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1/21/09: Man Who Filed Dog's Teeth To Gumline Belongs In Jail |
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UPDATE: 75 Days In Jail For Man Who Mutilated Dog's Teeth SOURCE: 2/10/09 — Emilie Bottiggi Emilie is a Kinship Circle member who brought this case to our attention, helped research our alert, and has followed the case closely. CHRISTOPHER BARNETT'S PENALTIES / CLASS A MISDEMEANOR ANIMAL ABUSE • 75 days' jail time (similar cases usually get 48 hours, even though 11 months/29 days is possible) • 100 hours of public (community) service • Mandatory anger management class • $5,071.50 in restitution costs for the care of Lucas to the Humane Society of Warren County • No future ownership of domestic animals, with exception of horses. Barnett is a farrier by occupation. • Surrender of Barnett's Boxer to Humane Society (the Boxer was in custody of Humane Society since seizure of Lucas). THE SENTENCING / 11 ANIMAL ADVOCATES WERE PRESENT In January 2009, Christopher Barnett. of McMinnville TN (Warren County), was convicted of Class A Misdemeanor Animal Abuse. Barnett was accused/convicted in a jury trial of filing Siberian Husky Lucas' teeth down to the gums. Thanks to the many animal advocates who wrote, emailed, faxed, or called principal contacts. Thank you to Kinship Circle for notifying the wider animal advocate community about this case. CHANCES FOR A NEW TRIAL AND APPEAL? Mr. Barnett reports to jail on March 13, 2009. If he/his attorney file for a "new trial," they must do so no later than March 11, 2009. We feel confident that this conviction/sentencing will stand. We will not know until March 11 what Barnett and his attorney will do. HOW IS LUCAS TODAY? Lucas underwent multiple surgeries at Sparta Road Veterinary Clinic and recovered last year. Seven unsalvageable teeth were extracted and 16 root canals performed, relieving Lucas' pain and allowing him to eat. The Warren County Humane Society oversaw Lucas' adoption into a new family. • Dog severely beaten, teeth filed down to gumline McMinnville, TN (US) • Additional Research From Emilie Bottiggi, Kinship Circle • Additional Research From Terri Kelley, Kinship Circle Investigative Aide • Man Faces Jail Time For Dog Abuse • Witnesses: Man Beat Dog Before Teeth Filing • Accused Dog Abuser Faces Felony Charge • Demand Justice for Lucas, Pure Bred Husky Horribly Abused • Man Punishes Dog By Grinding Its Teeth • Man Beat Dog, Then Filed Teeth, Witnesses Say 
MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. — A man in McMinnville is looking at jail time for abusing his Alaskan husky, Lucas. A jury
found Chris Barnett guilty of animal cruelty for filing down the dog's teeth last year. Barnett, who has worked in a veterinarian's office in the
past, said he was trying to keep Lucas from chewing up wiring at his home. Barnett faces up to a year in jail when sentenced. Man Faces Jail Time For Dog Abuse
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CONTACT INFORMATION + SAMPLE LETTER
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CONTACT INFORMATION • Print/Send This Letter
EMAIL BLOCK, all emails found for this alert: lszavogiannis@tndagc.org, wcexecutive@blomand.net, admin@warrentn.org, carolc@blomand.net, mayor@mcminnvilletenn.com, bobbykirby@blomand.net, rep.charles.curtiss@legislature.state.tn.us, rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov, rep.janis.sontany@capitol.tn.gov, eric@votestewart.com, sen.eric.stewart@legislature.state.tn.us, sen.doug.jackson@capitol.tn.gov, phil.bredesen@state.tn.us *Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Emails from government, corporate, or institute websites may be incorrect. Back to top SAMPLE LETTER • Print/Send This Letter Dear Judge Stanley, Ms. Lisa Zavogiannis, and Government Officials of Warren County, McMinnville, and the State of Tennessee: I am concerned about the case of Christopher Barnett, a McMinnville, TN man who claims his rights as an "owner" justify the February 16, 2008 mutilation of his Alaskan husky, Lucas. Barnett's violent actions rank as felony aggravated animal cruelty. Witnesses saw Barnett beat Lucas and then chisel off the dog's teeth until root and nerve were exposed on at least 16 uppers and 14 lowers. The year and a half old dog's head "jerked back and forth," one witness said, as Barnett ran a saw-like tool through the dog's mouth. I urge officials to levy the maximum felony penalty of two years in prison plus a $3,000 fine. Please ensure Barnett undergoes psychological counseling and is barred from possessing or living with animals. Lucas and Honey, a Boxer also under Barnett's care, cannot be returned to this unremorseful abuser. In addition to grinding Lucas' teeth down to the gum line, Barnett also bludgeoned the dog so severely he fractured a bone in the eye area. He is a repeat offender, charged in 2004 with deliberately killing an animal in Giles County. Though never convicted of this offense, his recurring behavior ought to be a red flag for those who determine his punishment. Criminologists view the intensity of vicious behavior — regardless of the victim's identity — as a precursor to future violence. "People begin to fantasize about these violent actions... The next phase is usually acting out against animals," says Alan Brantley of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit. Prolific murderers such as the Boston Strangler, Son of Sam, Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy practiced on animals before graduating to humans. Dennis Rader, notorious for the Bind-Torture-Kill murders in Wichita, Kansas, confessed to strangling cats and dogs prior to his sadistic spree. Indeed, men prosecuted for animal cruelty are five times as likely to be arrested for other violent crimes, according to Utah State University professor Frank Ascione's extensive research. Animal torture is a serious crime that warrants your utmost deliberation. Christopher Barnett requires extensive rehabilitation and incarceration. Please do not release Lucas or Honey into his custody. Thank you, |
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Download PDF
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1. PDF FILE: Open letter in Acrobat Reader to print a clean copy before mailing or faxing (cannot modify letter in PDF format). 2. MICROSOFT WORD: Open letter in Microsoft Word to personalize it before sending by email, fax or postal mail. 3. PRINTER-FRIENDLY: A quick way to copy and paste the contents of the sample letter into: • The body of an email, for sending your letter by email. • The word processing software of your choice, for printing out letters to send by fax or postal mail. |
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FACT SHEET LIBRARY
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60+ TOPICS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY MATERIALS: 8.5 x 11" Fact Sheets with photos + timely info, stats, studies. Compelling literature to educate others on the animals' behalf. Download and print Kinship Circle Fact Sheets!
DONATE to help us fund printing and nationwide distribution of Kinship Circle educational literature. DOWNLOAD FREE FACT SHEETS: • Use entire high-resolution PDF of any KC Fact Sheet to support your animal advocacy work. • Crop select photos and fact bites to make your own posters, flyers... 
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DISCLAIMER
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DISCLAIMER: The information in these materials is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing on this website is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this action alert serves to promote such conduct. Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Email addresses obtained from government or other official websites may be outdated or incorrect. Animal abuse cases are TIME-SENSITIVE — depending upon the nature of a crime as well as court arraignment, hearing, and sentencing date. To check the status of a case before writing, search the Animal Abuse Crime Database for updates. Many animal cruelty cases (but not all) are on file here: http://www.pet-abuse.com/database/ |
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