Italian greyhounds murdered in Michigan
A Michigan State University medical student is facing charges he killed 10 dogs — most, if not all, Italian greyhounds.
Andrew David Thompson, 24, was arraigned Monday in 55th District Court on 10 felony counts of animal killing, and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty in connection with a dog that was severely neglected.
Prosecutors say the killings occurred since October 2010. At least some are alleged to have happened at his apartment in Okemos, according to the Lansing State Journal.
Thompson is being held at the Ingham County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He faces up to four years in prison on the felony charges and 93 days in jail on the misdemeanor. A preliminary hearing is set for July 7.
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said Thompson owned the Italian greyhounds. Dunnings would not comment on how the dogs died, and no explanation has surfaced, at least publicly, about his motivation.
Thompson’s attorney, George Zulakis, said Monday he has not seen any police reports and could not comment on the allegations.
MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine suspended Thompson on Thursday, officials said, in light of the accusations.
In a somehat bizarre written statement, a university spokesman said:
“MSU and the College of Osteopathic Medicine take these allegations very seriously. The alleged actions do not reflect the values of MSU or the ethics of the medical profession.”
Posted by jwoestendiek June 29th, 2011 under Muttsblog.
Tags: andrew david thompson, animals, arrested, charged, dogs, italian greyhounds, killed, killing, medical student, michigan, michigan state university, murdered, okemos, pets, suspended, university
Comments
Comment from jwoestendiek
Time June 29, 2011 at 9:45 am
I guess it’s why they would feel the need to point that out — that the murdering of 10 dogs does not “reflect the values of MSU or the ethics of the medical profession.” Or are they engaged in activities that make that a question in need of addressing?
john/ohmidog!
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time June 29, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Four years?! Were I the judge – and assuming it were up to me – this cretin would get 4 years for each dog he killed. He’d have a good long time to think about the pure evil he committed against fragile and defenseless creatures.
Comment from ken
Time June 29, 2011 at 3:06 pm
They clearly had to issue a statement, and what else can they say? They are concerned with their image, particularly because of historic ties between medical research, vivisection and the use of animals to practice surgery.
Comment from manuel
Time June 29, 2011 at 3:16 pm
To think, he would have been a doctor.
Comment from Gabriel
Time June 29, 2011 at 3:53 pm
I don’t understand the “bizarre” comment either. Even when an organization attempts to protect themselves from the media, they try to vaguely imply some wrongdoing. If they had not released the statement, this author would have ended the article with, “With this murderous rampage, one has to wonder just what they’re teaching these medical students in Lansing.”
Comment from jwoestendiek
Time June 29, 2011 at 5:03 pm
So, Ken, the university was making the distinction that murdering dogs is OK when it’s a medical student’s assigned homework, but otherwise not? For a university to feel the need to say murdering dogs does not reflect its values is odd. The response is bizarre. The story is bizarre. It will be nice when some facts come out.
john/ohmidog!
Comment from Anonymous
Time June 29, 2011 at 5:30 pm
jowestendiek:
the statement from the university wasn’t bizarre at all. they had to make a statement and without more knowledge on the case there wasn’t much more they could say.
Comment from jwoestendiek
Time June 29, 2011 at 7:09 pm
So, if one of the university’s students killed 10 humans, would it have made the same statement — that the murders didn’t reflect the values of the university? Sorry folks, it’s still bizarre. Sometimes, if one has nothing to say, that’s the best thing to say. That’s my opinion.
John/ohmidog!
Comment from Kennedy
Time June 29, 2011 at 7:32 pm
The story is disgusting and sad. I wish our state had heavier penalties for animal cruelty cases.
I agree with many commenters though that there is nothing “bizarre” about the university’s statement. Actually, I applaud the school for taking the matter seriously and acting so quickly in suspending the accused. You are obviously looking at the statement with a skewed perspective and trying to imply some wrongdoing on the school’s part. We aren’t buying it. Sorry.
Comment from Sue
Time June 30, 2011 at 5:49 am
John, I agree with you. Definitely bizarre. When I read the university’s statement I immediately wondered if this guy has been experimenting on these dogs…
Comment from Dee
Time June 30, 2011 at 12:20 pm
My wish is that he suffers the exact pain and horrible death that he inflicted on these poor dogs. Rot in hell
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time June 30, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Not that, at bottom, the breed really matters, but Italian Greyhounds are just so damn cute and fragile. Whatever it was that he did to them, singly or collectively, I’ll bet dollars to donuts that he wouldn’t have had the stones to do it to a Rottie or a German Shepherd.
Comment from kotah
Time July 3, 2011 at 12:34 am
we all as dog lovers need to make a stand, protest, rally something for tougher laws for issues like this,,, so much justice fir humans what about the dogs
Comment from voiceInDetroit
Time October 1, 2011 at 11:06 pm
This guy needs tested for mercury poisoning. His mind is not working right. The therapist cannot help him in this state. The psychiatrist will just mess him up more with drugs that don’t work. I know someone who looks and acts just like him.
Comment from Michael Motta
Time June 29, 2011 at 8:00 am
“In a somewhat bizarre written statement . . . “. What’s so “somewhat bizarre” about the statement? It seems pretty standard to me.