We have often discussed the low level of punishment meted out for the abuse or killing of animals in this country. Perhaps no case better illustrates the problem than the “prosecution” of Jeremy Shane Temple. A malnourished and flee-covered German Shepard Toby (later named Joseph) with teeth knocked out was found chained to a tree by Temple, his owner. Toby was left chained to the tree for four years and showed signs of abuse. The punishment thus far? A $25 fine.
At that rate, years of torturing and abusing an animal will cost you less than $7 annually. For those with a taste for torture, that is cheaper than a movie. Temple was released, though according to one report he will have to return to face charges of cruelty to a companion animal, unlicensed dog and improper chaining or tethering. Charges like have an unlicensed dog and improper chaining rarely generate significant penalties. That will leave the cruelty charge as the sole but unlikely hope for additional punishment. However, the Ohio statute provides only for an misdemeanor in my first reading. (“Whoever violates division (A) of section 959.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.”).
Police say that when they asked Temple about the condition of his dog, he is quoted as saying the “dog is not a human.” Of course, most people would say that about Temple but such irony seemed lost on him as he left $25 bucks and walked free.
Why doesn’t Ohio gear it’s head out of it’s ass when it comes to animal cruelty?
I’ve got a fat old dog which my wife got from the Chicago pound about 10 years ago. One of the reasons my wife picked her was the info from the pound that she was taken in a police raid (She was almost a skeleton when I got her. The dog, not my wife). With all the publicity I’m sure there will be people lining up to make Joseph’s golden years as ideal as possible.
I don’t want to pay to keep these idiots in jail.
What could happen though is to sentence him to cleaning the pens at the dog pound or SPCA.
Buy food for animal shelters, etc.
There are plenty of problems that the money isn’t there to fix & a bit of dog poo on his shoe might help pay society back for the harm he’s done to the animal.
I wouldn’t trust him alone around the animals again.
Too bad the Ohio thingy was not as evolved as a good Oragutan …
This man needs to be chained to a tree and abused for the rest of his life! “An eye for an eye”
Who said all the rednecks live in the south….
so why did he keep the dog for 4 years? only to keep it chained up and abuse it?
This man deserves to be put into a large tree shreadder….. Humans who treat defenseless animals this way are worthless…..
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
Chain gang
LK,
“I’m not questioning your powers of observation; I’m merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.” 😉
I hope karma repays this guy in kind. Clearly the most vicious animal wasn’t the one in the yard.
Well, this story is tragic, unless the dog’s name is John Boerner and the owner of the dog is a Democrat named Barack ObAMA. if THAT IS THE CASE, it is funny.
Can authorities, at the very least, enforce that this miserable little viper never has animals of any kind again for the rest of his unnatural life? Or could they arrange to take any animals away from him if he gets any more?
To paraphrase and echo James Herriot/Wight of All Creatures Great and Small fame, I could do terrible things to those who abuse animals (well, in my fantasies, anyway, considering my age and medical issues).
Animal and child abusers are the lowest of the low in my book.
The monetary fine is a joke. Hopefully the jail time will be better. It would have been quite unfortunate if the arresting officer forgot to double-lock the handcuffs on this guy.
God created Dog on the Eighth Day to look after humans. This particular schmuck will have to go meet his maker some day at the Pearly Gates. He will get sent to Hell.
Beside the $25 fine, Hamilton Journal News reported that Temple also faces charges of cruelty to companion animal, unlicensed dog and improper chaining or tethering. He is due back in court October 14.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2442873/Starved-flea-covered-German-shepherd-dubbed-Joseph-rescued-chained-tree-FOUR-years–heartless-owner-gets-25-fine.html#ixzz2gj8NyJMO
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This criminal needs to spend some serious time in jail. Disgusting human being.
And people wonder why folks are so enamored f the comic-book masked avengers, anonymous bringers of justice and the anti-hero’s like Dexter. This guy is IMO one of those sociopath guy’s we hear about on this blawg from time to time. Where are the masked avengers when you need them?
I don’t know which is worse, the ignorance of this guy or the ignorance of the laws with respect to cruelty to animals. As a dog lover, an animal lover I think this guys punishment should be to suffer the same fate as the dog, chain him to a tree for four years and knock out his teeth…
It breaks my heart that anyone could be so cruel to an animal and it makes me angry that they can get away with it with a slap on the wrist.