A blog by spcaLA president, Madeline Bernstein

Nov 20, 2015

Judge fumbles verdict in ex-Raven Terrence Cody's animal cruelty case

TAZ
UPDATE:  CODY SENTENCED TO 9 MONTHS IN JAIL




Former Baltimore Raven Terrence Cody was acquitted of felony animal cruelty charges but was found guilty of lesser counts in Baltimore County Circuit Court. The judge, after a bench trial, bought the argument that his conduct was neglectful but that he didn't mean to hurt the dog. 

How is this "neglectful" and evidence that he didn't really mean to hurt Taz? 

Forgetting to feed a dog once in a while is neglectful. Locking a dog in a cage in the garage and never feeding him is evidence of a decision not to feed him - hence intentional cruelty. It is important to understand that this is a slow, cruel, painful and horrific death during which the dog is suffering the entire time - sometimes months. Trust me- he hurt the dog. This is why animal cruelty is a crime where omissions as well as commissions are prosecutable "conduct". Would you rather be hit by one blow and receive treatment immediately or have an ice pick in your eye for a month? Neither is good but the latter is excruciating. The fact that Cody paid a lot for the dog is not evidence that he cared, particularly when looked at against the landscapes of NFL salaries. This verdict is a disgrace and one that I hope was not colored by the celebrity football status of the defendant and a desire not to saddle him with a felony conviction.

When do you think Terrence Cody last missed a meal? 


5 comments:

  1. What is wrong with that judge!!! I guess he doesn't have a dog or has never had a dog.....

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    Replies
    1. Same as the Michael Vick case. Judge was enamored the football player.

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    2. Same as the Michael Vick case. Judge is enamored by the football player.

      Delete
  2. Get him off the bench !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. A professor of neuroeconomics at a university in Georgia has discovered that dogs have emotion, just like humans.

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    ReplyDelete