MINNESOTA    
    Case Report 1168    
   

   
    On April 23, 2002 a St. Paul Animal Control officer stopped to investigate a dog that he saw running off his leash in the vicinity of 1335 Westminister, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. At this time the officer had noticed that the dogs ears had been severely disfigured and " cropped "
cut about a 1/4 inch from the dogs head. The dog owner was identified by a picture Minnesota driver's license as Ko Mark Chang (DOB 4/11/79), Defendant herein. The Defendant stated to the officer that the dog's ears were cropped with a scissors and it's done all the time. Lines are drawn on the dog's ears, the scissors are put in a fire, and the dog's ears are cut.
The officer notes that the wounds were very dirty and there were no stitches visible. The scissors and the dog were seized and the dog was taken to the vet at the Humane Society for Companion Animals. In her letter dated April 23, 2002, the veterinarian indicates " the skin had not been sutured closed and was swollen and inflamed in appearance."
 
   
   

   
    Later Humane Agent Hanson arrived and took photos of the tan puppy as evidence for possible charges to be filed.


Chang stopped buy the Humane Society and asked Agent Hanson about the puppy and how he could get it back. Agent Hanson explained the proceedure to Chang. The Defendant did not bother to try to get his dog back from the Humane Society.


Agent Hanson asked Chang about cutting the ears, Chang told Hanson that they do that all the time. He said a friend of his, name and location unknown, came over and showed him how to do it. The friend drew lines on the puppies ears showing where to cut them off. He then stated that this was his first time cutting off the ears.


At this time Chang asked what was going to happen to him and Agent Hanson explained that he was going to prepare the paperwork and forward it to the County Attorney. Agent Hanson added that he would be requesting the attorney to file felony charges.


The Attorney did not charge Chang with a Felony and the case was charged out at the City Attorney as a Misdemeanor, under statutes 343.21 subdivision 1 and 7


On July 17, 2002 Ko Mark Chang appeared in court and pled Guilty to the cruelty charges and was convicted.


References
Ramsey County Court documents Case # 2002022301 Investigator Hanson's Reports to the court www.petabuse.com
 
   
         

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