I usually do not offer my opinion when it comes to punishment for a crime and in this case you don't want to hear it so whatever the "harshest penalty" is decided by the prosecutor's office, double it! ~ Storm'n Norm'n
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A Bellingham man annoyed by a barking dog was formally charged with
felony animal cruelty Friday, Sept. 19, for shooting his neighbors’
corgi in their backyard. ~ Photo from Bellingham Herald
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By: Associated Press
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Corgi owners around the nation are rallying
around a slain Washington state dog, calling for the harshest penalty for the
man charged with killing Molly, a Pembroke Welsh corgi.
A Facebook page called "Justice for Molly the Corgi"
has garnered nearly 5,000 followers as of Saturday. The corgi owners are
spearheading a letter-writing campaign to the Whatcom County prosecutors'
office, imploring them to seek the harshest penalty against David William
Latham, 55.
"When writing letters, push for the harshest penalties for
this case but BE RESPECTFUL," one of the Facebook posts said.
One family from New Hampshire, whose dog just had a litter of
pups, offered to drive across the country to deliver a new corgi puppy to the
bereaved Bellingham family of Cary Chunyk and Loyce Andrews, The Bellingham
Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1mrpxAJ).
Latham was charged Friday with first-degree animal cruelty and
two misdemeanors: brandishing a weapon and second-degree criminal trespassing.
On Sept. 13, Latham was annoyed at a barking dog, so he armed
himself with a rifle, walked across the street, aimed over a fence and shot
Molly in front of her owners. Molly was not the dog barking, charging documents
said.
After shooting Molly in the chest, Chunyk yelled at the shooter,
but retreated when Latham raised both of his arms with one hand still holding a
rifle.
In the chaos just after the shooting, authorities told the
couple they should stay home until the gunman was arrested. So they cradled
Molly, and wrapped her in towels, as she bled for a half-hour before dying.
"I wanted to get her into the car and get her on the
road," Andrews said. "I've had animals all my life, and it was
obvious she was seriously hurt."
The Whatcom County veterinarian who performed a necropsy said
Molly likely was in a lot of pain as she died.
Police noted Latham "appeared to be fairly intoxicated and
had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath," according to the charges.
Officers recovered nine guns from his home.
On Friday, Superior Court Judge Deborra Garrett ordered Latham
to surrender his beagle. The dog was transferred to the Humane Society. He's
allowed to keep two cats he's owned for about eight years. He remains out on
bail.
In a statement, Latham's attorney, Adrian Madrone, said his
client "is extremely regretful and remorseful for his actions. He is a
lifelong animal owner, and is very sorry for the pain he has caused. We simply
ask that we be allowed to give his side of the story through the legal process
before judgment is passed."
This week, Chunyk and Andrews have been "totally
overwhelmed" by letters and messages of sympathy. They hope Molly's death
will be a flashpoint for stronger animal-cruelty laws.
"People love their animals like children. So we're going to
get this turned into something positive," Andrews said. "The
outpouring of support has been phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal."
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