(OK - US) Area man charged with killing neighbor's dog. (2nd article): HSUS offering reward in cat mutilation cases in Sapulpa, OK

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Area man charged with killing neighbor's dog
By MATT ELLIOTT World Staff Writer
2/18/2006

A Sand Springs man surrendered to Tulsa County sheriff's deputies Friday on a criminal charge alleging that he shot a neighbor's dog he had mistaken for a stray.

Thomas Avery Guthrie, 55, faces a felony count of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor count of recklessly handling a firearm in connection with the shooting, which occurred Jan. 21 near his home.

Guthrie turned himself in after learning that the charge had been filed, said his lawyer, Larry Edwards, who would not comment further.

Just before the shooting, the dog was with the son of its owners, the McInturf family, and the son's friends in a field, but it had moved away from them when Guthrie saw it, sheriff's Detective Jim Wolfe said. The children range in age from about 7 to 11, he said.

"It's been quite a traumatic experience for Mr. Guthrie and the McInturfs, also," Wolfe said.

The dog died where it was shot.

Guthrie told deputies there have been problems with stray dogs in the area, Wolfe said.

Deputies were called after the shooting, and a criminal investigation followed, Wolfe said. It's illegal to shoot any dog, whether it's a stray or someone's pet.

The McInturfs could not be reached for comment Friday.

Wolfe said Guthrie and the McInturfs have been extremely cooperative with deputies in their investigation.

Guthrie was jailed Friday but was released after posting bond, the Tulsa Jail's Web site shows.

If convicted of animal cruelty, he could be fined as much as $5,000, imprisoned for five years or held in the county jail for as long as one year, Oklahoma law states.

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Three cats in Sapulpa found maimed
By MICHAEL SMITH World Staff Writer
2/18/2006

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SAPULPA -- The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information concerning the maiming of three cats whose legs were removed in a series of malicious attacks.

The three cats were dismembered and found Jan. 31. Police have not identified any suspects, Capt. Jeff Gilliland said.

In one case, a construction worker found a cat that was missing both hind legs and took it to a veterinarian in Sapulpa, the Humane Society said.

Another cat that was missing its front leg and had a severely injured hind leg was brought that same day to the same veterinarian, who found buckshot embedded in the cat's hind leg.

The second cat, named Bandit, was euthanized because of its injuries, the Humane Society said.

A third cat found that same day -- also missing a front leg and with a wounded hind leg -- was taken to the Animal Emergency Center in Tulsa.

The Humane Society said veterinarians believe that the cases are related.

Police agreed that that is likely because all of the cats were found the same day.

But officers have little information with which to investigate the crippling attacks, Gilliland said.

For example, in the case of the cat that returned home, it's unknown where the pet was attacked.

"We're at a dead end in the investigation, and we need to hear from someone who saw something or someone who knows something," he said.

Animal cruelty is a felony.

Anyone with information in the case is encouraged to call Gilliland at 227-5103.

For more information about the reward, call Cynthia Armstrong, state coordinator for the Humane Society's regional office, at (405) 478-8737.

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