with poll: Ypsilanti man charged with beating puppy with tire iron
An Ypsilanti man has been charged with severely beating a 5-month-old puppy with a tire iron last week, then dumping the dog on the side of the road, Ypsilanti police said.
Eric Jason Rutley is charged with felony animal torture, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder and manufacturing marijuana, authorities said.
Rutley, who was arrested Friday, is at Washtenaw County Jail on $100,000 bond, said Ypsilanti police Sgt. Thomas Eberts.
Rutley also is accused of choking his girlfriend. In addition, officers say they found at least 10 marijuana plants last week in his Bell Street home.
The puppy, “Brownie,” an Australian Shepherd, was found Thursday morning and was unable to walk, a Humane Society of Huron Valley news release said.
Some of her teeth had been knocked out, and the dog had fractures to its legs, the release said. Humane Society officials said it's possible the dog may need to have a leg amputated.
A woman walking her dog in a park near Ford Lake found Brownie near a garbage can and turned the pup over to Humane Society officials, Eberts said.
Humane Society officials are working to raise thousands of dollars they say it will take to provide surgery and follow-up care for the dog.
HSHV has a fund established to care for animals that need specialized medical care, the release said.
Anyone who wants to donate to the "Furry Godmother Fund" to help Brownie can visit www.hshv.org or call (734) 661-3525.
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