WBTV is reporting a case that some people will probably find disturbing: Two men accused of abusing a dog are now suing the people who rescued the animal.
How American is that?
A year ago, “Firu,” an American Bulldog mix suffered serious injuries after he was dragged behind a pickup truck in Mecklenburg County.
Now the two men accused of felony animal cruelty are suing the woman who took the dog in.
Agustin Martinez, 26, and Jose Guebara-Cerda, 30, tied Firu to the bumper and drove off, dragging the dog behind. A witness saw the dog and called police.
The suit names Samantha Hodge, her rescue group, the Animal Hospital of East Burke, doctors at the hospital and members of the public.
It claims defamatory statements were made against Martinez and Cerda, saying that Hodge “made or caused to have been made numerous statements threatening the Plaintiffs” and that doctors at the animal hospital were complicit in Hodge’s acts of slander and libel and benefited from the statements.
Hodge says her attorney told her not to comment on the suit. Her attorney is in the process of responding to the allegations.
The men also claim that Facebook posts compared them to Osama bin Laden, questioned the legality of their immigration status and accused them of being drunk at the time of the incident.
While what these two men are accused of doing is heinous — animals don’t deserve that kind of treatment — it was the responsibility of the rescue group to monitor its page and the comments left there. However, this suit might just backfire on the defendants, who should face their criminal charges next month.
This article appears in Oct 18-24, 2011.
Add me to your law suit, Agustin Martinez, 26, and Jose Guebara-Cerda, 30 because if you did drag the dog you should not get away with it. Anyone cruel to Animals, people and even bugs should be punished. If I saw someone delibertly harming an animal I take action. I hope the court throws the book at these guys.
The first question that comes to my mind is…Was it a deliberate act or an unfortunate accident. Who was there when the two guys said hey lets drag this dog down the street? If you can’t show deliberate intent then you cannot accuse someone of deliberate abuse.
These guys should be suing their lawyer for starting the suit against the animal rights group. They are suing over being called drunk during the commission of their act and if this is correct, it makes the crime against them even more heinous. Too often people start a suit and think only of the good money that will soon be theirs and rarely consider any negative parts. There are always consequences both good and bad and the lawyer should have mentioned this before accepting his part in the suit. Maybe these guys will get jail time in a prison that helps prisoners by training dogs for service as a way of bringing both canine and human into society in productive ways.
These morons should be tied to a truck and dragged down the street.
i AGREE I THINK THEY ARE PIECES OF DOG S??>>,
THE BEST WAY TO HELP WITH THIS IS TO SPREAD THE WORD SHE HAS ON FACEBOOK, NEEDING FUNDS FOR LEGAL FEES, I HAVE IT POSTED ON ALL MY SITES…WE ARE THERE FOR YOU, WE WILL SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR BATTLE TO PROTECT THE INNCONOCENT BABY, AGAINST THIS SCUM
@ Steve Smith – No, I’m sure the dog tied himself to the back of their truck…. Are you kidding me?!?
This men deserve every bad thing coming to them! They are despicable and sick people.
Wow, they’re going to argue that they weren’t drunk? That makes it about ten times worse, I know people make some pretty awful mistakes when they’re drunk, so that was more like an excuse than anything, I can’t believe they would argue that. Drunk or not, that was horrible, but you were in the right state of mind?! Unbelievable.
I run a rescue and these guys better be glad that I didn’t see them doing this. They would have to call the cops on me and I would really give them something to sue me over. If this was a child or a person this would not even be considered. Just because these wonderful animals cannot speak, people for some reason think they can be treated anyway they want to. The thing is anyone that would beat up on an animal has major issues. They are to much of a wuss to find someone their on size to pick a fight with. I could say worse things about these two worthless pieces of scum, but they will get what’s coming to them. Drag their butts back to Mexico and save the taxpayers some money. I get sick and tired of hearing about these illegals coming here and breaking the laws that us taxpayers have to abide by and get away with it. I am so angry about this. The rescue and animal hospital needs to sue them for the money that was spent to help save that poor dog. The courts need to make an example of them and make them pay for all the treatment that the dog went through and continue to go through. If people would have to make payments for the rest of their life when they do things like this maybe they would think twice before they do it.
I want to respond to someone asking if it was deliberate- I have known this rescuer since before the Firu incident- And frankly Firu was NOT in good shape even before his injuries! He was thin and had issues anyhow- Ok- I also have heard the AC officers report right after this incident happened- These people left him tied to the bumper and drug him back and forth to the store- …..And yes it was stated that they were drunk.
I don’t usually like people who stick dogs in the back of trucks as it is.. I mean, would you do that with a baby?? NO!
And also they tie them in the trucks now. WOW! Dangerous! How can a dog get loose if there is an accident?
Firu was not in good shape even before his injuries.
Pictures can prove that.
And I am sorry for the person who wrote this article because IT IS FREE SPEECH! AND WE ALL HATE ANIMAL ABUSERS AND PEOPLE WHO NEGLECT ANIMALS ON PURPOSE!
THEY HAVE NO CHOICE AND WE HAVE TO CARE FOR THEM OR NOT HAVE THEM!
No animal WANTS to be abused or neglected!
I can say whatever I want- and so can others-
Truth is truth and these people are just trying to delay getting punished as they did something very bad to a dog and did not even care until now because their court hearing for doing this to FIRU is in November.
This rescuer does not have time to regulate others. She is busy with a rescue and everyone WILL have their opinions and FREE SPEECH when it comes to seeing a dog as injured as Firu and as abused! He displayed habits and behaviors of a dog who was abused!!!!!!!!!
SO! It is not her nor anyone elses responsibility to regulate everyones free speech.
Abusers suck and Firu could not have a more amazing home.
AND the people who did this??? Animal control officers were the ones on the scene who reported all of what happened to FIRU!
They KNOW! And these people are horrible for giving this dog nothing but abuse and neglect.
In the end a horrible thing actually was made into a great thing because Firu was able to escape his life of crap into an amazing home, with TONS of love from everyone all over the nation now. HA on you, you turds who neglected him for so long.
Firu was abused and neglected before he was ever drug. And people who can tie animals in trucks and run all over places should not have animals anyway. That is a good way for an animal to die and them to get seriously hurt.
If your animal can’t ride with you in the actual car and its not cool outside- Then they should BE in your car- And tying an animal to a car is unacceptable.
These idiots WERE drunk. I have been there since before Firu was even brought to this rescuer.
The AC officers went to get FIRU and made the report!
These idiots didn’t even care. FIRU was abused by them before he was ever drug and you could tell by the way he was that he was abused.
FRANKLY who would have helped FIRU if this resucer had not stepped up? No one else had. Samantha has done amazing things for so many dogs before Firu ever came along.
And since FIru was in her state- She wanted to help.
Here is the statement from the AC-
CMACC was called to assist CMPD with an injured Boxer/American Bulldog. The Owner was intoxicated and decided to tie the dog to the back bumper of his truck…. He then forgot about the dog and proceeded to drive home.
Dog is now the property of CMACC and is in our care. His name is Firu and is approx 1.5 years old.
This was before Samantha ever knew. And it really PISSES me off that anyone could sue someone after they did this to an animal.
Who the hell first of all tied a dog to car? Then who the hell…drives a car and forgets about thier animal?
SO many animals are abuse din our country. and there is LEGAL abuse in labs and also in commercial farms- And it sickens me that so many who do horrifying things and torture animals get away with it..and the RESCUERS seem to get more punishment than the people who DO THIS KIND OF THING!
I can’t wait until these idiots are LAUGHED OUT OF COURT!
This violates free speech- An AC finally does something right and so did these police officers and now they get sued?
BS BS BS BS! The people who heart sticked kittens to death and made them scream at MDAS never got punished! The people who hung and beat kittens at a shelter in NY never got punished and the list goes ON!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yet this shelter did what was RIGHT and they are getting punished?
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These men do not deserve to breathe the same air as poor Firu! Shout out to all the ones involved in his rescue. I think that it is sad that most people get away with animal abuse.. As for the lawsuit, I hope the accused end up with court cost and a long term prison sentence.. Let’s all pray for Firu and that justice will be served. Thanks Samantha for your love and dedication to animals. Praying for You and Firu!!!
@Steve Smith, if you have followed Firu since Sept. 17 last year, you would know that they did this deliberately. They were warned by other drivers that he was tied to the truck and they continued to drive. For at least 2 miles I am told. They don’t deserve the right to even breath much less sue Samantha.
To everyone else, this kind of talk it what got Samantha in this situation. We all need to watch what we say and not add fuel to the fire. This ridiculousness is putting her rescue on hold and we don’t need to prolong it!
For everyone I was there the hole time when Firu first came to the Animal Hospital and until he went home 48 days later, it is also my dogs vet! I was so upset for what this baby boy had gone thru! Yes He was way under weight and not taken care of before. There is no excuse for what these guys done. End of story on that! I dont care if they were drunk or sober white, black, mexican, red, purple they still done this crime and abuse and should pay! I would feel the same about no matter who done it! I got to watch and be apart of the hole healing in the flesh! I sat with Firu and rubbed, fed, water, and just talk to him showing my love and care! I met Sam thru all this and she is amazing lady whom loves this baby boy more than her own life! From day one they both bonded and the love you see between them is amazing> I have spent alot of time with Samantha, Firu and her family and this dog could not be in a better place! As for some of these comments talking about stuff you have no clue about needs to stop and no slander cause I know in my heart that God will previl and these guys will pay! Just like Michael Vick I dont like him and cant stand his name to even be spoken and no it is not because he is black it is because the awful abuse he did with all them poor sweet fur babies! That is sick and he is also! I have went to court with Samantha and funtions for Firu and I will also stand behind her and Firu 100% and will fight this til the end! No one knows what she or Firu went thur or the vet saving him unless you can say you were there! I was and it was awful and this baby wanted to live and be loved that is all well now he has it and then this crap! I saw the pain in this baby eyes daily and the fight! Everyone involved in his healing knows what I’m talking about and thanks to all the people who have donated, prayed, and post to get the word out for help! It all is appreciated and love each of you. I’m Firu’s Auntie Jeanette if you don’t know me by now! No realtion to the Hodge family but because Samantha is the lady she is she has let me be apart of Firu’s Journey from day one!