Trio allegedly try to break dog out of pound for funeral

Thu May 1, 2008 4:54 PM EDT
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WILSON — Two men have been charged with second-degree burglary after they and a teenager were trying to bust a dog out of the city pound for its owner's memorial service.

The mixed-breed dog, Luke, was picked up April 22 while roaming the streets of the tiny Carter County community of Wilson. One day later, his owner, 53-year-old Saundra Vickers, died from health complications, Police Chief Felix Hernandez said.

A rumor began spreading that authorities planned to euthanize Luke. So early Sunday, 17-year-old Willie Justin Miller, 18-year-old James Thompson and 22-year-old Matthew Gonzalez broke into the pound in an attempt to free the dog, Hernandez said.

During the break-in, Hernandez said, they turned off security lights and cut the lock at the pound with wire cutters.

The goal of the trio was to allow Luke to attend his owner's memorial service later that day, Hernandez said. But a Wilson officer caught the three as they tried to leave the pound with the dog.

"The door to the pound was wide open and there was a guy with the dog in his arms," Hernandez said. "The guy said that his dog had run away and he found him sitting in front of the pound. The officer knew the dog had been picked up (and) that the guy wasn't the dog's owner."

As it turns out, Hernandez said, authorities had no plans to put Luke to sleep. He said Vickers' family understood that as soon as a fence was built to contain Luke, the dog would be returned to the family.

Gonzalez and Thompson posted bail after being booked into the county jail. They were formally charged Monday, records show.

Miller was cited and released to his mother.

___

Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":1758812,"authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
Meggy

This is sad... there was no victim here. Well, except the guys that got arrested trying to do a good thing by the deceased, who no doubt would've have wanted her dog there.

{"commentId":1758812,"threadId":"258784","contentId":"1464199","authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
    Reply#1 - Fri May 2, 2008 1:18 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1771040,"authorDomain":"juno"}
    Juno Hera

    It just so happens that I know something of this story . . . and how the town does a run-around with dog issues.

    There is word that the family would not be permitted to have the dog, since the "owner" was in fact deceased. Which makes more sense to me than them wanting to take the dog to a memorial.

    Hernandez has, to date, shown himself to be a fair-minded man. I would hope that if the issue were brought to him he would have worked with the family. Though I also know that a person will be told one thing while the town takes action to the opposite.

    It seems the core of folly to risk all this trouble over a dog, even one much beloved.

    {"commentId":1771040,"threadId":"258784","contentId":"1464199","authorDomain":"juno"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#2 - Tue May 6, 2008 10:43 AM EDT
    {"commentId":1775898,"authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
    Meggy

    So... why wouldn't the family be allowed to have the dog, just because the owner was deceased? I'm a little confused, I think.

    {"commentId":1775898,"threadId":"258784","contentId":"1464199","authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
    • 1 vote
    #2.1 - Wed May 7, 2008 1:37 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1777723,"authorDomain":"juno"}
    Juno Hera

    I don't know why. Only that this is what Justin is purported to have believed truth.

    My husband lost a dog to the town of Wilson. We had been told that we couldn't get the dog back until after an adjudication, but they had dispatched the animal before court.

    So I can understand why there isn't a great deal of faith in what dog owners are told.

    {"commentId":1777723,"threadId":"258784","contentId":"1464199","authorDomain":"juno"}
    • 1 vote
    #2.2 - Wed May 7, 2008 11:15 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1779072,"authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
    Meggy

    That's... absolutely horrible. Your poor husband. :( I agree -- people love their pets, and will do things for them that non pet-owners might not get at first glance. It's just a dog, after all.

    {"commentId":1779072,"threadId":"258784","contentId":"1464199","authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}
      #2.3 - Thu May 8, 2008 11:10 AM EDT
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