K-9 Trainees Charged with Animal Cruelty

(AP)  Five Virginia correctional officers have been charged with misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges for allegedly videotaping one of the officers engaging in sexual contact with a dog.

Officials said all five were training at the Academy for Staff Development in Goochland County to become K-9 handlers.

The alleged activities occurred this summer at the kennel at Powhatan Correctional Center.

According to Powhatan Commonwealth's Attorney Robert B. Beasley Jr., one of the accused touched the male dog's genitals while the others videotaped the act.

An attorney representing one of the men said his client would plead not guilty. He described the alleged activities as hazing.

[NoAL89]

Just want to remind all that this is NOT unusual conduct in "law enforcement" and the military. Some of us have been fighting for years to get this information out - see www,stoplynching.com

[decarNO]

What kind of person would do something like this? This is disturbing and very disappointing. Animal abuse of any kind is among the lowest forms of human behavior. At the very least, some psychiatric evaluation is needed here. My god...don't leave any of these people alone with babies or toddlers either! Anyone that can't talk and tell on them could very well be subject to their treatment.

[dogcop481]

Charging them under the cruelty statute is likely to result in the charges dismissed. VA state law has a section specifically related to sexual contact with animals. It is a felony.

The state's burden of proof in cruelty is showing that the animal was injured or suffered from the act. At least with the limited info in this article, it does not appear that the dog was injured. Commonwealth would be better to nul proc the misdemeanor and reindict on the felony charges.

That said, the actual evidence, facts and information in the case may have prompted the other charge instead.

[NoAL89]

Abuse and even torture of police and military K9's by handlers for personal amusement is nothing new. It is, in fact, widespread all over the world. Go to website www.stoplynching.com for a glimpse of some of it.

[sandy19731]

There is a strong chance that these "officers" will abuse suspects as well. Get rid of them now.

[canislupus16]

Total scum. I'd love to get MY hands on THEM. They wouldn't need to worry about having their own genitals. sick sick sick

[cdegolier]

Sick

[Ceres6]

We ought to find a big man to squeeze the nuts of those five dog handlers, to see if they like to be abused sexually. Serious studies done indicate that people that engage in the abuse of animals can become extremely dangerous criminals in the future.
Those five handlers should never be allowed close to police animals.

[Ceres6]

We ought to find a big man to squeeze the nuts of those five idiots, to see if they like to be abused sexually. Serious studies done indicate that people that engage in the abuse of animals can become extremely dangerous criminals in the future.
Those five handlers should never be allowed close to police animals.

[Ceres6]

We ought to find a big man to squeeze the nuts of those five idiots, to see if they like to be abused sexually. Serious studies done indicate that people that engage in the abuse of animals can become extremely dangerous criminals in the future.
Those five handlers should never be allowed close to police animals.