RELEASE DATE: Immediately (May 20, 2009)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gene Baierschmidt (801) 261-2919 phone

History will be made in Utah this month when sentence is passed on the first adult to be charged with a felony-level offense for torturing a dog, utilizing the new law which was passed last year. At 8:30 AM on Thursday, May 21, Anthony Spidle will be sentenced in Room W39 of the Third District Court, 450 S. State, for the savage March 21^st beating of his ex-girlfriend’s 6-month-old mixed-breed puppy, Gabriella. According to documents filed in the case, Spidle repeatedly threw the dog against a wall, stomped on her, and forcefully struck her with both a skateboard and a tennis racket. During the attack he recorded the animal’s cries on the ex-girlfriend’s answering machine.

The Humane Society of Utah is not seeking the maximum possible penalty for the crime, which would be five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, but has nevertheless asked the public to show strong support for a sentence involving at least some jail time for Spidle by writing letters to the presiding judge in the case, William Barrett. "We believe that, because of the egregious nature of Gabriella’s abuse — as well as the fact that Spidle has previously been charged with showing violence toward human beings too, including his mother and his girlfriend — he should be given something stronger than probation and psychological counseling," says HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. "This is an individual who ought to be held responsible for the violence of what he has done. Furthermore, the fact that Spidle didn’t even appear for his initial hearing on May 7^th reflects his disrespect for law and authority in general. While we don’t necessarily recommend the maximum penalty, we do hope that Judge Barrett will see to it that Spidle is incarcerated for at least some relatively significant period of time."

Mr. Baierschmidt says that Spidle definitely needs psychological help, but should also make personal restitution by serving time in prison. "It was a difficult fight to get the felony-level animal torture bill passed so that people will understand that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated here," he said. "Anthony Spidle is an adult and knows the difference between right and wrong; he should not be allowed to get away with what he did by receiving only a slap on the wrist. This is exactly the kind of situation that the law was designed to address." The passage of that bill made Utah the 44^th state in the nation to have some kind of felony-level animal protection law on its books.

Following the beating, Gabriella was taken by the ex-girlfriend to a veterinarian. She was admitted in critical condition, suffering from swelling to the brain, eye damage, and other external and internal injuries, according to court documents. The dog is tentatively responding to treatment, but will still require extensive and costly procedures. A fund has been established to help pay for the medical bills incurred in this case.

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