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Trial For Man Who Brutalized His Dog

Trial For Man Who Brutalized His Dog

Biloxi, Miss. (September 27, 2017) In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization that runs the Justice for Animals Campaign in Mississippi is calling for the maximum sentence for animal abuser William “Billy” Larry Swain, of Gulfport, MS. Swain is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 9 am, charged with brutally beating Albert, his dog, first with his fists, then with a flashlight, in the presence of his 11-year-old grandson. The trial will be held in the Biloxi Public Safety Building, 170 Porter Ave., Biloxi, Miss. Justice for Animals Campaigner Doll Stanley will be available for interviews. 

What: Trial of Billy Swain for brutal dog beating
Who: Accused: Billy Swain, Justice for Animals Campaigner: Doll Stanley
When: Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Where: Biloxi Public Safety Building, 170 Porter Ave, Biloxi, MS 39530 

In early December 2016, a video taken from the home surveillance camera of Swain’s son and daughter-in-law’s residence showed Swain thrusting his fists into his vehicle towards his dog, Albert. Albert’s feet can be seen flailing. Swain then entered the small truck and began thrusting his flashlight downward towards Albert, with his grandson standing beside interceding for Albert. 

Swain’s grandson had asked Swain to let Albert ride in the cab because the weather was cold. Swain was returning his grandson from hunting. Apparently, Albert took up too much room and Swain resented placing him in the cab and tried to beat him to the passenger’s side of the small cab. Swain’s daughter-in-law said her son tried to pull Swain off of Albert and then ran in the house reporting the incident and saying that Albert had cried and he thought he was dead as he lay motionless after the beating with the flashlight. Video footage of the event was published on Saturday, December 10, 2016 and went viral, garnering 44,000 views, 555 comments, and 1,089 shares within hours. Amazingly, Albert survived. 

On December 10, 2016, Reaghan Marie Seymour Swain, Swain’s daughter-in-law posted the following statement on Facebook about Swain beating his dog in the presence of her son, Gaige, who is Swain’s grandson. 

“Share away until we get justice for Albert, this my husband's father beating his dog unconscious ( my sorry father [i]n law) (NOT A HUNTING DOG) but his pet. Finally we got him on video literally beating this poor dog that is about 1 years old unconscious. He repeatedly punched him, you can even see the truck bouncing he was hitting him so hard, and took a large compact flashlight that Gaige bought him for Christmas last year and beat him more and more until it broke. This flashlight is supposed to be very durable and to hit a poor dog so hard it breaks it make me SICK! I wish I could post the whole thing showing Gaige begging him to stop, pushed him away, and slammed the door and kept on swinging. The police have the video, report was made, sent to wlox who also is looking into it and talking with me, sent to the human society and was contacted by them, also.... Animal control should have this video and his info if they don't already.” 

A warrant was issued for William “Billy” Larry Swain December 12, 2016 and Biloxi Police Chief John Miller announced that Swain turned himself in that day. Swain was given a February 6, 2017 court date. In Defense of Animals held a vigil at the Biloxi Public Safety Building on February 5, 2017 to highlight this crime and two other cases of aggravated assault against animals in the area, one against a dog and the other against a cat committed in Biloxi, MS and Moss Point, MS. These and other recent cases of egregious animal cruelty were demonstrated to be the need for strengthened animal ordinances and animal protective state statutes. 

Animal control did not take Albert to a veterinarian for an examination, so only the video and Swain’s grandson’s testimony stand for Albert’s justice. Swain pled innocent through his attorney and claimed that he was hitting the seat not Albert during his rampage. Albert is a large dog and he clearly filled the seat when he was prostrate during the assault. At one point his legs could be seen flailing. 

“Crimes like these are committed by violent people without boundaries as to who their next victim will be,” said Doll Stanley, Director of In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign. “Our legislators must recognize our legal responsibility to protect animals and urgently pass laws with penalties that fit the crimes. These heinous acts are an outrage and Mississippians who are frustrated with our criminal system dismissing such vile acts as unwarranted of a first offense felony must hear us. Mississippians are mounting a zero-tolerance campaign against animal cruelty and leaders who fail to recognize the impact such barbaric acts have on society.” 

Despite the horrific nature of this act, first offense aggravated cruelty to a dog or a cat is a mere misdemeanor under Mississippi Statute 97-41-16, carrying a maximum fine of just $2,500 and / or six months in jail. 

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is working with legislators to remedy Mississippi’s lax animal protection laws so that crimes against dogs and cats become a first offense felony. Mississippi is one of only two states still with only a first offense misdemeanor statute for aggravated cruelty to a dog or a cat, leaving domestic animals less protected than farmed animals. 

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is working tirelessly to advance the cause for justice and show state legislators that the people of Mississippi are united against senseless and horrific animal abuse. Campaign members are aligning with Mississippi judges, prosecuting attorneys, law enforcement officials, legislators, Mississippi coalitions, animal advocates and concerned citizens to pass meaningful regional ordinances that will protect animals when state statutes fail. In Defense of Animals has served in Mississippi for 24 years, aiding victims and law enforcement with hundreds of cruelty reports. 

For more information, please visit www.idausa.org  

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In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is actively working with officials in communities, building a groundswell of support for establishing and amending city and county ordinances as part of its campaign to show state lawmakers that Mississippians will not tolerate animal cruelty. 

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization located in San Rafael, Calif. dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

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