A 25-year-old Detroit man, Curtis Christophr-Ray Martin, is facing serious charges after police found him with a 3-month-old puppy whose ears had been severed. The incident occurred in Ferndale, Michigan, and involved a late-night 911 call from an individual who reported hearing the cries of an animal and witnessing a small animal being placed into a garbage bag, CBS News Detroit reports.
When Ferndale Police arrived at the listed location near Woodward Avenue and East Bennett Street, they discovered Martin crouched by his vehicle, which had its hatchback open. Inside the trunk, a three-month-old puppy was found with a garbage bag over its head, surrounded by scissors and what appeared to be surgical supplies, according to ClickOnDetroit. The dog's ears had been cut off and its tail was tied, seemingly in preparation for further mutilation.
Upon attempting to take Martin into custody, police stated he resisted arrest and fled on foot. He was later apprehended after a brief chase. Martin now faces one felony count of killing or torturing an animal, second-degree, and two counts of resisting arrest. His bond is set at $100,000 cash, and he is scheduled to return to court on June 16, as Audacy highlights.
The injured puppy was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and will eventually be handed over to the Oakland County Animal Control to continue its recovery before being put up for adoption. Ferndale Police Deputy Chief David Spellman expressed gratitude for the 911 call and said, "This is a disturbing act of cruelty. We will all sleep better knowing the person responsible is in custody," as he told ClickOnDetroit.
In Michigan, the penalties for animal cruelty can be severe, influenced by several factors such as whether the animal is a pet or a companion animal, and may result in up to 10 years of imprisonment if the cruelty is also considered a form of domestic violence.
