Just found this article from a local Texas news group.


Charges possible in Jourdanton dog drownings
Web Posted: 07/31/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Mary Moreno
Express-News Staff Writer


More than one Jourdanton city employee could be charged with animal cruelty in connection with the July 11 drownings of several stray dogs, the police chief said Saturday.


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Ronnie Lawson said his department is investigating the incident and will forward its findings to the county attorney in about a week.

"There are only two ways in Texas to euthanize an animal," Lawson said, "and drowning is not one of them."

Several dogs were drowned at the city sewer plant July 11. It became public after a child performing community service at the plant witnessed the drownings and told his mother.

Lawson said the dogs had been kept in the pound for days and that when it came time to dispose of them, the employees found out the veterinarian was on vacation and then drowned them.

Lawson said two or three dogs were drowned, but others said there were as many as six.

City Manager Dan Nick said he disciplined a city employee and that he considered the case closed.

But it seems the furor over the drownings has just begun.

A city councilman said he plans to express his disgust over the incident at an emergency City Council meeting Tuesday. Councilman Darrell Richter said that although the meeting wasn't called to address this issue, he wants to comment on it and ask the city manager questions.

Richter said he was particularly upset with Nick's disciplining of the employee.

"I'm very upset with his attitude about that," Richter said. "It's just like, OK, let's give you a little slap on the hand. This is serious. A crime has been committed, and I don't like his attitude about it."

Councilman Joe de la Rosa said he also was upset with Nick because he didn't tell the council about the incident. The councilman also said he didn't agree with the way Nick handled it and that he wants all involved prosecuted.

"I don't care who it is," he said. "And if the city manager has to go down with them, so be it."

Nick couldn't be reached for comment Saturday.

Richter said he had received several calls from people disturbed by the news of the drownings. Jourdanton residents told him the killings were coldhearted and disturbing.

"I thought about it, and if I had to put a dog down that was injured, I would have a problem taking its life if I had to shoot it," Richter said. "But drowning it, that is sick. I don't know what they were thinking when they did this."



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