Charles Berube of Methuen, Massachusetts has given what he believes is an excuse for murder by tool—poverty. berube says his Bulldog, Spot, whom he’d had for over ten years, had taken ill last July.
When he could not afford to pay a veterinarian to euthanize the dog, he took it upon himself to do so in the most humane way possible—which, as everybody knows, is death by hammer (the second-most humane being, of course, having your intestines ripped out by being stretched on a rack).
Now Berube, 53, who had his first court date on Thursday, is facing animal cruelty charges. His trial by jury is set for August 20.
Ten years… wow. Hamster, dog, millipede, I don’t care what kind of pet it is, if you’ve had it for over a decade, don’t you think some kind of more kindly goodbye is warranted? Something a little more warm and fuzzy than being bludgeoned to death?
Do you really think that George would have killed Lenny this way in Of Mice and Men? Doubtful. Short and quick, that’s the name of the game when it’s putting someone out of his or her misery.
Berube said that Spot was sick for weeks, losing weight, and his swollen legs had made it nearly impossible for him to walk. He also said that he could not afford a veterinarian, did not want Spot to suffer, and didn’t want to “burden” a shelter.
No matter how sick and miserable Spot was, I’m sure being struck repeatedly with a hammer didn’t have a morphine effect.
And I’m not a resident of Methuen, but I’m pretty sure everybody knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who could get you a gun, let you borrow his gun, or just plain old shoot your dog for you. I’m not advocating shooting dogs, but surely a quick bullet through the head would have done old Spot a bit more justice than the death he received.
So what would an appropriate punishment be for Mr. Berube, I wonder? Vote on your favorite, or add your own in the comments:
- A hefty fine—animal cruelty is animal cruelty
- Nothing—he did what he thought was right
- A warning; the guy is broke and deserves a break
- A hammering of his own by someone twice his size
Also, answer this: do you think Berube really did commit this act out of love for his dog? Or was it your garden variety case of man being the beast?
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