Tualatin man in custody after dog is killed with a hatchet
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TUALATIN, Ore. - A Tualatin man was arrested for allegedly using a hatchet to kill his 13-year-old dog.
Police picked up 43-year-old Leroy Jacob Moffitt on Thursday.
Moffitt admitted to officers that he killed the dog. Neighbors said they believe this was his way of dealing with an aging pet but the manner in which the dog was put down has upset folks.
"When you euthanize an animal, you give them a shot and they just go to sleep, painlessly," said Danette Hughes, who saw the mutilated dog. "But when you kill an animal with a hatchet, there's got to be pain involved. You can't say there isn't."
Police say you should go to a veterinarian or shelter if you believe your pet needs to be euthanized.
Moffitt is facing a first-degree aggravated animal abuse charge, which is a felony.
Leroy and his wife had the money to have her put down. I know I use to be his neighbor. I would bet his wife did not know what he did to that poor dog. Oh and the Dog's name was Baby. I am so glad that my family live very far away from him. Imagine if he can do this to his dog of 13 years what he could do to someone he disliked. Leroy you need to see a psychiatrist and about 5 years off the streets in prison.
Leroy, you're a real low-bidder.
I was charged over $100 to have my beloved cat put to sleep when he became suddenly seriously ill, despite the fact that was nearly as much as my portion of the rent each month. And the only alternative they gave me was to take my poor suffering cat back home, so my kids and I could watch him die a lingering, painful death.
It took me seven months to pay off the bill. I'm lucky if my budget has a extra $20 a month. $100? Not happening.
Was *that* ethical or humane of the vet?
Seemed more like extortion to me.
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@Josh Johnshum THIS MAN IS A TROLL!
another goateed animal abuser
@Phuzz Goatee...the new mullet.
a hatchet? Â Seriously.Â
I would love to introduce him to my dog.
Please, please give me 5 minutes with this guy and my hatchet! What a disgusting POS!
@Gailmcombs, u r the most stupid person commenting on here. This guy has mental issues for nobody in their right mind would use a hatchet on a loving creature/pet unless u r a retard. He should be prosecuted and trained like a dog on how not to end a living creatures life. Gailm... maybe you should put your hand on a table and use a hammer or axe and see how it feels. People like u I tell you. Anybody else agree?
@R.u.Serious? @R.u.Serious? You are extremely DISRESPECTFUL of my differing opinion.  Do we not all have the right to believe what is in our hearts?  No?  So, if someone DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU, you think it is okay to call him/her a 'retard?'  My nephew is developmentally disabled.  Does that mean he is STUPID?  Honestly, R.u., it appears to me that one of your parents bullied you when you were very young and vulnerable -- and now you can't help but do the same to others.  You claim the man being charged is mentally ill.  Have you examined him?  Are you a doctor?  You desperately ask for other people to approve your post -- is that because you feel insecure about yourself? Â
If you don't have the financial means to have your dog humanely euthanized, there are sooooo many other options rather than what this man did. It makes my stomach turn.
 how could you take a life you claim to love?
 his old dog couldn't make it up the stairs? How about finding a new home with out any, or a home that specializes in senior or special needs animals.
 If the vet wouldn't euthanize, it probably has more to do with the fact the dog didn't need to be killed rather than the guy didn't have the funds.
 people defending this ignorant, lazy and barbaric action - I hope to god you don't have any pets.
 Or children - I'd hate to think what would happen if your child got sick and you couldn't afford the proper medical care O.o
NO ONE -- and NOTHING -- can experiences pain WITHOUT A HEAD! If he did this to a neighbor's dog, he would be a criminal. If he wanted to kill an aging pet this way -- it is HIS business. Maybe his dog was TERRIFIED OF GOING TO VETERINARIAN OFFICES!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE GO FIND REAL CRIMINALS AND LEAVE THIS MAN ALONE!
@gailmcombs you are disgusting! Leave this man alone you say?! You deserve a hatchet to the head!
@hudsonlm You would advocate killing this person for stating an opinion?
@Sundowner re: comment as posting as a belief...Yes that is my belief.
@PhillyBuster...There are no low-lifes in the animal kingdom, maybe ants fleas and hornets. But definitely no dogs. Sure there are killers and murderers but that's natural and has been since the dawn of time. Only humans can be classified as low-lifes for what they do to other people and animals. What this guy did to his dog was not natural so he is the low-life.
nice, the jerk needs to at least get a felony for doing this. What an idiot
he can be taken to a animal shelter!  okay! simple as that  and they would put him to sleep  if it doesnt get adopted in a atimely manner   my dog lived 20 years  13 aint nothing  THANKS!
Let the punishment fit the crime!!! Â This is more that abuse. Â This is MURDER, plain and simple!!
He didn't hack his dog to pieces. He took her to the vet to be put down because she couldn't make it up the stairs anymore. The vet refused to put her down and so the owner decided to take care of it himself with the blunt end of the hatchet to the back of the head. Throwing her body into the community dumpster was unacceptable, disrespectful, and foolish. The truth of the matter is that he loved his dog, walked her faithfully everyday, and even made her homemade treats from scratch. This is an unfortunate situation marred by poor decisions and an overly hysterical neighbor jumping to conclusions. Do not be so quick to judge circumstances reported by the media. Many details are skewed or left out for the sake of sensationalism.Â
@Tara  He could have at least just put a single bullet into the head. That way you know the death is quick and painless. I fully understand putting the dog down without assistance from a vet, but to beat it with a blunt object leaves too much chance that the dog could suffer prior to death.
@Tara And what is wrong with letting the dog live out his life normally, allowing it to be loved for as long as it could be. He didn't love him that much if he could slam him in the back of the head to kill him. Unacceptable. Maybe there was a reason the vet said he wouldn't do it, maybe the vet didn't think the dog was sick and that he had a lot of years of life left. Too bad this strong man who "loved" his dog couldn't sacrifice just a little bit and carry his dog up the steps for a year or two until the dog was ready to go. I don't buy that he did it out of consideration - he did it out of selfishness.Â
@LeAnn Timothy Walterss I'm not saying what he did was morally acceptable in my eyes. It upsets me to think that his dog died this way and it makes me angry that he just threw her body into the dumpster. My point is simply to clarify what happened. Having seen the dog in the past week, I personally don't think she was so feeble that she needed to die  but I'm not her owner and I don't know the whole situation.Â
@Tara You are crazy!  'Taking care of it himself' in the manner which he did is MURDER!  Totally inhumane and unacceptable!  You are as deranged as he is!!!  Would you kill your elderly parents this way?  STUPID!  And you can't fix that!
@Dion But comparing a dog to a human beings parents is sane?
Wow.Â
Medicate much?
@Jack_Bauer @Dion dogs are people too!
@Dion Perhaps you should actually establish the facts prior to running your mouth on a forum board. If my elderly parents were dogs, we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we.... unless they fell in to some sort of pool of radioactive material and became super mutants!!! Wait... is that what happened to you?
@Dion I believe he faces charges of first-degree aggravated animal abuse which the law does not recognize as being the same as murder. Perhaps you should start a petition if you feel that people convicted of first-degree aggravated animal abuse should also be tried for murder. The law in this country recognizes pets as property, not as human beings. Again, if this is something that you disagree with, there are many avenues you can take to effect change. Forum boards are generally not the most effective route for such a drastic change to current law.Â
@Tara Thank You, the media likes to leave things out.
When I was a kid my father had to euthanize our cat, and he used a hatchet. He also had to shoot 2 of our dogs. All our pets got buried in the backyard. That's how it was done. Modern laws and public sentiment would make felons out of many people in older generations. Given America's obsession with law and order, at some point there will be a law against everything.
@thegreatbw Ok, so let's start hatcheting sick or old family members, too.  Seems fair enough.  Idiots among us . . . *ugh*
@Dion@thegreatbw I may be an idiot, but I am most certainly not "among you" since I live in southeast Asia! Anyways... blessings to you, have a wonderful day!
Soooo demented. Did he enjoy doing that to his former "best friend". A dog who had not choice but to live with him and be tortured by him too. Depracved criminal cruelty by this dog owner like I haven't read described since the criminal actions of Michael Vick were disclosed.
There are no words to adequately and fully describe this monster, Jacob Moffitt.
i agree with jack. but i do not believ in animal abuse. vets are unreasonably expencive, some people cant afford to take them selfs to doctor muchless their pets, it is very sad...but if dog needed it an blow was right,
@believepeace There are OTHER vets!  I would like to see a signed statement from the vet that supposedly said, No!" . . . likely there wasn't one.
Did he try to "Wok" his dog?
If the owner delivered a proper blow with the hatchet, then it is entirely possible that the dog felt no pain.Â
My guess is that he will be released with no charges if it's found the animal was in need of euthanizing.
The costs of using a vet could be very high.
@Jack_Bauerhe can be taken to a animal shelter!  okay! simple as that  and they would put him to sleep  if it doesnt get adopted in a atimely manner   my dog lived 20 years  13 aint nothing  THANKS!
@rss1021Â @Jack_Bauer See my above response.
Also, the life expectancy of dogs varies as greatly as the breeds themselves. Length of healthy life can even vary greatly within the same breed. So, good for you that your pooch lived 20 (probably a lie).Â
@Jack_Bauer Well, had the dog lived we could ask it about its pain threshold in the moment!  You stupid, too?  There are a lot of you on here . . . This is a sentient being and deserved a humane death.
@Dion @Jack_Bauer If I am stupid then I wonder how you manage simple involuntary brain function.Â
Get over yourself, the method is as humane as any shot. Quick destruction of the brain stem is instant elimination of the ability to feel anything at all.
@Jack_Bauer @believepeace The story doesn't provide enough information to make a very informed decision, but my hunch is that this was a very painful decision for this man....the dog was 13, so he had many years to bond with the dog and love it -- the dog probably had a very good life.  But if something happened where the dog was crying in pain and he knew it was time (middle of the night?  didn't have the money for a vet? too cruel to watch the dog suffer?), maybe he did the very best he could under the circumstances.  Those who want to crush his skull and/or shoot him or beat him to death perhaps haven't walked a mile in this man's shoes.
@Sundowner @Jack_Bauer @believepeace I like to walk a mile in his shoes with him into the back country . . .
@Dion There are things in the 'back country' that you do not want to see if you have a problem with this simple little lesson in the cycle of life. Stick to PDX metrosexual
The point is that it's not necessary to inflict unreasonable pain on an animal if a more humane alternative is available to euthanize it. Using a hatchet, a gun or whatever, there is the possibility that the wielder's aim may not be true and they could end up causing extreme pain and agony to the animal.
No sentient creature deserves to die in that manner.
We're still looking for you Kyron Horman
Let me have this p.o.s. for just a few minutes. Â Please!
@MMRoach my your so tuff. no one better mess with you
@lousecrapton @MMRoach What you don't know...!  How could you speak in defense of this scum?  I guess you two are from the same pond.  Is that right key board warrior?  Put some clothes on and go back down into your mommy's basement.  The adults are talking here.
This is so cruel to do that to an animal. Now, where's my steak. I'm SURE the cow was "put to sleep" with an injection and didn't suffer at all..
@Oregon7812Â Another reason to be vegan . . .
@Oregon7812Â I know a farmer very well -- when the mobile slaughterer comes.....yeah. Â And I'll have mine medium-rare, lots of fresh ground salt.