A Travesty of Justice! Abused Dog Returned to Convicted Abuser!
Posted on 2007 under Crimes Against Canines, Furbabies in Need of Help, Just Sad :(, Laws & Legislation, News & Updates |6 Aug
In March this beautiful white Shepherd husky mix dog was found wandering the streets of Somerville, OH with a chain embedded in her neck. The chain had to be surgically removed from her neck.
“(The wound) was so infected, it cleared the office out,” said Jim Wolfe, a volunteer at the animal shelter. “(The smell) was terrible.” The owner, Otis Clark, Jr. 48 of Somerville was charged with animal cruelty, no license and a dog running at large. Initially pleading not guilty, Clark changed his plea to no contest.
The saddest aspect of this case was that Clark refused to surrender the dog, named China. For months she languished in the shelter, unable to be placed in a loving forever home where she wouldn’t be subject to constant chaining and neglect. He said he and his children loved her and wanted her back. Some way of showing it!
But Beverly Cochran of Colerain Township, a volunteer for the Trenton shelter, said leaving a dog chained up so long and so tightly doesn’t show love or concern. Cochran said photos of the dog’s injuries sickened her.
She was among about a half-dozen people who came to court Thursday afternoon to show support for China.
“The sad thing is that there are people lined up wanting to love this dog back to health,” Cochran said.
The dog cannot be offered for adoption unless Judge Rob Lyons orders the dog’s ownership transferred to the Humane Society or unless Clark signs away his rights to the dog. (The Enquirer)
And now the travesty of justice, unbelievably, China, neglect and abused, is being returned to the very person who abused her… who was convicted of abusing her!! What the hell is going on in the mind of that judge?? That man belongs in jail and the poor sweet innocent abused dog belongs in a home where she will be loved and cared for! She does not belong right back where she came from to face the same treatment once again! To face to same outdoor confinement at the end of a chain, a life of neglect and abuse!
People are incensed today a judge returned a Butler County dog to the animal’s owner who pleaded guilty to abusing the animal.
“If a child had been in that same situation, would this judge have returned the child to that environment, without even letting the child protective services people have their say?” said Beverly Cochran, 39, of Colerain Township.
Cochran and other Greater Cincinnati animal lovers on Sunday said Butler County Area I Court Judge Rob Lyons disregarded cries for justice for the dog. They also say he defied common sense by returning China to the home of Otis Clark Jr., 48, in the Butler County village of Somerville.
The dog had been left tied outside so long that a chain embedded in her neck more than an inch deep. It had to be surgically removed, leaving the dog with permanent scars.
“It looked like someone pressed a chain into ground beef, it was that disgusting,” Cochran said. “I never met this dog, but I saw pictures of her injuries, and that was enough for me to care about what happened to her. I’m in disbelief over the judge’s decision. It’s such an injustice. Poor China. She never got her day in court.”
Clark’s lawyer, Dan Hurr, has said his client loved the dog and therefore didn’t want to give her up.
Clark surprised China’s supporters, including Cochran, when he pleaded no contest to an animal cruelty charge July 12 after China had remained in the custody of the Butler County animal shelter for 3½ months.
The plea came one hour before Clark’s scheduled trial, leaving China’s supporters feeling shortchanged. Many had taken time off from work to attend the hearing, only to find out the case was a ‘done deal’ by the time they arrived.
“The judge pulled a fast one on us then and now he has done it again,” Cochran said Sunday.
Leland Gordon, executive director of the Animal Friends Humane Society, said
China’s caretakers felt ambushed when Clark showed up with Lyons’ order in hand Saturday, five days before anyone expected action in the case. Clark had been set for sentencing Thursday.
Gordon’s agency had cared for the animal since she was found roaming loose with the embedded chain March 30.
Some shelter workers were in tears Saturday, distraught over Lyons’ order to return the dog to Clark, and worried about the dog’s well-being, Gordon said.
“So many people were involved in the care of this dog. It would have been nice if the judge or anyone had given us a heads-up that this was happening, just to show a little respect for the work that we do on behalf of animals like her, but that didn’t happen,” he said.
Lyons ordered Clark to reimburse Gordon’s agency for China’s care, and also ordered Clark to take China for veterinary checkups every 90 days. In addition, Lyons ordered Clark ‘to read the book on dog care given to him by the court.’ The order does not say what book was provided or how it was selected.
This sends a really bad message, like, it’s OK if you abuse or neglect a dog, just read up on how not to do it again,” Gordon said. “What if we did that with children?”
Gordon also takes issue with the fact that Lyons ordered the county probation department to keep tabs on Clark’s care of China, leaving animal control officials out of the loop.
“Are the probation officers trained to look for signs of animal abuse and neglect? I don’t think so,” he said. “This is really a slap in the face to the animal control officer who signed the charge against Otis Clark in the first place. The judge did this without ever even talking to her.”
Gordon says he can’t help but feel sorry for the dog.
“If only she could talk, I’m sure she would have told the judge how much pain she had been in and she sure wouldn’t have wanted to go back to the place where she was hurt so badly,” he said. “This is not justice, and if this is accepted in our society, then that’s completely sad.”(The Enquirer)
This is just wrong!!
Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said Monday afternoon that he would refer the case to the appellate division in hopes of having the decision overturned.
Animal welfare activists planned a rally outside Butler County courthouse for Thursday, Aug. 16, from noon to 2 p.m.
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by Lian, on August 7 2007 @ 12:01 am
Otis Clark doesn’t look like he can read, why give him a book. Sorry no second chances allowed for people like him, that judge (Rob Lyons) is a complete incompetent and is in no moral position to judge obviously. He should be doing some other job that does not require him to have any power over the fate of animals and people alike. He’s not qualified as a human being. China has been sentenced to suffering. For what? Because she’s a dog? Why don’t they do the poor dog a favour and shoot her so she doesn’t have to go through this torture again. I can’t believe how stupid people are, especially judges. May he have nightmares for the rest of his life. Why give a low life a beautiful creature to destroy, and it’s sanctioned by this judge!! Is there no justice for animals?
by Patty, on August 16 2007 @ 2:57 pm
First of all, you do not even know Mr. Clark, so for you to judge a man by the way he looks in a photo is unbelievable. To say it looks like he cant read is an outrage. Obviously, the judge saw something in Mr. Clark and agreed to give him a second chance with the dog that he and his family love. We all do things in life that we wish we could change, but all we can do is try to do better in the future. I believe “China” will have a wonderful loving home with her family.
by Lisa, on August 16 2007 @ 8:48 pm
Patty, you are obviously an idiot, or a friend of this man’s family. Let me put it to you this way, since, you just don’t get it. Your child has been raped, stripped of all strength and dignity. The courts decide to give your child some more time with the accused. How would this make you feel? Be careful, karma is a powerful thing.
I happened to do some research on this topic and those in Mr. Lyons county are hiding out. There is a huge uprising and I for one am thrilled!
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES I found out, after some badgering - his email is: parkerb@butlercountyohio.org. WRITE TODAY TO GET THIS DOG RELEASED!!!!
And Patty, I hope you are never a subject of injustice. I’d hate for you to find out the hard way, but maybe that’s what will have to happen before you get it.
Also, for those of you interested in giving these people hell - the number to Judge Lyons office is: 513-523-4748.
by Patty, on August 17 2007 @ 8:31 am
Well Lisa, I am here to tell you I am not an idiot, just trying to be objective to the situation. For you or anyone else to compare what happend with this animal to the rape of a child is outrageous. There is no comparison. The situation is that a dog was injured by the neglect of its owner. I believe it is very rude of you to judge someone you don’t even know, including me. I am just as upset about the situation as anyone else is.
by Lisa, on August 17 2007 @ 10:45 am
Patty, I love how people tell you not to judge as they sit and judge others…very funny. Also, I can compare this issue to whatever I see fit. For those of us who are not able to have children, our pets ARE our children. You are part of the problem, that ongoing group of people that think “it’s just a dog” and doesn’t deserve the same care that “human” children do. Do you know what one of the Webster’s dictionary definitions of “rape” is? “Any act of plunder, violence, abuse, despolation or violation.” So you see dear Patty, not only children or even women can be the victims of rape. There IS a comparison. You just don’t want to see it. I have a dog that was neglected and abused by a former owner and I would be just as devistated if she were put back in his care. I guess it’s the age old story - you won’t “get it” until it happens to you….and it might.
by stacey, on August 17 2007 @ 12:57 pm
I have been listening to this bull for entirely too long to not say anything. I am a friend of Otis Clark, Jr, and the way the media has spun this an outrage to this man, not the dog. This was an accident. This collar was placed on the dog in early winter because Shadow(which is her real name) kept breaking her run. The collar was purchased at walmart where the packaging suggested it would keep the dog from breaking free. (Which was true) The dogs coat became very thick over the winter. A ten year old boy cared for the dog. This dog lived on a “dog run” that ran the depth of the family yard. The run was at least 100 foot long. In the spring when the family went to turn the dog out and clean her up from the winter (i.e. shave and bath) they discovered the collar embedded in her neck. They immediately went and bought a harness for the dog so the embedded collar was not going to be used. While they were trying to determine the best way to handle the situation(pay a vet to remove it or could they give the dog pain meds and remove it themselves) Shadow broke her run and was found by a neighbor. The neighbor then took the dog to the animal shelter. When the dog warden came to the house, Mr Otis Clark, being the man of the house obviously spoke with the warden. He explained the situation. This warden in turn took the dog and did what ever it is the do to get charges brought against him.
Now some could say that I am saying these things because I am a friend of the family. But because I am a friend of the family I was actually present the day after the collar was found. I was present when the family discussed how to handle the situation. I was present when, this man struggled with how he was going to pay for surgery for this dog. Yes he is responsible for the welll being of this dog. And yes he should be held accountable for this incident, however he is the monster the media has portrayed him to be.
Haven’t any of you ever hurt some one unnintentionally? Should you have been deemed a monster and an abuser. This man has recieved death threats. He has endured a ridiculous amount of hate mail and verbal bashing in the news and the papers.
This dog is happy and healthy. She was not dehydrated nor malnourished when she was found and she was so friendly the dog warden took her to her personal home where she was kept until she was picked up by Otis Clark, Jr.
The lesson in this story is for people to only believe none of what they hear and half of what they see. The golden rule is to treat others as you want to be treated. So unless you want to be ridiculed and demonstritized the next time you make a mistake, LAY OFF THIS MAN. The media did not get this side of the story and the dog warden and SPCA have used it there advantage. There donations increase tremondously when there are cases like this tried in the media.
I look forward to all the comments I get back on this posting. And Thank You Patty for actually thinking things through and realizing there had to be another side to the story.
by stacey, on August 17 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Oh, my apologies I forgot to ask why Walmart and the manufacturer of this collar are allowed to distribute this product. If Mr Clark could not have purchased this horrible device none of this would have happened. so Please if you need to fight for the animals you love so dearly, direct your anger in that direction not Mr Clark.
by Convicted Abuser May be in Hot Water Again - China Living a Life of Neglect - CALL TO ACTION! | Animal Advocacy | Current Dog News, Tips and Information for You and Your Canine Companion, on May 1 2008 @ 10:58 am
[...] August after pleading no contest to animal abuse, in a move that angered a nation, Otis Clarke Jr. was awarded custody back of China, the dog he was convicted on abusing. Now he may be facing animal abuse charges again as it looks like China, the dog he so loved that [...]