On August 19th, residents in Boulder City were traversing down the road when they stumbled upon an adorable Rottweiler mix puppy who seemed to be in very bad shape. The abandoned male dog was in an alleyway, and the citizens were so taken aback by the state of the dog that they rushed it to Boulder City Animal Hospital.
Veterinarians were devastated by the state of the puppy and quickly determined that the dog must have been severely abused by a human. Doctors discovered the pup had missing teeth, eye and facial damage, and a dislocated jaw. The pup’s abuse and injuries were so severe that veterinarians had no choice but to immediately put the pup into surgery and remove one of its eyes. That surgery was successful, but since then, the baby dog has had to undergo another critical surgery.
At this point, the pup will remain under close supervision. He will need to stay on a feeding tube for at least five weeks while he recovers. Thankfully, all the pup’s medical bills have been taken care of thanks to the community’s generous donations and support.
Right now, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what happened. The extent of the animal’s injuries suggests that humans committed animal abuse on the animal, so police are interested in tracking down the culprit. Police believe that the dog was injured in Arizona before being dropped off across the state line. Anyone with information regarding the animal abuse ring should contact the police department at 928-753-0753.
Nevada’s laws outline several types of situations that would be considered animal abuse. In general, any type of mutilation, torture, killing, or harm towards an animal that isn’t committed in an act of self-defense is considered a crime. The following actions are all outlined as criminal offenses: torturing or abandoning an animal, poisoning an animal, facilitating animal fights, not providing adequate basic necessities to an impounded animal, or leaving an animal in a hot vehicle.
A first-time animal abuse conviction in Nevada will likely result in fines of up to $1,000, court-ordered community service of up to 120 hours, and up to six months in jail. If the animal abuse involved the unjustifiable mutilation or killing of a companion animal, then you could get charged with a felony. Felony offenses are much more serious and carry life-long consequences, like the loss of certain rights.
It’s also important to note that criminal charges are almost always compounded and increased when those offenses cross state lines. In the case above, it’s obvious that the abusers attempted to evade justice by dropping the dog off in a different state. This type of behavior is likely to increase the suspect’s charges and potential penalties.
Have you recently been accused of committing animal abuse? If so, then it’s important to quickly hire a criminal defense attorney that can help. Here at LV Criminal Defense, our team is prepared to help you navigate your charges. Schedule a consultation with us now to get started.