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Josie, 13-Month-Old Therapy Dog, Is “Viciously” Attacked While Greeting Inmate
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Josie, 13-Month-Old Therapy Dog, Is “Viciously” Attacked While Greeting Inmate

Josie, 13-Month-Old Therapy Dog, Is “Viciously” Attacked While Greeting Inmate“It Broke My Heart”: Prison’s Comfort Dog “Viciously Attacked” While Greeting An InmateVideo Shows Inmate’s “Vicious” Attack Of Jail’s Therapy DogJosie The Spaniel, A 13-Month-Old Jail Comfort Dog, Gets Concussion After Attack By Inmate“It Broke My Heart”: Jail’s Therapy Dog “Viciously” Attacked While Approaching InmateMichigan Inmate Charged For Assaulting Jail Comfort DogInmate Charged With Assault After Hitting Jail Comfort Dog Josie
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Romello Maxwell, an inmate at Genesee County Jail in Michigan, has been charged with assaulting a jail comfort dog.

Maxwell struck Josie, a 13-month-old spaniel, on September 24, causing her to suffer a concussion and damage to one of her eyes.

The attack was announced last Tuesday (October 1) during a press conference held by Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Prosecutor David Layton.

“Josie is not even 15 pounds, and she was assaulted while she was simply doing her job,” described Sheriff Swanson.

Image credits: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

“We take matters, whether they be big or small, seriously when it comes to assault,” he added.

“We’ve established for years that if you assault, beat, torture, or starve an animal to death, you have a great likelihood that you’re going to do it to a human.

“In law enforcement, canines are used to find explosives, drugs, children…and in Josie’s case, they are therapy dogs for not only staff and inmates but also for victims who testify. We use these dogs to break barriers down.

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“Josie has a little badge that was broken at the assault and a little vest. I’m not trying to be melodramatic; I’m saying this is the use of this kind of canine to de-escalate everything. Dogs can do that.”

Image credits: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

Spending time with a dog can help prisoners restore their mental health and reduce the risk of self-harm. For some, interacting with a friendly dog can provide a sense of connection to the outside world.

“As a dog lover, it broke my heart when I watched this video,” added prosecutor David Layton.

He said that the inmate has been charged with serious offenses under Michigan law, including assaulting a corrections deputy.

The prosecutor said he pushed for the toughest possible charges against Maxwell and called for stricter state laws on animal assault.

“This individual is a habitual offender, so the maximum penalty increases from four years to eight years, which I think is still too low.”

Josie suffered a concussion after being struck in the head while approaching Maxwell

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Image credits: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

During the press conference, prosecutor Layton and Sheriff Swanson shared the video of the attack, which shows Josie approaching Maxwell and yelping after being hit.

The 27-year-old reportedly assaulted two law enforcement personnel before the attack.

In the description of the livestream, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office noted, “Animal abuse will not be tolerated on Sheriff Swanson’s watch, and that includes inside his jail. 

“Last Tuesday, the jail’s comfort dog, Josie, started a routine day. She excitedly greeted staff and inmates throughout the Genesee County Jail. In a split second, Josie’s sweet spirit was met with hatred and violence. She was viciously attacked by an inmate.

“Sheriff Swanson and Prosecutor David Leyton plan to hold Josie’s abuser accountable and continue their efforts to protect innocent animals in Genesee County.”

Image credits: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

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After the incident, Josie was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where she stayed for a day and a half and received an MRI scan. 

Holding the therapy dog in his arms, Sheriff Swanson said Josie is “doing well” and “is going to continue to serve” at the prison.

She returned to her duties last Monday (September 20) thanks to the help of her canine handler.

Two bills were recently introduced to establish a registry for individuals convicted of animal-related crimes, the sheriff added, emphasizing the link between animal cruelty and violence against humans

“Josie is not even 15 pounds, and she was assaulted while she was simply doing her job,” described Sheriff Chris Swanson

Image credits: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

Image credits: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

According to a study by Michigan State University, men who abused animals were five times more likely to have been arrested for violence toward humans.

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One of the most reliable predictors of future violence as an adult is having committed animal abuse as a child, the study notes.

This connection can go both ways. According to a 2021 study shared by the FBI, 16% of offenders started abusing animals and graduated to violent crimes against humans. 

However, in many circumstances, offenders start by hurting people and then progress to harming animals.

Josie helps improve inmates’ mental health and provides support for victims who testify

“Animal abusers were more likely than control participants to be interpersonally violent, but they also were more likely to commit property offenses, drug offenses, and public disorder offenses,” wrote authors Arnold Arluke, Jack Levin, Carter Lule, and Frank Ascione.

“Thus, there was an association between animal abuse and a variety of antisocial behaviors, but not violence alone.”

“He should get a long sentence for this,” a reader commented

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Marina Urman

Marina Urman

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Marina is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she holds a Bachelor of Social Science. In her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, or binge-watching a docuseries. Her main areas of interest are pop culture, literature, and education.

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Marina Urman

Marina Urman

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Marina is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she holds a Bachelor of Social Science. In her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, or binge-watching a docuseries. Her main areas of interest are pop culture, literature, and education.

Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I am employed as a Visual Editor in the news team. I make sure you have the best pictures near the most interesting text. In general all day I am looking at all you favourite celebrities facies and I am geting payed for it!

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Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am employed as a Visual Editor in the news team. I make sure you have the best pictures near the most interesting text. In general all day I am looking at all you favourite celebrities facies and I am geting payed for it!

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Wicked Witch
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have worked in Corrections for 10 years. The other inmates will take care of this. There is both a dog program and a cat program at Monroe Correctional Complex in Washington state. There is a waiting list to participate in both programs. The inmates have to be without infractions for quite awhile before approval and thier cell mate as well. Both programs encourage good behavior and the animal can be removed if the inmate gets even the lowest level of infraction. It teaches them empathy, respect and responsibility better than any other program.

Debra Robinson
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor fur baby!!! That fuckedup non-human asshøle waste of cells dickfungus evil psycho shitpile really should get life in the hole, beaten within a mm of his life, tortured so many times every day/ night!!! In the worst ways!!!

Ms.GB
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the guards should maybe take a convenient coffee break next time this guy is in the prison yard. Most prisoners don't like child and animal abusers either.

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Wicked Witch
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have worked in Corrections for 10 years. The other inmates will take care of this. There is both a dog program and a cat program at Monroe Correctional Complex in Washington state. There is a waiting list to participate in both programs. The inmates have to be without infractions for quite awhile before approval and thier cell mate as well. Both programs encourage good behavior and the animal can be removed if the inmate gets even the lowest level of infraction. It teaches them empathy, respect and responsibility better than any other program.

Debra Robinson
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor fur baby!!! That fuckedup non-human asshøle waste of cells dickfungus evil psycho shitpile really should get life in the hole, beaten within a mm of his life, tortured so many times every day/ night!!! In the worst ways!!!

Ms.GB
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the guards should maybe take a convenient coffee break next time this guy is in the prison yard. Most prisoners don't like child and animal abusers either.

Load More Comments
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