Frontier Communications Sanitizes Their Facebook Page

Shortly after Frontier Communications Service Technician Joshua Gray struck Pepper in the head with his test phone, a link to this blog was placed on Frontier's Facebook page...where it remained for several weeks. Recently someone decided to sanitize Frontier's Facebook page and remove ALL negative comments, including the post about Pepper, so we've created a Facebook  page where people can post uncensored complaints about Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Complaints Page

Criminal Case Against Joshua Gray Continued to August 23, 2011

Joshua Gray's Attorney requested and received a continuance in the Animal Cruelty case against Joshua Gray.  The new court date is August 23, 2011.

Frontier Management will not say whether or not Joshua Gray has been fired, or even suspended, due to "Privacy Issues" ...so if you need phone service, and have a pet on a leash in your yard, you might want to keep a wary eye out for who Frontier sends to install/repair your telephone and/or Internet.

Pepper's condition is about the same, and it looks like the brain damage caused by Gray will be permanent.  Pepper can only walk in circles and will most likely require special care for the rest of her life.  The good news is that while her motor skills are shot, he mental faculties seem intact.  She recognizes her family, responds to her name and other verbal stimuli, and clearly enjoys being cuddled.

While she will never be the same physically, she can have a good life as a well loved lap puppy.

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.