Pit bull hanged to death - Uniontown, PA

Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005

County: Fayette

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: 16 year old boy

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A 16-year-old Uniontown boy was charged on Aug 18 with animal cruelty after he allegedly hanged his pit bull terrier from a tree in a city cemetery because his mother told him to get rid of the dog.

Robin Moore, humane police officer for Noah's Ark of Fayette County, said the dog, named "Alley," appeared to struggle, trying to get footing in a fence to avoid death. The dog's lead was tied around its neck and looped around a tree near the fence, Moore said.

"The back of his feet were totally covered in blood, and there was almost nothing left of the pads on the bottom of his feet," Moore said. "He didn't die right away. He fought for his life."

People walking in the area of Clearview Cemetery off North Gordon Street made the grisly discovery around 8:17 a.m. Wednesday, Moore said. In the area at the time was a juvenile probation officer supervising youngsters who were doing community service work through the agency.

"It was just the most gruesome thing you can ever, ever imagine. Nobody could believe what they were seeing," she said.

Moore said she eventually called the 16-year-old boy's home because people said they had pit bulls. The boy's mother, Moore said, told her that she was angry about the dog because it urinated throughout her Evans Street house, so she told her son to get rid of the dog around 2 a.m. Aug 17.

"So, he took Alley to the cemetery and hung him. It was a pretty devastating sight," Moore said.

The dog appeared to be about 2 years old, she said.

Moore filed charges before Magisterial District Judge Mark L. Blair.

Case Updates

A 16-year-old Uniontown boy was charged in August 2005 for allegedly hanging his pit bull from a tree in a cemetery after his mom made him get rid of the animal for urinating in the house. "The back of (the dog's) feet were totally covered in blood, and there was almost nothing left of the pads on the bottom of his feet," Moore said. "He didn't die right away. He fought for his life." The charges were filed with District Judge Mark Blair in Uniontown. "Nothing was ever done about it," Moore said. Moore sent a photograph of the pit bull to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who is reportedly an animal lover, but she never heard of any legislation proposed by his office. "I wanted him to see the other side," Moore said. "That this is real."

Source: The Daily Courier - January 16, 2006 Update posted on Jan 16, 2006 - 7:52PM

References

• « PA State Animal Cruelty Map
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