Florida groomer who broke assistance dog’s tail sentenced to 180 times in jail, 3 several years probation

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A former canine groomer who violently abused a service doggy through a grooming appointment in 2019 was sentenced Monday to 180 times in jail and purchased to spend far more than $5,000 in restitution.

James Suthann was in court extra than two decades immediately after the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office environment launched online video demonstrating what Sheriff Wayne Ivey explained was one particular of the worst functions of animal cruelty he had at any time witnessed.

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Suthann will be on a few several years of probation right after serving his 180-day sentence, but he avoids a felony conviction. He entered a plea of no contest to just one count of cruelty to animals, loss of life pain or suffering.

The condition was seeking a calendar year in jail, but Judge Charles Crawford presented Suthann two solutions: 60 times in jail with a felony conviction or 180 times in jail with an supply to withhold adjudication. Suthann chose the latter and was also requested to fork out $5,278.61 in restitution. He is also barred from possessing or doing work with animals through his probation.

“It wouldn’t just take a rocket scientist to realize that doggy did not want his tail manhandled, so to discuss,” Crawford mentioned.

Satellite Beach front disabled veteran Rick McGuire, who owns the dog, a German shepherd named TT, claimed he’s delighted with the sentence.

“You really don’t want to see your dog get damage. You really do not want to see any one get damage,” McGuire mentioned. “I imagine ultimately now there is some justice.”

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McGuire claimed TT nevertheless has concerns from the incident. The dog’s tail had to be amputated as the final result of the injury.

“The component now is her hips and her tail, or exactly where her tail was, is all arthritis now,” he explained. “She doesn’t have a voice. I am her voice. The videotape is her voice nowadays.”

Ivey reported in 2019 that he would go soon after animal abusers.

“If you damage an animal in our neighborhood, you are heading to jail, and if I can, I’m going to be the a person who walks you in. There is unquestionably no want for what transpired,” Ivey stated.

Investigators mentioned the incident transpired at Groomingdale’s Pet Spa on Feb. 6, 2019. Deputies mentioned Suthann was bathing TT and grew to become angry when the dog wouldn’t stand even now. They mentioned he grabbed her tail as she rolled above and it was nonetheless in his hand and he broke it.

McGuire said then that TT was critically influenced by the incident.

“When we received her back dwelling, she would not come to us. She wouldn’t do everything, so we went to the crisis healthcare facility and they instructed us the negative news. It was just terrible,” McGuire reported.

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McGuire stated TT recovered from her medical procedures.

“She’s equipped to run around and not have the cone of shame on her head that she’s going in all places with,” he said.