Saturday, October 3, 2009

Our newly elected judge: Sometimes you feel very good about your vote

In November of last year we had to elect a new District Court judge. Each judge had a web site where we could ask questions via email, etc. I asked both attorneys who were hopeful to sit on the bench the same question: What is your legal opinion concerning animal abuse and neglect? Elizabeth Church answered my question very thoughtfully. The other candidate did not reply, even with a canned response. Elizabeth Church was elected in November. It looks like a good choice was made for the animals of Chippewa County. 

Our country needs more jurists who see the abuse of animals not only as a crime, but indicative  of other mental and emotional disorders and apply the law accordingly. People who abuse animals rarely hold human beings in high esteem. I will be watching closely how this plays out and will blog about the outcome. I have a feeling that I will be pleased - but, only time will tell.

Brimley man arraigned in dog-stabbing incident

By Scott Brand
Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Thu Oct 01, 2009, 10:35 AM EDT

BRIMLEY — Michigan State Police have made one arrest following a Tuesday incident in Superior Township that left a dog laid up at a local veterinary clinic with a serious stab wound.

Maqwanibwit “Bucky” Deuman, 19, of Brimley was arrested immediately following the incident after state troopers completed the initial phase of their investigation. A fixed-blade knife was also recovered at the scene while the dog was conveyed to a local vet for treatment.

Reports indicate a woman was walking the lab mix along Pleasant Street in Brimley when the dog sustained a single stab wound through the rib cage.

The involved parties apparently had a different version of events for investigators. The owner of the dog claimed the man called the unleashed dog over to him before inflicting the wound. In the man's version of events the dog came after him apparently forcing him to use the knife in self defense.

Deuman was arraigned before Judge Elizabeth Church in the 91st District Court Wednesday on a felony charge of animal torture. If convicted he faces up to four years in prison.

Deuman remains lodged in the Chippewa County Jail with bond set at $100,000.


21 comments:

JacksDad said...

Why would the man have a knife out when the dog came over? That sounds fishy to me!

Scout and Freyja said...

Why would a man have a knife out? You'd have to know the area and the amount of alcoholism and the fact that most of the youth have dropped out of high school. What you and I would consider to be really ugly behavior, that area demographic considers to be humorous.

The Oceanside Animals said...

Glad they're pursuing the case!

CA Verstraete said...

Thanks for stopping by! Now I know why you liked my dog pic. Love your dog pix! Happy Pink Saturday!
Chris Verstraete
Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery Friends, a dog, dollhouses and a search for a missing mini Van Gogh!

Martha said...

We are also pleased that the case is being pursued!
As a complete aside we just loaded a new blog background tonight to cheer our blog up - it is exactly the same as yours which just goes to show what good taste we both have!!
love
Martha & Bailey xxx

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Let's hope good triumphs ovFUR evil again!

Tank woo fur sharing!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Two French Bulldogs said...

We sure are glad they are looking into this one
Benny & Lily

♥I am Holly♥ said...

I'm so glad the one you voted for was elected. As far as the guy that stabbed the dog...I can only hope that he gets the penalty he deserves.

Anonymous said...

We're glad that the elected judge is concerned about animal abuse because it definitely is an indication of deep emotional problems that often turn to abuse of people. We hope the guy that stabbed the dog has to pay for the vet bill and gets to spend a lot of time in jail and gets some psychiatric counseling.

Teddy Bear said...

Some people just don't get it. I'm so glad that your new judge has a heart for animals.:)

Love,
Teddy Bear

Glennis said...

Hi, Scott - you left a comment on my site flaming my post where I explained why I chose not to adopt a dog that a friend suggested I check out.

Are you really suggesting that it would be better if I adopted a dog I knew I couldn't handle?

The dog is a good dog, but not the right dog for me. He is still being kept at my friend's house, and I am helping my friend find him a good home.

I am not the right owner for this dog. Do you really think I did the wrong thing by not adopting him?

Why did my post make you so angry?

Glennis said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Dexter said...

Hey guys! Your bloggy is making some very odd windows pop up on my computer. Do you think there is a link there you do not know about?

Slobbers,
Mango

Dexter said...

We did not get any weird pop up. Don't know what could have happened.

Hey! We backed a town official guy who cared about doggies too,but he lost.

Slobbers,
Mango

Anonymous said...

It has been proven is numerous studies that people who abuse and/or killing animals end up abusing and killing people.

This guy knew he was going to hurt that dog, otherwise he wouldn't have called it over to me (why would the vitness lie about hearing that). I hope they punish him!

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to all you animal lovers out there but the DOG OWNER should be charged for not having their dog on a leash!Had the owner had CONTROL over their animal this would not have happened PERIOD.
I live in the area and so many dog owners seem to think that it is ok to let their pitbulls and other dogs outside without leashes, even the best behaved dog may not listen in ALL situations and all dogs are capable of biting.I would not hesitate to stab or hurt a dog that I feared was going to bite or attack me and after reading this article looks like the owner is fair game too, if I'm looking at going to jail for 4 years for defending myself. The U.P. is so backwards it's disgusting!

Scout and Freyja said...

WOW! I sense a lot of anger in your tone. Let's see, dogs in the city, by law, must be on a leash. Dogs in the country, no. The dog was CALLED over by the person who attacked it, the dog did not approach the person on its own. I am totally proud of the attitude of our judge and by all who fight for animal rights here where I live.

You sound more like a pit-bull than most pit-bulls! In fact, I think you'd be in prison for much more than four years if you consider the owner of the dog fair game, too. Goodness, you certainly are an angry person. Have you had your shots☺

Anonymous said...

I am angry because 1 we don't get the whole story.we get he said she said. where you there to hear the guy call the dog? no neither was I but I did read that the dog was unleashed and face it people lie. If your dog were unleashed and went to attack someone would you honestly say that it did? Probably not to keep yourself out of trouble. I have been bit before and 2 of my children have been chased down by loose dogs. As I said before I live in the area and loose dogs are an EVERYDAY occurance. Maybe if more dog owners were held liable for their dogs crap like this wouldn't be happening

Anonymous said...

by the way, I do love animals and own 2 dogs myself. I love my dogs more then most people. They have been there for me no matter what is going on in my life unlike alot of people. I so wanted to be a vet but life had other plans for me. and not sure what the UP considers city or country but Brimley is a town so wouldn't the leash laws apply?

Scout and Freyja said...

I know that the city, Sault Sainte Marie, has leash laws; however, Chippewa county does not. All it asks is that the owner has control of their dog.

And - who has a kitchen knife handy - outside - when a dog just happens to walk by to attack? Something is very fishy, if you ask me.

From what I understand, the person who hurt the animal has been in trouble before for animal cruelty. Now, leashed or not, if someone called one of my dogs to them and then knifed my dog I can honestly say that I wouldn't be responsible for what I would do because I know I'd be literally out of my mind with anger.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how all of this plays out in court. However, people who knife a living being after feigning friendship just seconds before should be dealt with heavily, IMHO, because those same people hurt children and the elderly.

I don't want to get into a tit for tat with you. Let's just wait and see what all of the evidence is when this is tried in court. Unless, a plea bargain takes place...

Anonymous said...

well I'm thinking that Chippewa County should change their leash laws to include any surrounding towns. Guess that owner didn't have control of their dog if they let it get stabbed! and no where does it say kitchen knife, it says a fixed blade knife.It could have been a hunting knife for all you know and whenever I go outside I do have something on me for my protection because loose dogs are such a problem in this area. And of course there's gonna be a plea bargain we live in chippewa county! LMAO!