“This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase.”
Josie, a 13-month-old therapy dog at the Genesee County Jail, was greeting inmates inside the jail on Tuesday, September 24, when she was violently attacked by an inmate.
in press conference Sheriff Chris Swanson recorded the incident via Facebook Live, revealing the violent incident inside the Genesee County Jail.
During the encounter, Josie approached inmate Romello Maxwell, who was lying on the ground, and was then punched by him.
After Josie was severely beaten, she began to cry. And this prompted another inmate who was sweeping the floor to approach Maxwell in response to the violent encounter.
Sheriff Swanson said: “He hit Josie so hard that she suffered a concussion and destroyed the inside of her pupil.”
“She was rushed to the veterinary emergency hospital, but [where] She stayed there for a day and a half. He had to undergo an MRI scan, which was thought to indicate a possible brain hemorrhage, and cost thousands of dollars. ” the sheriff added.
Prosecutor David Layton said he charged Maxwell after viewing surveillance video of the attack. “As strict as possible under Michigan law.”
Maxwell will be charged as a habitual offender, increasing his maximum sentence from four years to eight years.
Additionally, it was revealed that Maxwell has a history of assaulting people, having assaulted two members of Congress in the past year.
“We’re going to hold people accountable. If they do the same thing to these animals, they’ll do the same thing to humans.” Sheriff Swanson said as he hugged Josie.
Leighton also said: “I don’t think Michigan’s laws are strong enough to protect our furry friends. If the Legislature were to listen and watch, perhaps they would pass legislation that would increase penalties for those who cause harm. You’ll want to submit “Our Friends, Dogs and Cats. ”
Sheriff Swanson also said at the press conference that Josie is feeling well and has returned to work.
However, following the revelation that the dog was back on the job, people online feared for Josie’s life and that her breed, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, could do this work around inmates. I was worried about how dangerous it was.
One user wrote: “Cavaliers are so vulnerable that they cannot be harmed. Therapy dogs are yes for nursing homes and pediatric wards, yes for assistance, but yes for inmates with a history of abuse.”
“Cavaliers are very small dogs. I don’t understand why no one thought it would be wise to expose small animals to inmates who are known to be intentionally and carelessly violent.” another person wrote.
“We understand that therapy dogs can be beneficial, but in this scenario we would at least use a larger breed that is more likely to be able to protect themselves, and in the future we would use these dogs to protect ourselves.” Please don’t leave me alone with other inmates.” The user continued before calling the incident “a”. “A careless mistake that could have been avoided”.
