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A 23-year-old Florida man who duct-taped his dog\u2019s mouth shut and left the animal in a parked car pleaded guilty last week and will have to complete 100 hours of community service and buy a proper muzzle.<\/p>\n
In July, Thomas Ethridge was ticketed for animal cruelty, a Class I misdemeanor, for taping his 9-month-old Belgian Malinois\u2019s mouth shut and leaving him in a car parked at the Durango Community Recreation Center.<\/p>\n
According to District Attorney Christian Champagne, Ethridge pleaded guilty and accepted a plea deal of a lesser charge of attempted cruelty to animals, a Class II misdemeanor.<\/p>\n
Champagne said La Plata County Animal Protection recommended to the court that Ethridge be required to pay a fine, complete community service and buy an appropriate muzzle for the dog.<\/p>\n
La Plata County Judge Martha Minot ordered Ethridge to do 100 hours of community service and buy the muzzle. She did not, however, levee a fine on Ethridge.<\/p>\n
Champagne said Ethridge was convicted, so the matter will stay on his record. Champagne said Ethridge did not have any previous history of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n
The dog, named Appa, was discovered on July 18, which had a high of 89 degrees, in the car by passersby who eventually alerted Animal Control. Ethridge left the scene, but Animal Control was able to track him down through a license plate number.<\/p>\n
Ethridge previously told The Durango Herald that he moved from Florida to Durango earlier this summer and has since been living out of his car. He said he duct-taped the dog\u2019s mouth shut to stop him from eating items in the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Ethridge said he was also concerned that the Belgian Malinois may escape the car and attack someone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think what I did was the extreme animal abuse of the century, but I understand it is against the law,\u201d Ethridge said. \u201cI totally accept what I did and the punishment for it.\u201d<\/p>\n