Six months for man who attacked neighbor’s dog with hatchet
Sep 17, 2012, 9:23 AM | Updated: 11:02 am
The Orting man who attacked his neighbor’s dog with a hatchet will spend six months behind bars.
Ricky Knowles, 55, was also sentenced to spend six months on electronic home monitoring following his release from jail.
Knowles pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the March 20 attack that left Kona, a golden retriever, with severe gashes to her head and neck.
According to court documents, Knowles lured the dog into his garage with treats, which is where prosecutors say he carried out the “brutal” beating.
“Inside the garage, officers found a golden retriever tied to a pole, bleeding from severe wounds to his head and neck,” The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. “Animal control officers had to cut a piece of wire from around the dog’s neck.”
Knowles later told police he had complained several times about the dog barking.
Kona survived the attack, but her owners incurred almost $5,000 in veterinary care.
As part of his sentence, Knowles was ordered to pay restitution and is prohibited from owning or residing with any animals.
