Joshua Gray Charged With Animal Cruelty

Joshua Gray

Frontier Communications Service Technician Joshua Gray has been charged with misdemeanor "Cruelty to Animal(s)"  NC Statue 14-360(A)

The case is scheduled for July 12, 2011 in Sylva, NC (Jackson County)

"Pepper" the miniature schnauzer who was struck in the head by Gray is still in serious, but stable condition.

WLOS Tells Pepper's Story

Today Emma Wright, a Reporter for WLOS News and her Cameraman interviewed Pepper's owner Gina Rarick, and one of the witnesses to the assault, Nick Dunn.

Top Stories - Frontier Communications Technician Allegedly Beats Dog

The story will air tonight at 10:00 pm (est) on WLOS-ABC 13, and at 11:00 pm (est) on WMYA- 40 

Pepper has shown some improvement over the past couple of days, but she's still in VERY serious condition, unable to eat or keep her balance.

The Animal Cruelty Investigation is still on-going, and today the Deputy in charge of the case interviewed the witnesses who rushed Pepper to the Vet.
We should know within a day or two whether or not Pepper's attacker will be charged.

Do You Know This "Man?"

Jackson County, NC

This is a picture of the unidentified Frontier Communications Service Technician who bludgeoned a tiny little dog nearly to death. 

Since he was at their home on a service call, this "man" has the name and exact address/location of the people he's traumatized for life, but his name is being withheld by Frontier Communications.  Local authorities have stated that they can not, by law, release his identity because there is an ongoing criminal investigation.

So the perpetrator is being protected, while his victims are left to wonder and worry about whether or not this "man" will try to retaliate against them and/or their pets for his recent suspension by Frontier.  It is certainly reasonable to fear that any "man" who could do this to a LEASHED, 15 pound, foot tall, family pet is capable of anything.

If the Frontier Communications Technician can be identified, it is the intent of his victims and their neighbors to try and get a protective order barring him from ever setting foot on their property again. Since he has only been "Suspended pending a full investigation" he could be reinstated at any time, without notice to the victims and the rest of the neighborhood.

Will Frontier Communication's Dog Clubber be on your doorstep next?

Frontier Tech "Surprised" By Stealth Schnauzers?

In a recent email to a reader, John Swallow, a Senior Vice President for Frontier Communications stated:

I agree that striking a dog is deplorable. Our employee was surprised and nipped by the dog and reacted. 
No excuse.   Frontier immediately agreed to pay the vet bills.  Our hearts go out to the family who we have have spoken to directly.  We are investigating the entire incident and will act appropriately. Our employee is very distraught.  I am a fellow dog lover and dog owner and understand your response. 

John Swallow
Senior Vice President – North & South Carolina
Frontier Communications
843.957.3841 cell
john.swallow@ftr.com

"Stephanie" who states she works in a "marketing and community relations for Frontier." also commented on this blog post. 

"The employee reacted instinctively when surprised and nipped by the dog and swung backwards by reflex, hitting the dog."

How could the Frontier Technician possibly have been "surprised" by TWO miniature schnauzers who started barking at him the moment he pulled into their driveway?

Before the Technician even exited his truck, Pepper and her best buddy Spunky (also a mini schnauzer) were doing what schnauzers do...barking, and barking, and then barking some more.

Unless the technician was completely deaf, he had to hear Pepper's high pitched "yap, yap, yap" long before he walked over to her and clubbed her in the head.

How does a six foot man bend over and strike a 12 inch high dog in the head "instinctively" in a "reflex?"  According to 3 witnesses, both mini schnauzers were at the end of their leads, barking their little lungs out, when the Frontier Technician refused to wait for the resident to secure the dogs in their crates, walked over to where Pepper was barking incessantly, bent over, and beat her in the head.

According to the neighbor who was standing directly behind the Frontier Technician, Pepper did not "try to nip" the Tech...she just stood at the end of her lead barking non-stop WITH HER TAIL WAGGING.

According to the Technician's current story, both miniature schnauzers would have had to remain completely silent while he pulled into their driveway, walked up the their front door and talked to their owner.

WHAT?  They're miniature schnauzers, not doberman pinchers.... they bark at EVERYTHING, most especially at strangers approaching their home.

"I was surprise attacked by a stealth schnauzer" was the best the Frontier Tech could come up with?  Really?

It should also be noted that Frontier did not "immediately agree to pay the vet bills" The Raricks were originally told on Friday that it would be Monday before Frontier Managers could meet and make a decision regarding whether or not they would help pay Peppers vet bills.

Thankfully, Frontier Management reconsidered their decision on Saturday, and Pepper is now getting the care she needs.

Assistant District Attorney Overrules Deputy in Animal Cruelty Case

After their Miniature Schnauzer was clubbed nearly to the point of death by a Frontier Communications Technician, a Jackson County Deputy told the Raricks, and their neighbors, that the Frontier Tech would be charged with "Cruelty to an Animal".

Saturday morning, the Raricks learned that that Deputy's decision was overruled by a Jackson County Assistant Attorney. No one from the District Attorney's Office has yet spoken to the Raricks, or any of the witnesses.

According to the Deputy, the ADA essentially said that the Frontier Technician's actions did not constitute a crime.  At question is how the ADA could make this determination without speaking to the Raricks and their neighbors.

The Raricks recently moved into their cabin, and don't yet know any of their neighbors personally. If these completely impartial witnesses to the assault are to be believed, then it certainly appears to a layperson that the NC "Cruelty to Animals" Statue should apply?

http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cruelty/nc_cruel.htm 

ARTICLE 47. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
14-360 Cruelty to animals; construction of section.
(a) If any person shall intentionally overdrive, overload, wound, injure, torment, kill, or deprive of necessary sustenance, or cause or procure to be overdriven, overloaded, wounded, injured, tormented, killed, or deprived of necessary sustenance, any animal, every such offender shall for every such offense be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(b) If any person shall maliciously torture, mutilate, maim, cruelly beat, disfigure, poison, or kill, or cause or procure to be tortured, mutilated, maimed, cruelly beaten, disfigured, poisoned, or killed, any animal, every such offender shall for every such offense be guilty of a Class I felony. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to increase the penalty for cockfighting provided for in G.S. 14-362.

(c) As used in this section, the words "torture", "torment", and "cruelly" include or refer to any act, omission, or neglect causing or permitting unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death. As used in this section, the word "intentionally" refers to an act committed knowingly and without justifiable excuse, while the word "maliciously" means an act committed intentionally and with malice or bad motive. As used in this section, the term "animal" includes every living vertebrate in the classes Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia except human beings. However, this section shall not apply to the following activities:
(1) The lawful taking of animals under the jurisdiction and regulation of the Wildlife Resources Commission, except that this section shall apply to those birds exempted by the Wildlife Resources Commission from its definition of "wild birds" pursuant to G.S. 113-129(15a).
(2) Lawful activities conducted for purposes of biomedical research or training or for purposes of production of livestock, poultry, or aquatic species.
(2a) Lawful activities conducted for the primary purpose of providing food for human or animal consumption.
(3) Activities conducted for lawful veterinary purposes.
(4) The lawful destruction of any animal for the purposes of protecting the public, other animals, property, or the public health.

The Raricks and their neighbors are going to request a meeting with the Jackson County ADA first thing Monday morning.

Frontier Communications Assumes Responsibility for Pepper's Vet Bill

On Saturday, June 18,at approx. 8 pm (est) Mr. Greg Edwards visited REACH and arranged for the payment of Pepper's bill...to include whatever care the Vet deems best.

Mr. Edwards actually agreed to cover Pepper's vet expenses at around noon on Saturday, but clerical issues prevented the use of his card over the phone so he drove to Asheville and paid in person Saturday evening.

We thank him!

Pepper is still in critical condition, but she has a chance, which is greatly increased by getting all the care she needs.  She did show some signs of improvement early Saturday morning.  She raised her head and acknowledged the vet tech a couple of times, but then she had another seizure at about noon, and had to be sedated again.  Her pupils are pinpoints and she's being treated for brain swelling, but she's breathing on her own.

The Vet said that there no way to predict an outcome in the case of a severe head injury. This could go on for several days, and then Pepper could either recover completely, with no long term effects....or she could go into a coma and never wake up.

The Raricks would like to thank everyone who expressed concern for Pepper and urged Frontier to help with her care. Since they do not have an Internet connection, the Rarick family asked us to pass along their heartfelt gratitude.

Frontier Communications Refuses To Help with Emergency Vet Treatment

Pepper, the miniature schnauzer who was brutally bludgeoned in the head by a Frontier Internet Technician has been moved to the Regional Emergency Animal Care Hospital (REACH) in Asheville North Carolina.  Pepper is still unconscious and the vet on call did not sound optimistic regarding Pepper's chance of survival without extensive medical care.

Unfortunately, REACH requires full payment in advance, before treatment ... which they estimated to be $1568.54 for the weekend. The Raricks and their neighbors were only able to raise about $600.00 on a few hours notice so REACH re-estimated the costs of "supportive care" only.


Without giving Pepper all the treatment she actually needs the deposit required was $550.63 .
Three hours after being informed of the dire situation, Mr. Greg Edwards, speaking for Frontier Communications, REFUSED to assist the Raricks in obtaining the necessary emergency care for Pepper. 

Mr. Edwards stated that he would contact the Technician, who did not return to work after being charged with Animal Cruelty, and then meet with Frontier General Manager Ken Maxwell (828-645-1801) on MONDAY, before deciding what help, if any, they would offer the Raricks.  The fact that Pepper could be dead by Monday did not seem to matter to Mr. Edwards in the slightest.

Frontier Communication's callous disregard for the life of the tiny dog their Technician nearly killed with one blow is absolutely deplorable.  One phone call with a credit card from a Frontier Accountant to REACH would guarantee that Pepper would receive ALL the medical treatment she so desperately needs. 

Instead of acting in a responsible and caring manner, Frontier Communication's upper management is going to "have a meeting about the incident" Monday morning, when it's convenient for them....regardless of the effect their delay will have on Pepper's care.

Frontier Internet Technician Clubs Miniature Schnauzer.

A Frontier Communications Internet Installation Technician has been charged with "Cruelty to an Animal" after brutally clubbing a leashed, miniature schnauzer in the head with a Heavy Duty Test Phone.  The 15 lb dog, "Pepper" is currently in Sylva Animal Hospital in critical condition with a severe head injury.  At time of writing, "Pepper" had not yet regained consciousness and was suffering multiple seizures.
 

Upon arriving at the residence, the Frontier Technician was told by the resident, John Rarick to "Please wait while I put my dogs away"  Instead of waiting as requested, "the Frontier Technician walked around the side of the cabin to where Pepper was restrained on her lead, bent over and viciously clubbed the tiny dog with a test phone about the size and weight of a dumbbell," according to a neighbor who was an eye witness to the bludgeoning of the dog,  This occurred in full view of the Rarick's 4 year old son, who was raised with the 8 year miniature schnauzer.

"Pepper" is a friendly, family pet who was property leashed and represented no threat to the young, 6ft tall Frontier Technician. According to witnesses, the Frontier Technician was clearly "Looking for a dog" when he disregarded the resident's request that he "wait until I put my dogs up" and went around to the side of the cabin.

"This was not a startle reaction" said a witness to the assault on Pepper. "The Frontier Technician clubbed that little dog as hard as he could like this" stated the witness, making the motion of rising his arm into the air and striking downward in a forceful cross body blow. "The dog was at the end of her lead and the Frontier Technician had to bend over to hit her."

 At no time after the incident did the Frontier Technician appear upset, or even concerned about the animal he'd just beaten unconscious. His face showed no visible affect at all, and his voice was flat and unemotional  ...until AFTER he found out he would be charged with "Cruelty to an Animal"

 

"Pepper" is currently fighting for her life, and Frontier Communications has thus far refused to assist with the rapidly mounting vet fees.  Neighbors have taken up a collection to help pay for Pepper's immediate emergency care, but the little dog needs to be moved to the Asheville Regional Emergency Animal Care Hospital REACH for 24 hour care over the weekend. The Rarick's have a 4 year old son as well as a new baby, and like most young couples in their situation, are of limited means. 

If you are reading this, PLEASE take a moment of your time and call Frontier Communications and urge them to provide for Pepper's medical care.

When he realized he was being photographed, the Frontier Technician turned his back to the camera.

 

If you need additional details please call: 828-226-7275