By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
It was a different sort of case in Crawford County Municipal Court Wednesday afternoon that ended with county jail time.
Ray Burdine of Crestline was sentenced to 89 days in the Crawford County Justice Center for animal abuse. Burdine was granted a small respite in order to get his affairs in order before he has to report to the county jail in January for his sentence. After he serves his jail time, Burdine will be placed on community control for five years. He will no longer be allowed to have animals on his property.
“This is the first time we’ve had jail time sentenced to one of our cases,” said Victoria Carmean, director of the Humane Society Serving Crawford County. “I hope it will send a message that we can’t have people abusing animals in Crawford County.”
The Humane Society received an anonymous tip concerning a white husky that appeared to have its collar embedded into its skin living at Burdine’s address. When the Humane agent arrived at the home on Aug. 10, she found the male husky with a metal choker chain around his neck. The chain was tied to a clasp which was then tied to a rope. Upon further inspection, the Humane agent noticed the husky’s skin had grown over the chain collar and she was unable to remove it.
A notice that the dog had been seized by the Humane Society and an issuance for a court date was left at the home.
The husky was then taken to a veterinarian where it had to be put under anesthesia for surgery to remove the collar. As part of his sentencing, Burdine must pay the veterinarian’s bill for removing the collar.
The 3-year-old husky has been in the custody of the Humane Society since that date. The Humane Society is actively searching for a foster home or another appropriate home with an experienced husky owner for the dog. The dog is traumatized by collars and special considerations have been made for him. The Humane Society said collars can never be around his neck again and a harness will have to be used instead.
To find out more about the husky, contact the Humane Society Serving Crawford County at 419-562-9149 or visit the Humane Society’s adoption list on its website.