Not guilty in dog killing by reason of insanity

[Omaha Steve]

Last week two teenage boys killed a dog in it's own back yard. It was in such a vicious fashion I couldn't even post the story. There is a reward. The boys identities aren't known.

OS

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100816/NEWS97/708179989/772#not-guilty-in-dog-killing

By Todd Cooper
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A 59-year-old Omaha man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity in the beating death of his neighbor’s rat terrier.

Douglas County District Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf ordered Kevin Cleavenger to be evaluated on an outpatient basis at the state Regional Center in Lincoln.

Two psychiatrists -- one for the state and one for Cleavenger -- determined that Cleavenger was insane and was off of his medications at the time the dog was beaten to death. Cleavenger has been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic.

Catalina Snyder told authorities that Cleavenger had knocked on her door on April 20, 2009 and told her he was upset about her dog barking outside their apartment building. Snyder told police she later heard yelping and saw Cleavenger slamming her dog to the ground.

The rat terrier, named Pompoo, was euthanized because of his injuries.

[xchrom]

1. I don't know what I would do if someone EVER hurt my animal.

But I don't think I'd get off by reason of insanity.

This man shouldn't have been living on his own.

[MerryBlooms]

2. Too sad.

I hate these animal abuse stories, yet I can't help from clicking on them. It really hits hard when you share your home with 4 legged beings and know you do everything in your power to give them loving comfortable lives, but wish you could do more for all. :*(

[foxfeet]

3. As we are only given a diagnosis and no info about signs/symptoms,

it is entirely possible that this man acted based on delusional beliefs and/or hallucinations. Paranoid schizophrenia is a horrible disease and it creates a living hell for those who suffer from it. Yet it is instructive that so many people prefer to endure the symptoms of the illness rather than take antipsychotic medication. AFAIK no state commitment statutes cover killing or injuring animals as grounds for commitment (anyone know otherwise?) In our county we had some success getting these folks into treatment by using the "danger to the property of others" provision of the state commitment statute. That's cold comfort to the owner who loses a beloved companion. I love my dogs and have two terriers of my own. I fear anyone who hurts my dogs is more at risk from me than from the legal system.