I wish the authorities would decide whether dogs are chattel or sentient beings. If they are chattel, the guy should not only walk, he shouldn’t be prosecuted at all. If, on the other hand, they are sentient beings, then not only should the book be thrown at this guy, but also there are an awful lot of cops who should face equal charges for shooting family dogs for no reason, (not all of which were fatal shots ... in case the cruelty angle is important here). Whatever the decision is (and I do have a preference) it should be consistently applied to everyone.
As I said in my other post, animals ARE chattel but they are also living beings. I’m not sure about the definition of “sentient” but they are alive. And yes, cops who kill family pets should certainly be brought under greater scrutiny that if they shot up your couch. I actually think all this is encompassed in the word “chattel” but I could be wrong.
This man did not take a lot of responsibility for his dog. I think a prior poster made a good point as to abandoned property.
Should he have been prosecuted, I don’t know, but he had a HELL of a lot of nerve to expect the animal to be returned to him.
I actually think this is a rather important story in terms of what it says about our country.
We should probably be thankful that those who rescued the poor dog weren’t charged with some crime.
Remember the California public servants who let the man drown because, I don’t remember why. Here’s the link:
Our country is dying, like an abandoned dog.
How can we be saved?