Sandusky man enters plea in dog stabbing; Ivy the pitbull recovering
SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) — A Sandusky man accused of brutally stabbing his 8-month-old pit bull entered a not guilty plea through a public defender on Thursday, according to Sandusky Municipal Judge Erich O'Brien.
The suspect, identified as Terry Thomas, did not appear in court. Judge O'Brien said Thomas has a medical condition and was released on a personal recognizance bond.
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Thomas is facing felony animal cruelty charges after authorities say he severely injured his dog, Ivy, in what humane officers call one of the most graphic abuse cases they've seen.
'This was one of the most brutal attacks I've seen where the animal actually survived,' said Greg Willey, executive director of the Friendship Animal Protective League in Elyria.
According to Willey, the APL received a call on May 17 from the Northview Animal Clinic in North Ridgeville about a dog brought in with severe facial injuries. The pit bull's wounds extended from ear to jaw, with part of one ear missing.
Willey said Thomas allegedly stabbed the dog as a punishment after it had an accident indoors.
Despite her injuries, Ivy survived and has undergone extensive surgery. She is expected to need continued care during her recovery.
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Judge O'Brien said a pretrial hearing could be scheduled within the next 15 days but may happen sooner, depending on developments. He also noted the court may revisit Thomas' bond conditions to potentially include a restriction preventing him from owning pets.
Ivy remains under the care of the APL, where staff say she is recovering.
If you would like to donate to support Ivy's recovery, click here. (Editor's note: The photos on the linked Facebook page are graphic.)
Three people from Nitro's Ohio Army gathered outside the Sandusky Justice Center during Thomas' hearing to rally for stronger penalties against those convicted of animal cruelty.
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