"My doctrine is this: that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and we do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt." – Anna Sewell, English Novelist
I have been following closely the case of Robert Scuttles who tortured and killed his pet Labrador, Bowser and has been charged with a misdemeanour animal cruelty charge under Kentucky law.
In what was apparently retaliation against neighbors who had repeatedly called police and animal control regarding the ongoing neglect of this poor dog, Scuttles was seen shoving a piece of bread loaded with antifreeze into Bowser’s mouth and forcing him to swallow while holding his muzzle closed. Then this POS allowed poor Bowser to suffer for TWO WHOLE DAYS before he proceeded to kick the dog in the head until Bowser finally died. Scuttles then burned the dog in a burn can. It is alleged that he did all this to prove to his neighbors that he could do anything he wanted to his “property”. You see, the numerous calls to the police and animal control agencies went either ignored or complaints were answered with “there is nothing we can do”.
Before I get onto the our ability to demand justice in this case, first let me say “SHAME ON YOU” to the neighbors who witnessed this case and allowed that dog to suffer for days before his death. There is no excuse, there is no fear of retribution great enough, there is nothing you can say to me to excuse you for allowing this to happen. This dog could have easily been rescued during the 2 days he writhed in agony and taken to emergency care and possibly saved. You did nothing! You share in the guilt of the torture of this poor dog. Testifying against the POS is one step towards redemption however I will never understand how you can live with yourself knowing you could have saved this dog from must have seemed like an infinity of torture to him.
This case is going to trial late next week but on Monday, August 24th, 2009, representatives from the local Humane Society are meeting with County Attorney, William Thompson to request that the charge against Scuttles be upgraded to a Class D Felony charge under the provisions of the Romeo Law. This law states that although first time offenses would normally carry a misdemeanour charge, cases where the animal suffered prolonged and intentional pain and ultimately death could be considered a Class D Felony.
Fellow advocates, we need to support the Humane Society’s bid to have the charge upgraded to a felony in this case! There is no question that this POS deliberately intended to inflict extended and agonizing torture on his dog just to prove he could get away with it.
There is a petition at Care2.com that you need to sign to show your support in getting the full arm of the law to come down on this POS.
There are phone calls and letters you can write but time is of the essence so please either make your phone calls today or fax your letters today. Here are the contact details:
CONTACT INFO
District Judge Katie Wood
402 Grande Avenue
Somerset, KY 42501
Phone: 606-219-5783
William Thompson (for a copy of the letter I faxed today to Mr. Thompson, see below)
County Attorney
104 North Main Street
Somerset KY 42501
Phone: 606-679-4449
Fax: 606-678-2635
Pulaski County Judge Executive
Barty Bullock
P.O. Box 712
Somerset, KY 42502
606-678-4853 – phone
606-679-8642 – fax
Sheriff Todd Wood
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department
P.O. Box 752
Somerset, KY 42502
Phone: (606) 678-5145
Fax (606) 679-3119
info@pulaskisheriff.com
Here is the copy of the letter I wrote and faxed today to Mr. Thompson: You can use this letter as your guideline to write your own but it will carry more impact if it is your own words.
August 21, 2009
Mr. William Thompson
County Attorney
104 North Main Street
Somerset KY 42501
Fax: 606-678-2635
Dear Mr. Thompson
Re: Robert Suttles, Animal Cruelty Charges
I am writing to you today, Mr. Thompson, because I am deeply concerned about the above named animal cruelty case before you as the County Attorney.
Robert Suttles was seen administering anti-freeze on bread to his pet dog, Bowser, holding the dog’s mouth closed forcing him to swallow this agonizing and deadly poison. After 2 days of allowing Bowser to suffer the agonizing effects of the anti-freeze poisoning, Suttles then proceeded to kick the dog in the head repeatedly until the poor dog finally died. Suttles was then seen burning the dog in a burn can.
Suttles has been charged with Class A Misdemeanour Animal Cruelty but I feel strongly that this case qualifies as a Class D Felony under the Romeo Law of Kentucky.
Quoting an excerpt from this law:
“If the animal suffered serious physical injury or death, the abuser could be charged with a Class D felony on the first and subsequent offenses.
The law further states that: "Torture" is defined as the intentional infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain of the animal."
There is no doubt in my mind and there can be none in yours that Bowser suffered extensive torture and pain before finally dying. Suttles deliberately committed premeditative torture motivated by the intent to increase and prolong poor Bowser’s pain. This then should be ample grounds to upgrade the charge against Suttles to a Class D Felony Animal cruelty charge.
Mr. Thomson, people like Robert Suttles don’t stop at torturing and killing one animal. He will continue to inflict torture and pain and even death on those weaker or less powerful then him, be it animal or human, as long as he thinks he can get away with it. We the citizens of this planet need to ensure each other’s safety by putting this brute away before he can harm anyone else and sending a message to others that animal cruelty is against the law and will not be tolerated.
I understand that you are meeting with representatives of the Humane Society on Monday, August 24th, 2009 where they will request that you upgrade the charge in this case to a Class D Felony Animal Cruelty charge under the provisions of the Romeo law.
Thousands of people are interested and watching this case so I implore you to please consider the Humane Society’s request seriously. Now is the time to put an end to the tolerance of and ambivalence to animal cruelty.
Sincerely
Related posts:
mr schuttle should be feed anti freeze untill hes dead.nhe looks like a serial
killer to me. a hillbilly serial killer.he wont intiminate me i grab him by his neck and choke him off. give him the max plus punishment.Shame onthe neighbors who didnt help cause they are afraid of an ugly old man.
does anyone know his addresses?it is on clifty point rd please. i also say the neighbors are at fault for not helping.
i sure would of and i am a woman.i hope somone raises hell with those neighbors they called the cops about that dog to mant times .please hassle the neighbors. call them tell them off.
ni see there is no animal lovers in ky. this whole case about mr scuttles. his neighbors called the cops and called to many people about that dog it made him mad. there is no way what he did is any way ok in my book.those neighbor should of went over in person and talked to robert in person .he is a little old man creepy looking but i would of took the dog i would of stoled it in the middleof the night if iwas his neighbor.f u neighbors of him you didnot help that dog at all you are as bad as he is. please send me the addresse of his neighbors and his addresses to please.if there are any animallovers in ky it dont look it please make a comment to this horrible crime.