Saturday, February 26, 2011

Man Charged With Extreme Animal Cruelty

By Rozanna M. Martinez
Journal Staff Writer
          A Rio Rancho man faces an extreme animal cruelty charge, a felony, after allegedly burning his dog's testicles.
        James Dickie, 22, has a hearing scheduled for mid-March in Sandoval County Magistrate Court, according to Rio Rancho police spokesman John Francis.
        Dickie was arrested and booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center on Jan. 31 after an arrest warrant was issued for him. He is out on bond.
        According to a criminal complaint, Dickie is accused of torturing a shepherd named Angel on Jan. 23. The alleged abuse was brought to the Rio Rancho Police Department's attention after Dickie's neighbor saw Dickie grab the dog, which cannot see because of cataracts, by his hind legs and drop him several times at his home on Desert Lily Court SE. The neighbor also saw Dickie drop-kick the dog several times and kick him into a yucca plant.
        Dickie told his neighbor he was "training" the dog when she confronted him, the complaint states.
        Animal Control was called and went to Dickie's home the next day, but he did not answer the door.
        The neighbor then called Dickie's grandmother and told her about the alleged abuse. The grandmother sent a family friend to Dickie's home, but she could not find the dog.
        A short time later, Dickie arrived and the woman found the dog inside a bedroom, unable to move. The dog's testicles had been burned, according to the complaint.
        Dickie told the woman that he had done so because he could not afford to have the dog neutered.
        The woman took the dog to a veterinarian, who according to the criminal complaint "advised the animal had been tortured."
        The veterinarian's report said Angel also had wounds to his head, ears and scrotum and is blind due to cataracts.
        Angel remains in the care of a family friend and continues to be treated by a veterinarian for his injuries, according to Francis. Angel is doing well and Animal Control continues to receive updates on his progress, he said.
        Meanwhile, neighbors say they are concerned about another dog and two cats at Dickie's home.
        Police cannot remove those animals without a court order, Francis said. The animals also must show signs of abuse or appear unhealthy for Animal Control to take them.
        Animal Control went to the home Friday to check on the animals' welfare, and all three are in good health and show no fear of Dickie, Francis said.
        Dickie had been cited Jan. 31 for the dog and cats not being vaccinated and for not having the proper permits or licenses, according to the citation issued by Animal Control. It says Dickie was also given a verbal warning Jan. 24.
        Dickie has licensed the Labrador and intends to get the two cats into compliance by next week, Francis said.
       

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