By Barbara J. Andrews
The Dog Press and
Mark Schnyder, KMOV-TV | July 1, 2010
Mary Wild was sentenced today in what one handler
called "a shocking mockery of justice." Onsite coverage,
background and reaction to the sentence.
Wild faced 8 years in prison for causing the gruesome
death of her vanload of show dogs. A former friend of the Wild
family summed it up this way "I've known Mary Wild for years.
It was no accident, it was gross neglect and prison is nothing
compared to what those dogs went through before they finally died."
Get more information and dig for gold
below.
The Dog world
waited nearly a year, through delay after delay. Finally, the
day of sentencing by Judge Raymond Dickhaner. We will have a
dog person's report from the Missouri courtroom, but in the
meantime, Mark Schnyder, the KMOV-TV
reporter who covered the Mary Wild case from day one give us his
reaction below. And next week, the interview with Monica
Colvin whose Akita died in Mary's care.
If
there is anyone who doesn't know how this all started, please,
before you read about Wild's sentence and how it all came down, go
to
MARY
WILD CHARGED, the story begins... and you will understand
why very few, other than Mary's family, her attorney, and the judge
feel justice was served.
And then there's this: Code of Ethics for Registered
Handlers. Mary Wild was NOT an AKC registered handlers
but had she applied, she should have had to sign this, the
very first section...
I agree to: Ensure that the welfare of the
dogs in my care is a priority, not only at dog shows but at home and
on the road. Their well-being, security, and safety is to be placed
above all other business considerations. The ultimate responsibility
for the dogs cannot be transferred to assistants or others.
Obviously the welfare of the dogs was not a priority for Wild.
Incredibly Mary Wild and her mother have sent out an email
suggesting the only reason she was charged was because of the junior
handler and her father writing crazy letters to the judge. The
dogs were Mary's responsibility and AKC registered handler or not,
no blame for anything can be shifted to the teenager.
Read the upcoming interview with Monica Colvin, owner of Ch.
Jersey, the top
winning female Akita that was entrusted to Mary Wild.
The Dog Press has worked with
Mark Schnyder, a reporter at KMOV-TV
[here] from the beginning of the
Mary Wild case. It's only fitting that he tell it as he saw
it, and with measured restraint.
25-year old Mary Wild cried a bit as she read a prepared
statement to the judge before her sentencing. After being
convicted of eight counts of animal abuse a month ago in the
deaths of 7 show dogs she left in a hot van in front of her
house a June night last year, Mary said she was making a
heartfelt apology to the owners of the dogs who died in her
care. She said she would have never knowingly hurt the dogs
and with live with this the rest of her life and she is
sorry.
She was not interested in speaking to us afterwards
but her lawyer Brad Dede did. He said Mary's life has
changed and she has learned her lesson. That's something
some show dog owners aren't quite ready to believe. But
Dede went on to say he believes Mary Wild still has
something to offer the dog show world, even if she can't be
in it. Perhaps she could educate young handlers on not
making the mistake she made.
Some would argue anyone with common sense wouldn't have
made the mistake she made. The people who's lives she
changed by destroying their dogs because of her bad judgment
do not appear to be filled with hate. Not the three owners
who showed up in the courtroom today at least. One guy
actually said he'd let Mary take care of a dog in the
future. Another said she would like to see Mary banned for
life by the American Kennel Club. That could very well
happen.
In sentencing Mary, the judge said he felt having her sit
in a county jail would serve no purpose. Neither would
picking up trash on the side of the road for community
service. Instead he wants her doing her time helping out at
the Jefferson County Animal Control Center. Since it's
clear she didn't intentially kill the show dogs, he thinks
she has something to offer with her expertise in caring for
dogs her entire life.
I would have loved to speak with Mary and hear in her own
words why she did what she did and how this has changed her.
I don't count reading a brief, prepared statement before
the court,(likely written by someone else) as really
speaking to what happened.
Like Mary said in her statement though, she'll live with
this for the rest of her life. I believe that. How could
she not. I hope she can go on and do some good
in the world.
Barbara J. Andrews
©
The Dog
Press
07|03|10
-
Wild was represented by Bradley Dede . Read the
interview with Jefferson County Prosecutor, Mr. Forrest K. Wegge
and you will understand why everyone expected she would go to jail
for extreme animal abuse. Mr. Wegge told The Dog Press “She has been charged with eight individual counts of
animal abuse. Each is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up
to 1 year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.” It was the D.A.'s
decision to charge Mary Wild that way, indicating a strong case from
the beginning.
http://www.thedogpress.com/Columns/Mary-Wild-Sentenced-10071_Andrews.asp
Get
more information and
dig for gold
below. Mary Wild Coverage in chronological order.
Dog Handler Charged
-
Mary Wild slept in comfort, 7 dogs died in her van.
Mary Wild Kills 8 Dogs
- charged with 8 felony counts of Animal Abuse
Wild's Trial Begins
facing the judge and up to 8 yrs prison.
Mary Wild Sentenced,
some say a "Mockery Of Justice"
AKC Refuses to Suspend
or comment
on convicted handler Mary Wild
Interview with Monica Colvin, her
top winning Akita among dogs that died.
Mary Wild's Probation Revoked
TheDogPress will continue to provide the net’s most complete
coverage on the Mary Wild case.
Columns
Section -
No Margins. No Limits. No Kidding.
