Witness: St. Johns Man Slashed Dog’s Throat

A 28-year-old St. Johns County man accused of slashing his dog’s throat was seen dragging the howling Saint Bernard mix to a nearby plot of land Sunday night.

Randal Bryen Hart of the 8400 block of North County Road 13 was charged Monday with animal cruelty, the Sheriff’s Office said.

A witness told the Sheriff’s Office the man stabbed the dog several times. After locating Hart at his home Monday morning, it took a deputy and Animal Control officer about 45 minutes to find the dog in a grassy area near the home.

The dog was still alive but in obvious distress, the Sheriff’s Office said. It was taken to the Atlantic Veterinarian Hospital for emergency surgery.

Hart told the deputy the dog bit a kitten and needed to be “put down,” the Sheriff’s Office said. The deputy located the kitten playing with another dog on the property but saw no injury.

News Link: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-01-14/story/witness-st-johns-man-slashed-dogs-throat#ixzz2Ir3U6sxi

Forest Grove Man Indicted For Aggravated Animal Abuse: Killed Family Dog

“He looks a heartless bastard doesn’t he? well they all do; if you’ve taken any notice!! I hope this cruel pig gets jail time for killing the family dog in such a heinous way, just because it defecated on the carpet!! Why did the family not report the incident until after 2 days had passed, I bet there was domestic abuse too!”

A Washington County man Friday was in court charged with animal abuse for killing the family dog.

On December 1, 2012, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to 1107 Nichols Lane in Forest Grove. It was reported that two days earlier Michael Burns, 45, killed the family’s Golden Retriever.

Investigators learned that Burns had an altercation with the dog inside the house and cut the dog’s throat with a knife.

A family member contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report the incident. Deputies began collecting evidence and interviewing people with knowledge of the incident.

On December 8, 2012, deputies arrested Mr. Burns and charged him with First Degree Aggravated Animal Abuse.

Today, a Washington County Grand Jury indicted Michael Burns on First Degree Aggravated Animal Abuse, First Degree Animal Abuse, and Second Degree Animal Neglect.

Burns will remain out of custody and has a pre-trial court date set for February 4, 2013. “I will keep you updated on this!”

News Link:-http://www.albanytribune.com/11012013-forest-grove-man-indicted-for-aggravated-animal-abuse%E2%80%8F/