A defendant was recently granted probation in a case before the Santa Barbara Superior Court that involved four felony counts and one misdemeanor charge. The defendant “pled straight up,” that is, admitted his guilt before trial with no promise of a certain sentence in return. His plea subjected him to the possibility of up to seven and one-half years in state prison. The sentencing judge had the discretion to impose such a sentence, or to grant probation. A grant of probation would subject the defendant to the imposition of that 7 ½ year sentence if he were to violate any of his probationary terms or conditions.
The case has received considerable public attention because it involved heinous acts of cruelty against what many consider “man’s best friend,” his dog. That scrutiny was elevated because the case also involved a charge of felonious assault involving domestic violence. The facts and circumstances of the case caused many among us to experience fear, anger, frustration, and systemic rejection based upon our perspectives regarding this case.
Western society’s unique affiliation with the canine species can be seen in the award-winning novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. That story centers on a teenage child with Asperger syndrome and his effort to solve the murder of a neighbor’s dog. The novel was adapted for the stage and won a Tony for Best Play on Broadway just last month. But our canine connection has deep historical roots.