RIP Clara The grand jury “had information not previously disclosed to the public,” said Skandalakis. The grand jury members heard detailed testimony from Newnan Police Sgt. Brent Blankenship, the lead investigator on the case, Skandalakis said. The evidence the Grand Jury considered included witness statements made shortly after the incident occurred, humane society records detailing a prior incident involving Clara and her disposition around other animals and veterinary records concerning the wounds to both canines and the decision made to euthanize Clara,” Skandalakis said in a press release. The members of the grand jury had the opportunity to question Blankenship “regarding some inaccurate information which has been circulating in public forums,” Skandalakis said. One question jury members asked was whether Hayes had made derogatory comments about pit bulls shortly before the incident. There was no witness corroboration that those comments had ever be made, Skandalakis said. Hayes did “make a derogatory statement about pit bulls after the stabbing,” Skandalakis said. The jury also heard about Clara’s history and the extent of her injuries. Clara had a history of dog-related aggression and a high prey drive. “She did well around people. She just didn’t do well around other animals,” Skandalakis said. According to the report from the pet hospital, Clara sustained three wounds, one of which was superficial. There was a 2cm triangular deep wound in her shoulder blade and a 2cm deep wound to the shoulder. The report states that Clara was “bright and alert” but bleeding profusely, and had lost approximately one liter of blood. The decision to euthanize her was made based on “her lack of adoptability, the extensiveness of her wounds and her history of dog related aggression,” according to the report. Hayes dog Lexie sustained two puncture wounds behind her right ear and had pain in her neck, according to the vet report. The report from Banfield states that “at initial exam I believed that the pet only had a few puncture wounds but based on further observation I believe that the pet may need sedation with a drain placed because of the extent of the wounds.” The vet at Banfield recommended that Hayes take Lexie to the emergency vet in Union City. At the Union City emergency clinic, Lexie was given x-rays, antibiotics, pain medicine, and eye ointment. The overwhelming evidence supports the grand jury’s conclusion that Mr. Hayes was acting in defense of his pet which was being attacked by the other canine,” he said. Georgia law defines aggravated cruelty to animals as when a person knowingly and maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animals body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal.” The law states that it doesn’t prohibit someone from “defending his or her person or property, or the person or property of another, from injury or damage being caused by an animal” or “injuring or killing an animal reasonably believed to constitute a threat for injury or damage to any property, livestock, or poultry. Skandalakis could have made the decision on whether or not to charge Hayes himself, but decided to take it to the grand jury. “Because this was a community event that had generated some publicity,” he decided to “put this before the grand jury and see how they felt about it.” “The grand jury heard the evidence we have in this case and applied the law as set forth by the legislature. This was a tragic event but the grand jury got it right and declined to file charges. Emotions always run high in cases involving animals and as a pet owner I understand how people feel about these types of cases, but you can’t make a decision to charge a person with a crime based upon emotions when the facts and the law say otherwise.” “I believe the grand jury felt Mr. Hayes was justified in taking the actions he did to protect his beloved pet and the law supports him in his actions,” Skandalakis said. I support the findings of the grand jury.”https://facebook/newnantimesherald/photos/a.10150895746507261.397932.281815052260/10152349409387261/?type=1&theater
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 23:36:02 +0000