After jail time and then some, Animal Abuser to make Charitable Contribution every year on Abused Dog’s Birthday.
In 2019, this innocent, sweet-loving dog suffered repeated horrific beatings which deformed the top of his skull and fractured over 25 bones primarily around his eyes, jaw, skull and back. Attorney Thom Page had the privilege of acting as his court appointed volunteer legal advocate in the criminal proceeding against his abuser, which commenced in 2019 as well. Connecticut’s precedent-setting 2016 law allows an animal advocate to participate in these proceedings (most states have no such law).
The defendant plead to 4 counts of Cruelty to Animals for a sentence of 364 days of incarceration with 1.5 months of that to currently serve and 3 years of probation for each count, running consecutively for a total effective sentence of 1,456 days / 6 months to serve / 3 years probation. Should the defendant violate the terms of his probation, he could easily serve the full 1,456 days, or almost 4 years. Conditions of probation require he be enrolled in the mental health probation program, attend anger management classes, and make a $25 charitable contribution to an animal charity every year on the dog’s birthday, have no new arrests, and that he cannot “harbor, own, possess, reside with, adopt or serve as a foster placement for any animal, and shall not be employed by, or volunteer for, any entity in any position that involves care for, or regular contact with, any animal.”
Of course this is not harsh enough punishment. However, this is unfortunately as good a victory as we can expect for now, given the inherent risks in any trial and the still much needed greater awareness of the value of man’s best friend to become finally and firmly imbedded in the laws concerning animals. With that in mind, Assistant State’s Attorney Abby Marchinkoski did a commendable job bringing this matter to the best resolution possible.
The best part of this story is the happy ending for Socks: “This is our boy now!
I want to extend our sincerest gratitude to Thom Page and all the advocates and care givers involved in Socks’ case. He lives quite the life now! He has a dog walker, sleeps on the couch, enjoys lazy nights watching TV under the stars and just overall loves every one he meets.”
