Georgia Army veteran arrested for smashing window to save dog from hot car

[Liberal_in_LA]

This is broken windows policing at its finest.

Police in Georgia arrested an Army veteran Saturday after he smashed the glass on a Mustang convertible to rescue a trapped dog from a sweltering car.

Michael Hammons said he couldn't stand by while the Yorkshire terrier was in distress in the Athens strip mall parking lot.

"I've got PTSD, and I've seen enough death and destruction," Hammons told 11Alive, noting his service in Desert Storm. "And I didn't want anything else to happen if I could prevent it."

No good deed goes unpunished, and so this veteran could be facing a stiff fine or even some jail time.

When Hammons saw a group of onlookers waiting for police to free the panting pooch, which did not appear to have water, he grabbed the foot rest of his wife's wheelchair and busted the window, My Fox Atlanta reported.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ga-man-charged-smashing-window-save-dog-hot-car-article-1.2219041

[Jim9090]

1. People are so messed up

So a window is more important than a suffering animal? Right...got it.

They should just be glad he didn't use the foot rest on the dogs owner.

[hamsterjill]

2. I say good for him.

I hope he can get an attorney somehow and fight this. Surely there are at least some minimal laws covering animal cruelty even in Georgia that an attorney could use to Mr. Hammons' benefit in some way.

[LisaL]

3. They actually put this guy behind bars.

Wow.
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/athens/2015/05/11/man-arrested-after-saving-dog/27146749/

[SusanCalvin]

11. Disgusting owner:

But witnesses say when the owner came out of the store, she was furious, and demanded deputies take action.

"If the owner was okay with that, and didn't want any charges, would he have been arrested?" asked 11Alive's La'Tasha Givens.

"No," said Oconee County Chief Deputy Lee Weems. "We would not have made those charges on our own. The deputies on scene say the owner of the dog and the car were very insistent that he be charged with criminal trespassing."

She told police it had only been five minutes.

Even if it *was* only five minutes (which the window-breaker disputes), you do not leave a dog alone in a car any more than you do a kid.

[brewens]

4. If it was a kid they wouldn't be busting him and a dog should be the same.

If you don't know how long they've been in there, you don't know how long until it might become life threatening. But who gives a shit about that? Too hot is too hot and you bust the dog out!

[Brother Buzz]

5. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission

I stand in solidarity with fellow Army veteran brother.

[Angry Dragon]

6. He did well

[geek tragedy]

7. no jury is going to convict him. the dog owner, on the other hand, is facing animal cruelty charges

So, karma will prevail

[LisaL]

8. She (the owner) isn't facing animal cruelty charges.

She got some sort of citation.

[BrotherIvan]

9. If he has a gofundme page for his fine, I'll donate

That poor dog and the selfish owner. Blech, not everyone should have pets.

[Omaha Steve]

13. x 2

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. Good for him!

I wish more people would do that kind of thing. Serves the dog's owner right.

[imnew]

12. I would have taken the dog and walked away before they knew who I was

I know he couldn't with his wife in a wheel chair I'm just saying what I would do.

Don't care when it comes to these things

I would feel no remorse what so ever when the owner found her widow smashed and her dog missing.
Please anyone roll up your windows and sit in a car for 15 minutes on a hot day with the sun beating
on your car. It's an eye opening experience .


I'm glad to see there's people still out there like that.

[Renew Deal]

14. The dogs owner should pay the fine