People tend to do regrettable things out of anger. But hurling a dog cage at someone with the dog still inside might be at the top of today’s list.
Stephone Johnson, 27, faces a misdemeanor domestic battery charge for throwing the cage containing a chihuahua at his cousin, according to the arrest report.
Police said Johnson and his cousin had gotten into an argument at their St. Petersburg home last Tuesday night when the 27-year-old began threatening to harm everyone staying at the residence. Johnson then picked up the black metal cage with the 1-year-old Rosco still inside and tossed it at his relative, the report said.
»RELATED: How to help an animal in need, prevent animal abuse
The cage hit his cousin, who suffered a minor bruise on her upper arm. It was unclear whether Rosco was harmed.
Johnson admitted to throwing the cage when questioned by police, according to the report. He was taken to a Pinellas County Jail and was released later that night with orders not to return to his home.
Animal cruelty legislation
Animal cruelty would become a federal offense with a penalty of up to seven years in prison under a proposed expansion of an animal welfare law that won unanimous approval last month in the U.S. House of Representatives.
»FROM OCTOBER: Animal cruelty a federal felony under new bipartisan legislation
The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act advanced through the House after a voice vote, which the law’s backers said they hoped would get the Senate to act soon on a companion bill.
Most of the animal cruelty laws on the books are at the state level, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
The legislation would expand a 2010 law signed by President Barack Obama banning so-called crush videos that show animals being crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or subjected to other forms of torture. In some of the videos, women with their faces hidden could be seen stamping on rabbits with spiked high heels.
— The New York Times contributed to this report.
About the Author
