Man Kills Toy Poodle, Claims Self-Defense—Yeah, Right.

March 13, 2001 Douglasville, Georgia, USA

A man who had bludgeoned his mother's toy poodle to death last Saturday is now claiming it was in self-defense.

41-year-old Richard Allen Bledsoe who lives in the 3800 block of North Shelby Lane was still in police custody as of last night.  He will be charged with cruelty to animals, which is now a felony in the state of Georgia (SB297 was passed one year ago by an overwhelming 169 to 3 vote).

Bledsoe has claimed that "Trouble" the dog had bitten him, and he was forced to defend himself by beating the animal with a shovel.

Captain Eddie Morris of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said that Bledsoe did indeed have a bite mark on his pinky.

Neighbors (including several young children) were horrified at seeing Bledsoe corner the dog and hit it repeatedly, tossing it around between blows.

Said one neighbor who tried to stop the beating, "It was just like seeing an innocent baby up against a brick wall."

Is animal cruelty a felony in your state?  Click here to find out.

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