During a preliminary hearing before District Judge Jan Vislosky on Wednesday, defense attorney Craig Penglase did not argue that Rocky, the dog, received 23 broken ribs from anything other than abuse. However, he did argue that the prosecution did not provide any evidence his client, 43-year-old Christopher George, caused the broken ribs and various other injuries to the dog.
The defense attorney noted anyone, including a 14-year-old boy, living inside the Falls Township house could have been abusing the dog.
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Despite his argument, Vislosky forwarded the single charge of felony cruelty to animals onto Doylestown for trial.
Rocky’s veterinarian, Dr. Carrie Phelps, testified that she treated the boxer twice before noticing the broken ribs, which all appeared to be at various stages of healing. She told the court that the various stages of healing indicated the ribs were broken in multiple places and at various times, not all at once. The 5-year-old dog also suffered air under the skin, which felt like bubble wrap when touched. Phelps said that condition is usually caused by broken ribs or a lung injury.
“I have never seen anything of this severity, except for animals that have seen great trauma, like getting hit by a car,” the doctor said of Rocky’s various injuries.
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The prosecution presented several images that appeared to show various injuries to the dog, who has since recovered from the abuse.
Donna Anderson, George’s ex-girlfriend and the dog’s owner, testified during court that Rocky lost 15 pounds over the two months she lived with him and also suffered various cuts and scrapes, in addition to the broken ribs.
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A photograph from May 2014 that was entered into evidence showed a happy-looking dog that was overweight. By December, Rocky had lost weight and his demeanor had changed, Anderson said.
Anderson told the court that after returning from a routine teeth cleaning by Phelp’s, the dog had several injuries to its face. Phelp’s testified that those injuries were not caused during the cleaning and were not present when the dog arrived at her practice.
Phelp’s noted during testimony she did tell Anderson Rocky needed to lose some weight, the prosecution said losing 15 pounds in two months seemed extreme. Anderson testified that George insisted on doing most of the feeding for the dog.
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“It sounds like the defendant was doing exactly what was recommended under the vet’s care,” Penglase said.
The most gripping testimony came when Anderson testified that she came from work on Christmas Eve after George called and claimed the dog bit him. She found the dog propped up against a fence in the cold rain, blood running from its body. Anderson said she rushed the dog to Phelp’s home for treatment and that’s when the various injuries were uncovered.
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Anderson said she came home after leaving the injured dog in someone else’s care to find George bleaching the kitchen floor and she discovered a portion of the carpet was cut up and removed. Penglase did note that the couple was hosting several people for Christmas and the cleaning would not have been unexpected.
The couple broke up a few days later, and George had no further contact with Rocky.
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George remains free while awaiting trial.
