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August
2 , 2006
The
discovery of a sick dog chained for days to a man's back stoop in
Wilmington led to cruelty charges against the alleged offender and
the euthanasia of a brown-spotted white pit bull named Jewel on
Wednesday.
Delaware
SPCA Executive Director John E. Caldwell said officials charged
Bryant I. Cottman, 27, of the 200 block of Delamore Place in Wilmington,
with misdemeanor cruel neglect and failure to provide adequate shelter
for the canine.
According
to court records, SPCA animal control officers Pete Corcoran and
Dave Sloan went to the home on a complaint that a dog was in distress
in a rear yard.
When
officers arrived, they found the unresponsive dog chained and lying
on its side, breathing heavily.
The
ailing dog was taken to the SPCA shelter in Stanton, where its temperature
registered 109.7 degrees -- higher than the normal 100.5 degrees
of a healthy dog, agents said in court records.
Caldwell
said veterinarian Dr. Ryan Eppel diagnosed the 2-year-old animal
as suffering the advanced stages of heat stroke and euthanized the
animal.
An
investigation by animal control agents determined that Cottman was
not the dog's owner and that Cottman said he "found" the
animal about 10 p.m. Monday and was "caring for the dog until
it could be claimed by the dog's legal owner."
Cottman
said he already owned a dog and that he could not keep both dogs
inside his home.
Since
Monday night, the dog had been tied to a rail outside.
Caldwell
said a woman claiming to be the dog's owner showed up at the shelter
Monday and reported her dog stolen.
The
woman, who lives in Murray Manor, said she went to Wilmington, where
her dog was stolen while she was getting water ice. She was later
arrested by police on outstanding warrants, Caldwell said.
The
woman's identity was not immediately known.
Cottman's
pit bull was confiscated Wednesday for failure to have it licensed
in the city, Caldwell said.
If
convicted of the cruelty charges, Cottman faces a $2,500 fine and
will be prohibited from owning an animal for five years. He could
also be fined another $25 to $50 if convicted on the charge of failure
to adequately provide shelter for the dog.
Caldwell
said animal control workers had also received two calls about dogs
being locked in cars in recent days.
"Obviously,
you shouldn't leave your pets in cars," he said. "On a
warm 85-degree day, with the car windows slightly open, the temperature
rises to 102 degrees in a matter of 10 minutes."
Under
those conditions, dogs suffer brain damage, suffocate or die.
Caldwell
said if your pet exhibits heavy panting, rapid pulse or glazed eyes,
is unsteady, staggering or vomiting, hose the animal down with cool
water to bring its body temperature down.
He
also suggested moving the animal to the shade and applying ice packs
and cold towels to the animal's head, neck and chest only.
It
should be given small amounts of cool water to drink or ice cubes
to lick and be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible, Caldwell
said.
Contact
Terri Sanginiti at 324-2771 or tsanginiti@delawareonline.com.
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