Man who taped Caitlyn the dog’s mouth shut sentenced for animal cruelty

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On Friday, William Leonard Dodson was sentenced in one of the most disturbing animal cruelty cases ever presented in North Charleston. With Judge Markley Dennis, referring to Caitlyn’s torture as “hell on Earth” reported the Post and Courier, Dodson was given the maximum sentence for animal cruelty in South Carolina – five years.

“I’m not trying to be mean, but I wish I could give you more,” Judge Dennis told Dodson.

Although Dodson’s prison term will not be extended beyond the 15-year sentence on a federal gun and drug charges ordered on Thursday, advocates applauded the sentencing, stating the penalty sends a strong message to those who abuse and torture animals. The judge stated he would honor the prosecutor’s negotiations with Dodson’s public defender to serve the animal cruelty sentence at the same time as the federal punishment. During the hearing, Caitlyn’s story was told again as a crowd of animal advocates filled the courtroom.

The scar on Caitlyn’s snout is still very visible and few will forget when the dog was first rescued and brought to the Charleston Animal Society as Aldwin Roman, the director of anti-cruelty and outreach described how Caitlyn cried out in pain as veterinarians unraveled the electrical tape wrapped around her snout nine times. It is estimated the dog’s mouth had been taped shut for 36 hours. The dog’s veterinarian report described her muzzle as “markedly swollen with evidence of tape and her tongue as “significantly swollen, significantly bruised, discolored (dark purple) and oozing blood,” a court record stated. Dodson said he wrapped the tape around the dog’s mouth because she wouldn’t stop barking.

As to to the brightest part of the morning, was Caitlyn’s appearance as she happily ran around at the Animal Society chasing balls, appreciating the smiling faces of visitors and loving life.

Read the previous story here.

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You can catch the entire video and reaction from the Charleston Animal Society below. Although there was disappointment that the five years Dodson was sentenced to prison on Friday morning wasn’t added on to sentence, but most are convinced that Caitlyn did find some justice:

https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonAnimalSociety/videos/10155123510581369/


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26 COMMENTS

    • agreed, this low life needs all the jail time he can get. it should have been FIVE additional years otherwise IT’S NOT sending out the right message. What happened to Caitlyn didn’t have a darn thing to do with guns and drugs so punishment should follow that pattern (separate punishment.) Why can’t our damn systems of law get this through their thick skulls. Animal abuse/neglect is criminal and must, MUST be punished to the full extent of the law. These people are dangerous!!

      • I understand what you’re saying Becky, but thankfully this judge saw fit to give the maximum sentence. Too many judge’s just give a slap on the wrist. Dodson most likely thought he wouldn’t get sentenced at all because it was “just an animal”. This does send a message to other animal abusers, that they can’t get away scott free from their crime. My wish is that other states & judges
        follow suit and begin giving jail time for animal abuse.

    • I agree. Don’t see why the judge , that admitted he wished he could give him more, would agree to letting that run concurrent. He had the chance to give him more by tacking it on!!!

  1. Finally, a Judge who sees dog abuse is punishable by a stiff sentence!! God Bless this Judge for doing right by this dog. Let’s shout this from the rooftops!! I hope this baby finds a great home and never is punished again for barking up. 🙂

  2. I know this sounds hateful, but if I were his judge, he’d be strung up. Animals are so trusting and so loyal. I have no sympathy for those who make them suffer. What is wrong with this man’s mind? If I live to be 100, I’ll NEVER understand how or why someone could/would do this. They need to be removed from normal society and allowed no further interaction with humans or animals. Pitiful excuse for a human being!

  3. Shame the sentence could not run consecutively instead of concurrently. He needed an EXTRA 5 years. Still, at least he is serving time for Caitlin now. What an evil piece of toilet waste he is.

  4. Penalty seams way to extreme. Luckily it doesn’t matter as he will be serving longer for other crimes, but we have lost perspective when we start putting people in prison over a dog.

    • dear “human”…excessive? are you out of your friggin’ mind?!!! these people who abuse animals are sick and getting put in prison “over a dog” probably saves the lives of countless animals and human beings. (likely) get your head out of the sand!!

    • Are you a sadistic maniac? It has been my experience that people that can be cruel to animals generally don’t respect a human’s rights either. A lot of serial killers started out as animal abusers.

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