Entire Dog Blog

Court dates have been set for the two Plainville (Connecticut) brothers allegedly involved in the January 13 drilling death of a a Pit Bull named Baby.

Enrique Cruz was watching Saverino Cruz' son when the son was allegedly bitten by Baby, one of Cruz' two Pit Bulls, prompting the alleged drill attack that resulted in Baby's death. When investigating the incident, police also found Coffee, a younger Pit Bull, at the scene. Police allege that the two dogs lived in deplorable conditions in Enrique Cruz' basement and that the dogs were "malnourished, unlicensed and not vaccinated." Coffee was later adopted into a caring home.

Enrique Cruz will appear in court to answer a Misdemeanor charge of Cruelty to Animals and two Infraction charges (No Vaccinations, Failure to Comply with Dog Ownership Requirements) on February 5, 2008 at 10AM. He is currently out on $10,000 bail.

Saverino Cruz (called Severino Cruz in court documents) allegedly drilled "several holes" into Baby's head, resulting in her death, after learning that Baby had bitten his son. The son was treated and released from the hospital.

Saverino Cruz (Severino Cruz) will appear in court to answer Misdemeanor charges of Disorderly Conduct and Cruelty to Animals on February 14, 2008 at 10AM. He has been released on $25,000 bail.

I personally never really understood the dog houses that people build in their backyards. That's probably because I currently live in a dog house with a mortgage that I pay on behalf of the dogs that own me.

I know dog houses are pretty popular, and some are very extravagant. Something to keep in mind, though, is that unless you're installing a heater for some reason, the dog relies on its body heat to keep warm in the dog house. And for that to work, the house needs to be small enough to store the body heat and insulated with some material that will prevent it from escaping.

KOTA has posted an article (that I crudely coverted from its original all-caps format) to remind us of those factors.

Keeping the dog house out of the wind, elevating it off the cold ground, and giving them extra food, to keep their bodies warm are all important, but if that dog house is too big, your pet might not be able to stay warm.

"you don't want to make the dog house so big that the dog can't stay warm," said Panhandle Humane Society director, Deb Shutte. "the body heat is what heats up the dog house and helps keep it warm, so as long as they can get in, stand up and turnaround, that dog house is plenty big."

PetSmart.com gives some specifics.

• the door height of the house should be at least three quarter of your dog's shoulder height (from the ground to the neck);
• the length and width of the house should be at least equal to but not more than 25 percent larger than the distance between the nose and the root of the tail;
• the height of the house should be at least 25 percent taller and no higher than 50 percent the height of the dog when stood erect.

The inhumane practice of tethering an unattended dog is now illegal in Fort Worth (Texas).

The ban is similar to one already passed in Irving and Austin and another being discussed in Dallas. Dogs can't be tied to a stationary object or a trolley system, according to the new ordinance.

[...]

An offense would be a Class C misdemeanor, similar to a traffic ticket, and subject to a fine of up to $2,000. The new ordinance is tougher than a 2007 state law that Fort Worth officials said was confusing and difficult to enforce. That state law included time and weather conditions for the prohibition against tethering.

Derick Phanord cried, "I am an animal lover" as he was sentenced to two years in prison for soaking his pit bull with gasoline and setting him on fire in 2007.

According to the Brentwood, Long Island (New York) dog killer's lawyer, Phanord tied the dog to a tree and set it on fire, killing it, because it had bitten Phanord's younger Pit Bull, Red. The dog became known as Maximus after being discovered. Maximus was treated for the severe, painful burn wounds, but later died.

A prosecutor said Phanord's 2-year sentence was the maximum penalty for the animal cruelty charge.

A Suffolk SPCA investigator, Robert Aversano, was leery of Phanord's courtroom display of remorse and his statement that he prayed for the dog after he set it on fire.

"If someone were to douse you with gasoline, light you on fire and then say a prayer afterward it wouldn't go over well in court," said Robert Aversano, the SPCA official.

"My personal opinion is that Mr. Phanord should not be able to own a dog ever again," Aversano said.

Veterinary surgeons named the abandoned, badly-burned dog Maximus during its final hours as they tried to save its life. The dog endeared itself to SPCA and veterinarian rescuers with its gentle manner, licking their hands in apparent gratitude as they comforted and soothed its burned body.

Phanord named the dog Spike, but the dog became publicly known as Maximus before Suffolk police tracked down and arrested the dog's owner.

Red (below), the younger pit bull allegedly bitten by Maximus, was found starving locked in an unvenilated shed and rescued. Red was adopted last September.

Reports indicate that police have cited Adam Scott Pigue of Arlington, Texas with four misdemeanor offenses related to the case of Spike. Spike was the Villaire family's 3 1/2-year old Pomeranian. Police found Spike doused with gasoline and burned on January 12.

Adam Pigue, a neighbor of the Villaires, allegedly found Spike in his yard after Spike had gotten loose from the Villaire's property and been hit by a car and killed. Police say a drunken Pigue then allegedly decided to burn Spike's body as a means of disposal. According to the Arlington Police Department, "[i]nformation from a veterinarian and the physical evidence supports Pigues account."

Listed below are the violations that were sent to Pigue. Animal Cruelty charges would not apply in this case since evidence supports that Spike had died before he was burned. Mr. Pigue will have his opportunity to explain his actions at a later date to be set by the Arlington Municipal Court.  

Negligent Burning - Ord., Fire 1.02
Improper Disposal of Dead Animal - Ord., Animal 9.01(B)
Burning Certain Substances in the Open - Ord., Nusiance 2.06
Haul Uncovered Carcass Along Street or Public Grounds - Ord., Nusiance 2.02

The Villaire family received an outpouring of sympathy as a result of this unspeakable crime, including offers to provide a new puppy from multiple dog breeders. The Villaires have adopted Henry (below), a Pomeranian donated by a local breeder.