March 3, 2008

McMINNVILLE, Tenn. – With a wagging tail and a frisky gait, Lucas is a young husky who greets the world with a friendly smile.

But his toothless grin tells another story about the dog that was rescued earlier this week after neighbors saw a Tennessee man beat his dog unconscious.

“He had 16 uppers and 14 lowers that have been ground all the way down,” said Warren County Humane Society President Andy Anderson. “The root and nerve are exposed and bleeding.”

Now, owner Christopher Barnett is charged with animal cruelty by the Warren County Sherriff’s Office.

“It’s awful what he did,” said Anderson who received the call from the witnessing neighbor. “It’s terrible and shouldn’t be done to any living creature. It’s a terrible thing to do.”

Investigators said Barnett wanted to punish the year and a half old dog for chewing up the house. They said he first beat Lucas, then ground away 30 of the dog’s teeth with a metal file.

“Apparently he chewed some wires up underneath his house and by grinding off his teeth he wanted to teach this dog that he would never chew his wires again,” Anderson said.

Now the dog is under the care of the Warren County Humane Society and, although Lucas will require extensive medical care that could cost thousands of dollars, the shelter has offered to pay for whatever he needs.

“No matter how much it costs, he’s going to get fixed because he deserves it,” said Anderson. “He’s a sweet boy and he didn’t need all this, and he’s going to get fixed up.”

In addition his damaged teeth, Anderson said Lucas’ eyes were blood shot and x-rays showed the dog has a fractured orbital, the bone surrounding the eye socket.

Currently, Lucas is an extreme pain and is being treated with painkillers and antibiotics. But even after his surgeries, he will always be a special needs dog.

“We will extract the teeth we can’t save and fill what we can to make it where the dog can eat, be he will never be normal for the rest of his life,” said Anderson who makes him special meals he can swallow.

“He’s a very trusting and loving dog, having gone through exactly what he has gone through,” said Anderson. “I think he is just wonderful.”

Barnett, a resident of Morrison, faces a hearing in April. In Tennessee, animal cruelty is a misdemeanor charge that carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

If Barnett is found guilty, it is possible that he could be one of the first people registered as an animal abuser. On Wednesday, Tennessee legislatures are voting on a bill that would require its residents to register as animal abusers, much like sex offenders. It could be the first registry of its kind in the entire nation.

If you’d like to help Lucas, donations can be sent to: Sparta Road Veterinary Clinic

4021 Sparta Hwy

McMinnville, TN 37110.

Donations should be specified for helping Lucas’ medical expenses.

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Special contributions made to this report by NewsChannel5 and WSMV.com.