Success! Charges in Dog Dragging Case Upgraded to Felony Cruelty

By Susan Bird – December 23, 2013

The efforts of compassionate Care2 readers have helped changed the course of an animal cruelty prosecution.

An incredible recovery & a Misdemeanor charge now changed to a Felony. Kudos to all that helped this happen

The man accused of dragging a young pit bull for more than a mile behind his pickup truck in late November now faces a felony rather than a misdemeanor criminal charge.

Andra Grace is recovering nicely.

Deputy Omar Yahya of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said Roger Dennis Owens was charged with felony “ill treatment of animals” on December 17, according to Fox Carolina News.

Owens had originally been arrested on December 6 and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of only 90 days in jail and an $800 fine.

“The felony charge comes with a much stiffer penalty if the suspect is convicted,” Yahya said.

In addition, Owens is now charged with two counts of driving under suspension and two counts of being a habitual traffic offender. The felony cruelty charge could bring Owens from six months to five years in prison. If convicted of multiple offenses, he may face significantly more time.

Why the shift from misdemeanor to felony charge? There seems to be only one answer. People like you — many, many people like you — used social media, e-mails, letters and phone calls to call for sterner charges for this harrowing crime. Greenville County heard the outcry, took a closer look and seems to have decided stronger charges were warranted.

Andra Grace: Wagging Her Tail and Recovering

Meanwhile, Andra Grace is recovering nicely. Though she was badly injured, her condition is so much improved that has moved to her new foster home in time for Christmas, according to the Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page.

Want to see how happy and well Andra Grace is now? The Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page has posted this video, as well as many others, so well wishers can keep up with her remarkable recovery. Rescuers were able to recover four of Andra Grace’s puppies as well. They are doing well and will accompany her to their new foster location.

Andra Grace’s puppies, resting before their trip to their new foster home

A Heartwarming Reunion with Two Special Women

Andra Grace had two special visitors on December 19. Kaye Skinner and Jennefer Bullock, the two women who reported seeing Andra Grace being dragged behind the truck, were reunited with her.

According to the Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page, when Kaye and Jennefer saw the pickup truck go by them in the opposite direction, dragging a helpless dog behind it, they turned around to follow it. After the truck sped away without the dog, they searched the roadway until they found her.

Kaye and Jennefer called police and stayed by Andra Grace for the two hours it took for help to arrive. They covered her battered, bloody form with a jacket while trying to soothe her. It might break your heart a little to know that Kaye and Jennefer say poor Andra Grace was wagging her tail as they did what they could to help her.

Kaye Skinner and Jennefer Bullock are reunited with a much recovered Andra Grace

Andra Grace is now happily settled in her new foster home, where her two foster parents are both veterinarians. She’s getting a lot of loving care and is well on her way to a contented and satisfying life. Likewise, her now-weaned puppies are in foster homes and can look forward to long, happy lives.

Care2 readers, your signatures on our petition helped turn the tide with respect to the crime committed against this gentle and loving dog. Your outrage, coupled with a deluge of phone calls and e-mails to Greenville County officials, appears to have convinced authorities to take a closer look at this case. Now Roger Owens is charged with a felony. The possible punishment he faces for this heinous act of cruelty is considerably increased.

May justice prevail for Andra Grace and for all abused animals.

News Link:- http://www.care2.com/causes/success-charges-in-dog-dragging-case-upgraded-to-felony-cruelty.html#ixzz2oub9Eqqd

• overview of original petition

On the day after Thanksgiving, two people witnessed something that horrified them — someone in a pickup truck was dragging a helpless dog down the road on a rope. The rope broke, leaving the dog, an emaciated female pit bull, to die by the road. The trail of blood indicated the poor dog had been dragged over a mile. Her injuries were extensive and grievous. Fortunately Animal Control got the dog to an animal hospital, where it is now receiving care and love.

The truck driver has been identified, and reportedly has at least one prior animal cruelty conviction, but incredibly he has only been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in this case.

However, South Carolina law also contains a felony animal cruelty provision applicable to anyone who:

“…tortures, torments, needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal or by omission or commission causes the acts to be done…”

Please sign this petition asking 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor W. Walter Wilkins to prosecute this case under the felony provision of South Carolina’s animal cruelty law, rather than as a slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor as currently charged.

Petition link (now closed) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/545/421/014/demand-south-carolina-charge-man-who-dragged-dog-with-felony-animal-cruelty/

Bridgeton Woman Charged With Animal Abuse

BRIDGETON, Mo. – A Bridgeton woman was charged with animal abuse, this week, after police spotted her dog being dragged behind her pickup truck on I-70.

St. Charles Police say 33-year-old Amy Taylor was travelling between 60-and-65 miles an hour while dragging a dog named Coco on May 22.

Taylor told police she had just picked up the dog at a veterinarian and placed him in a small kennel in the back of the truck. She says she didn’t know how the dog got out and wound-up being dragged along the interstate.

Police say Taylor did, however, admit that she knew there were no screws to hold the kennel together. “So just how did she expect the dog to remain in a kennel with nothing to hold it together? stupid bxxxh!!”

Taylor has been charged with a misdemeanour.

Police say Coco was severely injured at the time but is now in good condition, expecting to make a full recovery.

News Link:-http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/06/15/bridgeton-woman-charged-with-animal-abuse/

Man accused of killing 6 horses belonging to his neighbor

NEW BERLIN, N.Y. (WKTV) – A Chenango County man is accused of killing six horses that belonged to his neighbor. State Police arrested Lauren McMaster, 75. 

State Police were investigating the death of six horses on the property adjacent to Hunts Pond Road and determined McMaster shot and killed the horses with a 12 gauge shotgun.

McMaster is charged with 6 counts of Criminal Mischief in the second degree and 6 counts of cruelty to animals.

McMaster was arraigned in the Town of Columbus Court and was taken to the Chenango County jail on $500 cash/$1000 bond.

State Police say the defendant filed a complaint just a week ago about the animals being on his property. The investigation is still ongoing with this case and more details will be made available later this week.

News Link:-http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Man-accused-of-killing-6-horses-149568695.html