving, one female has given birth to three more kittens and another female is heavily pregnant with kittens due imminently.

The helpless animals were seen being dumped by a driver on the side of the road in Sandy, Bedfordshire .

Cats Protection volunteer Anna Partin said: 'It is a big shock to see so many cats abandoned like this.
'Luckily we work closely with other branches so we are able to care for them all until we can re-home them.

'We would obviously like to find the owner, because dumping animals is illegal and we would like to find the person responsible.

 

'Cats do breed at a prolific rate so it can be easy to find yourself in this situation. We are urging people to go to a charity instead of abandoning them if they cannot cope.

'This also shows the importance of getting your cats neutered.'

The kittens and cats will be available for re-homing in a few weeks.

(Daily Mail - April 24, 2015)

Nicolino Camardi, Calgary Man Who Tortured, Killed Dog And Cat Sentenced

CANADA -- A Calgary man who abused, starved and killed a dog and cat has been sentenced to 22 months in jail.

Nicolino Camardi

Nicolino Camardi, who is 19, is also banned for life from owning animals.

He has been in custody since he was arrested last May and is being given 16 months of credit for time served.

So basically he will be a free man in six months...

Camardi pleaded guilty in December to willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal.

The Calgary Humane Society began an investigation in January 2014 after a dog was found dead with tape around its muzzle and a dead cat was discovered with tape covering most of its face.

The humane society says the sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences.

 

An examination at a veterinarian's office determined the dog had suffered chronic malnourishment before its death.

The cat had been strangled and had injuries to its head, tail and hind limbs.

(Huffington Post Canada - March 27, 2015)

Earlier:

• Dead dog, cat found muzzled in southeast Calgary alley
• Accused animal torturer's girlfriend told police he spoke of killing humans, sought protection order  
• Release sought for accused in animal cruelty cases
• ‘Horrific’ Case Of Animal Torture And Starvation

Man accused in cat's death threatens to kill animal-control officer, police say

ARKANSAS -- A Pulaski County man who is accused of killing a kitten is facing new charges after he told his uncle he was going to kill the animal control official who worked on the original case, the Pulaski County sheriff's office said.

Matthew Maul, 34, was arrested Thursday on terroristic threatening and drug charges.

According to sheriff's office reports, Maul's uncle in February reported that Maul had recently been released from incarceration, was "very agitated" and said he was "going to drive to Wye Mountain and kill" Little Rock Animal Village Director Tracy Roark.

"[The uncle] also advised that Mr. Maul stated that he was going to also kill any law enforcement officers who stood in his way," Deputy Gary Smith wrote in the report. "According to [the uncle], Mr. Maul stated that after he killed Mr. Roark, he was just going to 'hunker' down in his apartment and shoot it out with police."

The uncle noted he saw ammunition in Maul's home, including some with "names on the rounds for people [Maul} planned on killing."

Authorities on Thursday went to Maul's apartment on Ferndale Cutoff Road. He was arrested there on the warrant for terroristic threatening as well as one count of possession of methamphetamine and four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. The arresting deputy reported finding multiple glass pipes in the home as well as a container with suspected methamphetamine in it.

Maul was arrested in October 2013 after a neighbor found a dead kitten with duct tape on its paws on his doorstep. The neighbor's boyfriend reported seeing Maul throw the kitten's body over a railing.

In August, Maul's trial was delayed in a deal that would have him avoiding a felony animal-cruelty conviction if he sought mental health treatment, submitted to drug testing, avoided having pets, kept out of trouble and stayed away from the neighbor and Roark. He was released from jail, though court records show his bond was revoked in late November. The reason wasn't immediately known.

Maul remained in the Pulaski County jail Friday morning on the new charges with a preliminary court date set that day.

(Arkansas Online - March 13, 2015)

Matthew Jennings Maul
Pulaski County
Booking id: pulaski-4871-15
Booking date: March 12, 2015
Suspect id: 151538
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 34

Charges: Failure To Comply ◾Agency: Pulaski County Sheriff's office
◾Bond: No Bond
Poss Ctrl Subst Sch I,ii ◾Agency: Pulaski County Sheriff's office
◾Bond: No Bond
Poss/use Of Drug Paraphernalia To Manf Meth ◾Agency: Pulaski County Sheriff's office
◾Bond: 28,000.00
Poss/use Of Drug Paraphernalia To Manf Meth ◾Agency: Pulaski County Sheriff's office
◾Bond: No Bond
Terroristic Threatening 2nd Degree (arrest Date After 8-13-93) ◾Agency: Pulaski County Sheriff's office
◾Bond: 2,000.00

‘Horrific’ Case Of Animal Torture And Starvation

CANADA -- A man charged with horrific animal abuse crimes has recently pleaded guilty in the torture and deaths of a cat and a dog.

The suspect, identified as Nicolino Camardi of Calgary, Alberta, is accused of starving a dog and then “hanging” a cat with a piece of string. Global News shared this December 12, 2014.

This latest update on the story discusses Camardi’s actions and why prosecutors are looking for a serious criminal sentence in this heated case.

Nicolino Ivano Camardi

Nicolino Camardi, of Calgary, was recently charged in a disturbing set of abuse allegations against a dog and a cat. Last Friday, Camardi pleaded guilty to two separate animal cruelty charges, both of which involved the victims’ torture to the point of death. These senseless killings led to not only serious public backlash, but serious aims from prosecutors hoping to land the suspect in extended prison time.

The Calgary Humane Society began investigating January 9, when a starved dog was found dead with tape around its muzzle. A dead cat was found in the same area a week later with green painter’s tape covering most of its face.

An examination at a veterinarian’s office determined the dog suffered chronic malnourishment before its death. The cat had been strangled and had injuries to its head, tail and hind limbs. Crown prosecutor, Gord Haight, read an agreed statement of facts into the court record saying the animals were a two-year-old Husky named Shadow, and a six-month-old domestic short-haired kitten named One Tooth, and that both were severely malnourished.

The attacks on the animals often occurred when Camardi, who was addicted to crack cocaine, would get angry about issues such as house soiling or making noise. Haight said these incidents would trigger Camardi to commit horrific acts of abuse.

 

 

“Due to the lack of adequate and proper food, Shadow became progressively more malnourished, and toward the end of her life became increasingly weak and lethargic. A few days before Shadow died, the accused taped her muzzle shut with clear medical tape. Shadow was too weak from starvation to resist. Camardi also kicked and punched the cat. The accused, in an effort to stifle her cries of pain, applied painter’s tape all over her mouth and nose.”

The prosecution asked for a pre-sentence report and a psychiatric assessment of Camardi before sentencing, said Haight.

“The Crown will be seeking considerably more time than the seven months the accused has been in custody. Because of the abject horror of the crime, a psychiatric review is necessary.”

(Inquisitor - Dec 15, 2014)

Earlier:

• Dead dog, cat found muzzled in southeast Calgary alley
• Accused animal torturer's girlfriend told police he spoke of killing humans, sought protection order  
• Release sought for accused in animal cruelty cases

Release sought for accused in animal cruelty cases

CANADA -- The lawyer for a man accused of taping the muzzles of a cat and dog, then leaving them to die in an alley, said Wednesday he will argue for his client’s release next week.

Jack Kelly booked a bail hearing for next Tuesday for Nicolino Ivano Camardi, 19, as the accused appeared in provincial court via closed-circuit television from Calgary Remand Centre.

Camardi is charged with two counts of wilfully causing pain, suffering or injury to an animal after a Siberian husky and a domestic short-haired cat were found on separate occasions in January near his Willow Park home.

The dog died from starvation and the cat was strangled with a cord or a rope after it had been struck on its head.

Camardi faces potential jail time of up to five years if found guilty of the charges.

According to court documents, the young man had talked to his girlfriend about harming animals and people prior to the alleged incidents.

(Calgary Herald - Sept 3, 2014)

Earlier:

• Dead dog, cat found muzzled in southeast Calgary alley
• Accused animal torturer's girlfriend told police he spoke of killing humans, sought protection order