Dog neglected, eaten alive by maggots
Petaluma, CA (US)

Date: Aug 2004
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged Abuser: Robert Terry, Jr.

A Petaluma Realtor is being charged with one count of animal cruelty for allegedly letting his dog be eaten alive by maggots. Robert Terry Jr. of GPS Golden Land Realty is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 28 in Santa Rosa.

The animal cruelty charge stems from Terry's treatment of Sidney, a cocker spaniel that was put to sleep by the Marin County Humane Society last August, according to Nancee Tavares, manager of animal services at the Petaluma Animal Shelter.

Tavares came in contact with the animal over two years ago, when Sidney, first thought to be a stray, wound up at the shelter with a nasty ear infection. The Realtor eventually showed up to claim ownership of the dog and settled the vet bill, Tavares said, but turned the shelter down when they suggested he surrender Sidney "because he wasn't being taken care of." Twice-monthly visits by the animal shelter to the Terrys' home to ensure Sidney's care followed for six months. When everything looked OK, the visits stopped, the shelter manager said.

Last August Tavares was contacted by the Marin County Humane Society after a man dropped off a dog wrapped in a blanket and made an "owner-requested euthanasia."

The man and the dog were identified as Terry and Sidney.

When the humane society workers unwrapped the dog, "the odor was enough to knock them out," Tavares reported. "When they flipped back his ears, there were masses of maggots in them."

After putting the dog to sleep, the Petaluma Animal Shelter was contacted because Terry is a city resident and animal cruelty was suspected.

A necropsy -- an animal autopsy -- revealed the dog had organ damage due to toxins released from the maggots, Tavares said.

The court date was originally slated for last fall. When Terry failed to appear at the Sept. 28 hearing, a declaration and warrant was issued. He posted bail on Jan 11, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.

References

Argus-Courier