Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | David Bates | | Defense(s): | Albert Smith | | Judge(s): | John Tiernan |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #14536 Rating: 2.6 out of 5
Dog's ears cut off with scissors
Maxwell, CA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
County: Colusa
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Jesus Melecio
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A Maxwell man faces up to one year in county jail when he is sentenced Wednesday on one charge of animal cruelty.
Jesus Melecio, 34, pleaded no contest last week after being cited for cropping his 8-month-old Pit Bull's ears with household scissors.
According to investigating officer, Pamela Craig, of the Colusa County District Attorney's Office, the injured dog was found by an animal control officer last month while he was investigating a report of a lose dog.
The pup, which was confined in a dirty kennel, was covered with blood, open wounds and suffered from fly infestation, Craig said.
A family member allegedly told Craig they cropped the ears so the dog "would look cool."
"This procedure is very painful," Craig said. "It should only be performed by a licensed vet and under general anesthesia."
Many veterinarians refuse to surgically "crop" the ears of animals because the procedure is particularly painful and has a long recovery period, Craig said.
Although the Pit Bull was left in Melecio's custody pending disposition of the case, a judge could prohibit Melecio from owning this or any dog in the future.
Melecio could also be fined up to a $20,000 when he heads back to court Wednesday for sentencing.
Case UpdatesA Maxwell man faces new charges less than a month after he was convicted of animal abuse.
The Colusa County District Attorney's Office filed charges Wednesday against Jesus Melecio after his pit bull reportedly attacked a man and another dog. The charges include a violation of a court order to keep the dog restrained.
The 34-year-old Maxwell man was sentenced Sept. 10 to serve 10 days in jail after he was convicted of cropping his dog's ears with household scissors without using antiseptic or anesthesia.
Judge John H. Tiernan criticized Melecio's treatment of the animal but allowed him to keep the dog.
That same dog, a 9-month-old pit bull, allegedly attacked a man and another dog Sept. 25, according to investigator Pamela Craig with the DA's office.
The victim, an unidentified 56-year-old Maxwell man, was bitten on his hand and his dog, a Labrador-retriever mix, was bitten on the neck. Both are expected to make a full recovery, Craig said.
Craig said the dog was kept in a kennel made partially of a thin plywood material and apparently chewed his way out.
Craig said parameters of Melecio's probation included keeping the dog secured.
"It's frightening to think what would have happened if it had been a small child playing with the dog," Craig said.
The pit bull is in quarantine, a standard procedure after an attack. The owner may consider surrendering the dog for euthanasia, Craig said. A court date for Melecio hasn't been scheduled yet.
Investigators said the pit bull was first found in September in a dirty kennel, covered with blood, with open wounds and suffering from fly infestation.
"I can see why the pit bull has anger-management issues. I'd be upset too if someone had cut my ears off with scissors," Craig said. | Source: Sun-Herald - Oct 2, 2008
Update posted on Oct 2, 2008 - 10:45PM |
A Maxwell man was sentenced to 10 days in jail and three years probation Wednesday for lopping off his dog's ears with a pair of household scissors.
Judge John Tiernan said Jesus Melecio, 34, was lucky that the case was heard in a place that follows the rules of law and not the rules of emotion - an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth.
"We should take care of our animals the same way we take care of our children," Tiernan said. "We have the same responsibility."
Melecio pleaded no contest Sept. 4 to one felony charge of animal cruelty after an animal control officer found the 8-month-old injured pit bull while he was investigating a report of a loose dog.
Investigators said the dog was discovered inside a dirty kennel, covered with blood and suffering from open wounds and fly infestation.
Deputy District Attorney David Bates said the cutting of the dog's ears without antiseptic and anesthesia was cruel and inhumane.
"It must have hurt like heck," Bates said.
Bates said the photographs taken of the dog's injuries were graphic and showed that the animal received no follow-up care until Melecio was ordered to take the dog to a veterinarian.
The animal has since recovered.
Albert Smith, Melecio's attorney, argued that the practice of docking an animal's ears or tail with crude tools was cultural and far more widespread than most people realize.
"So is driving drunk," Tiernan said. "But we don't tolerate it. We are a humane society."
Tiernan said he understood that ear cropping was common, but there was a right way and a wrong way to do it.
"The right way is in a vet hospital under anesthesia, followed by proper care," he said.
Though Bates requested that Melecio not be allowed to possess animals during his probation, Tiernan said the man could keep his dogs, provided he gives them proper care.
Tiernan said Melecio's probation includes stipulations that animal control officers can search and seize any animal at anytime without cause.
Melecio was also ordered to pay a $350 fine, state restitution and security fees. | Source: Appeal Democrat - Sept 10, 2008
Update posted on Sep 10, 2008 - 11:42PM |
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