Update – 12/18/08 – “I Am Guilty,” says Juvenile Abuser
Yellow, the retriever/lab mix, that was shot in the leg with an arrow, shot in the face and head with birdshot and an attempt even made to drag the dog, all done allegedly by a 13 year old, is recovering well.
The community rallied around the tortured dog when the word got out about what was done to him. Yellow, a well loved stray by many members of the community of Dublin, GA is still just a sweet and friendly and he always was, with a tail wag for anyone and always ready for a pet.
Earlier this week he underwent surgery to close the gaping wound in his muzzle cause by a blast of buckshot to the face. A skin graft was used to close the hole and during the surgery quantities of pellets were removed although not all. Some will either stay or eventually work their way to the surface naturally.
They also close the wound in his hind leg caused by the razor sharp, three-blade hunting arrow which was embedded in the dog’s bone. Yellow will also be blind in one eye. Pellets remain in the eye and they are using a topical solution to prevent infection to hopefully save the eye.
For everything that this pooch has been through Yellow greets visitors at Shamrock Pet Care and by his demeanor, you couldn’t tell he was almost tortured to death just three weeks ago.
“He makes friends with everybody,” said Wanda Woodard, co-owner of the emergency veterinary clinic. “He makes everybody feel like they’re his owner.”
In about 10 days he’ll have his stitches removed. “We have to watch really carefully to make sure the skin takes,” Dr. Beverly Hickman said.
As for Yellow’s future, no one has come forward to claim him and although many people have offered to adopt him, a different course has been chartered for Yellow. He’s going to be put to work.
Hickman and Woodard said the clinic has decided to put Yellow into service as a “therapy dog” in the Dublin area so he can visit battered women’s shelters, assisted-living communities and other facilities to raise residents’ spirits.
“It’s so he can give back to the community that’s given so much to him,” Hickman said. “That way he can give back to everybody.”
For a dog that has gone through what he has and has still managed to keep his loving nature, this is probably the best thing that could happen to him. He get all the love, pets and nuzzles a dog could possibly want and be an inspriration to many.
A 13-year-old Laurens County juvenile is charged with three counts of animal cruelty for allegedly shooting Yellow in the face with birdshot, in the leg by an arrow from a compound bow, and for attempting to drag the dog by the neck from behind an ATV. He’ll appear in Lauren County Juvenile Court on November 11 and is in the custody of his parents for now.
Another happy thought!
Happy news at least the dog is recooping and doing well… all this doen by another kid that should make his parents proud.. wonder what they think of thier little bundle now doing sucha thing…. but at least the dog looks well and is happy such love of the ourest kind come from dogs they forgive so easeily humans should take note and learn from them the world would be better off
Abuse and neglect often make me feel that I hate some people. I have to remind myself that I do not hate people; I hate the acts of some people.
Thank you for doing what you do.
Is this monster of a "child" going to get away with this because he is a juvenile? I truly hope not. If he can do this to an innocent animal, this is only the beginning, imagine what he can continue to do as he gets older. This will not stop. Thank goodness Yellow was able to get away from him and Thank God for the wonderful people of this town who helped him…They are truly wonderful to this special dog. I am happy for him that he survived. Now I hope that monster gets what's coming to him.
2 hear that Yellow is doing well…maybe that little sh** will fall off his killer 4 wheeler n b hurt….
hang in there Yellow, u're gonna b alright sweet dude…
I'm so Happy that Yellow is doing better!! I think that he will be Great as a therapy dog! I think that they should take that 13 year old punk boy,and drag him behind a atv,shoot him with a arrow in the leg, and torture him like he tortured poor Yellow. Put the kid in jail and throw away the key!!!!
I would like to know what kind of parents would allow a 13 year-old to have free access to a compound bow with hunting arrows, a shotgun with ammo, and a 4-wheeler ATV. A minor should never have access to such items except under very close adult supervision. The parents ought to be investigated for neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor!
I feel so sorry for the dog it's a shame the dog just wanted to be loved thank god he is going to be all most ok I just hope someone please take the dog in and give him a good home for the rest of his life I feel so sorry when I read things like this it makes me want to give them all a good home and I wish I could …..jeffrey
IN THE CUSTODY OF HIS PARENTS…
EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH THAT SENTENCE!
those people are not parents and he should be incarcerated in some kind of facility….hospital, jail – whatever…
it is not safe for any living creature with him on the loose. he has proved that loud and clear. and, why no charges against the parents? why are not the parents made to pay for the dog's care?
sad to say but we will have to wait until he does something like this to a child or elderly or incapacitated person…then everyone will cry….oh, how did this happen…here is why….once proven not fit for society…take them out of society… period!
Great news for the dog. What's the update on the ignorant, souless, future killer of America??? What kind of parents does he have? Perhaps he needs to be in a juvenile facility until he is eighteen and then monitored until he is 21 and then possibly he will grow up and get a real heart away from his present envirnoment. Another taxpayer burden on the rise!!!
I THINK THIS CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THAT HOME IMMEDIATLY. THESE ARE NOT PARENTS BY ANY MEANS. 1 THING WRONG WITH THIS WORLD IS PARENTS TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN TO HUNT. SHIT HERE IN WV THERE ARE PARENTS WHO TEACH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 3 YEARS OLD TO HUNT. DOES ANYBODY AGREE WITH ME THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE????? NOW WE HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WHERE THE F… ARE HIS SO CALLED PARENTS????? I AGREE WITH NO 7 CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER EVER BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE TYPE OF WHEAPONS WITHOUT SUPERVISION BUT I STILL SAY THIS IS TOO YOUNG FOR ANY CHILD TO BE HANDLING THEM WITH OR WITHOUT SUPERVISION!!!!!!!!!!!! I THINK A PERSON SHOULD BE AT LEAST 18 TO BE ABLE TO HUNT. I KNOW I'LL PROBABLY GET A LOT OF BULL…. FORM A LOT OF HUNTERS BUT I'M SORRY I WILL ALWAYS STAND BESIDE THIS.
Good news – there is an update on Yellow…Since his surgical stitches were removed, his handsome face is shining. He's been out this last week with the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign bellringers – and drawing crowds!
More critically, the juvenile pled guilty in court on Monday…If you want updated photos, just email me! Yellow is one of my favorite subjects!
Here's the story I filed:
Animal Cruelty Case
Juvenile Pleads Guilty in Cruelty to Yellow
12/16/08
By TERRY WOLF, the Courier Herald, Dublin GA
“I am guilty.”
With those words, the 13-year-old charged with shooting Yellow, a former stray Golden Retriever, wiped a tear from his eye.
Just as the first witness was to be called in the animal cruelty case, the juvenile’s defense attorney, Alana Devaney-Jackson, informed the court her client wanted to change his plea to guilty. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one felony count. The felony count was due to the permanent damage caused when the dog was shot in the face at close range with a shotgun.
Dr. Beverly Hickman, the veterinarian at Shamrock Pet Care who treated Yellow, has said the dog is now blind in his right eye and his sense of smell has drastically been affected due to the shotgun blast. Over 100 bird shot pelted the dog’s face and remain embedded there today. The brunt of the blast shattered the dog’s nose and left a crater over an inch in diameter and equally as deep. That wound required specialized surgery, which was paid through local, national and international donations.
With both his parents in the courtroom, the juvenile stood red-faced with swollen eyes before Judge Bill Tribble.
“You are charged with committing cruelty to animals in Laurens County on October 12, 2008 for the unjustifiable shooting with arrow in violation of the official code of Georgia 16-12-4b,” Tribble said to the defendant as he read the charges. “Count two, also misdemeanor cruelty to animals committed on the same date for dragging the animal from a 4-wheeler. Count three, a felony cruelty to animals for knowingly and maliciously causing harm by seriously disfiguring the animal’s face.”
The judge called on Assistant District Attorney Terry Holland to state the facts of the case.
“On October 12, 2008, a neighbor of the defendant heard what he thought was a gunshot sound. Shortly after that he saw a dog and someone he could not identify at that point,” stated Holland. “He saw the individual take a rope and tie it to a 4-wheeler and attempt to drag the dog. Neighbors called law enforcement and they found a badly injured dog… shot in the face at close range with a shotgun and shot in the leg with an arrow. Upon investigation officers went about the neighborhood and found a 4-wheeler fitting the description.”
Holland said Laurens County Sheriff’s deputies questioned the juvenile and his father. “The young man stated he had indeed shot the dog with a bow and arrow and after that attempted to do further harm with a shotgun and attempted to drag it away.”
Although the hearing was closed in accordance with juvenile code, the juvenile’s family, witnesses, court officers and child advocates listened intently as the judge addressed the defendant.
“The first two offenses are misdemeanors,” Tribble said to the juvenile. “The third is a felony and a much more serious offense. Here is what happens when you enter an admission of guilt – you no longer have a right to a trial, you lose your presumption of innocence and you can no longer subpoena witnesses or testify. Are you freely and voluntarily admitting the charges?”
“I am guilty,” the juvenile said.
In order to be certain, the judge asked the juvenile,” are you sure… would you like to withdraw your plea?”
“I would like to plead guilty,” the juvenile said.
A disposition hearing, or sentencing hearing, will be scheduled in January 2009, at which time a psychological evaluation ordered by Judge Tribble will be reviewed. The report will be considered in the sentence the judge imposes on the juvenile.
“We will be reviewing all the psychological reports and looking at a suitable recommendation to the court,” said District Attorney Craig Fraser. “I’m proud to see the young man stepped up to take responsibility for his actions.”
Until the January hearing, Tribble ordered the juvenile must remain under house arrest, which the judge first imposed in mid-November when the juvenile was arraigned on the charges.
The judge released the juvenile to the custody of his father but instructed him to have no contact with any of the witnesses in the case, and he is not allowed to be in the possession of any firearms, bow and arrows or weapons.
“I would like to come back during the disposition hearing,” said Dr. Hickman. “I’d like to address the court, as I’m sure others would, before he decides the sentence.”
Under state code, the judge may consider probation, restitution community service, an institution or commit the juvenile to the Department of Juvenile Justice.