Posted on 01/11/2002 10:19:02 AM PST by Olydawg
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Perhaps he was just being cheap, maybe he actually believed he could do it better or maybe he just didn't know better.
But authorities in Broward County continue to scratch their heads after learning about the man who needlessly neutered his own dog.
Jose Noel Rugama, 54, who is not a veterinarian, was arrested Dec. 19 at his home and charged with felony cruelty to animals after a female housemate reported the do-it-yourself excision to investigators.
Authorities say Rugama used a single-edged razor to perform the delicate surgery on Elvis, his pet Chihuahua. Rugama says he performed the procedure in order to remove a tumor in the dog's groin. Woefully, there was no such tumor and Rugama ended up removing one of the dog's testicles.
The dog was taken to Coral Springs Animal Hospital where it has made a full recovery. Remarkably, the amateur surgeon seemed to know exactly where to cut and did not severely harm the dog, authorities said, adding that it is surprising how trusting and calm Elvis has remained after the assault.
"[Rugama] assaulted a defenseless creature without using any anesthetic," said Hugh Graff, a spokesman for the Broward County Sheriff's Office. "But even after having suffered this horrible, traumatic experience, Elvis is still in good spirits."
A search of Rugama's home following the arrest uncovered a cache of weapons, including a .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .308-caliber rifle, a 1942 Enfield .0303 rifle, a Beretta pistol and a Taurus .357 revolver. Along with the weapons being confiscated, authorities also removed another Chihuahua named Priscilla, a rottweiler, two pythons and several fish and birds. The dogs will be put up for adoption.
Graff told Court TV that a judge denied Rugama bond after an investigation into the animal cruelty charge drew attention to a 1993 Palm Beach County warrant that accuses Rugama of manslaughter while driving under the influence.
"It's especially satisfying to know that this idiot will not be leaving jail anytime soon," Graff said.
Check. I'm thinking of reworking this weekend's amateur lobotomy fest into more of a fondue-and-movies event, myself.
Bwaah hah hah hah...
Quick, we must save the goldfish! Heh heh heh...
Abadolb dolp dolp duh.
Your post is as relevent as mine. Thought you would like to know I have a high opinion of you and consider you as an equal. Now don't make me change my mind!
Priscilla, it has been determined, was licensed last year in Broward County with the name 'Prince'...
The article says the guy did seem to know what he was doing.
Remarkably, the amateur surgeon seemed to know exactly where to cut and did not severely harm the dog, authorities said,
IHO the only stupid thing this guy did was take his dog to the vet after performing this operation. (His girlfriend probably talked him into it)
My granddad castrated cats by shoving the cat, head first into a boot and putting a rubber band around its testicles. He also castrated pigs and bulls.
Such operations are easily with in the competence of any reasonably intelligent individual and have been performed by farmers for centuries.
Probably his big mistake is in his choice of live in female companion who had more empathy with the dog than with him.
If you own firearms, even totally legally, even if none of them are "assault weapons" (there doesn't appear to be any menacing-looking pistols or centerfire semi-auto rifles in this list), normal crimes will get you a much, much greater penalty. Sometimes, when they would have considered letting you off, they'd arrest you instead.
"You no hav to worry bout' me chica, tegno uno cahone"
No, but the wife uses earplugs if she's the one to hold the squirmin' little squealers.
I don't know what size boot you would use for a chihuahua.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.