RFP Staff
♦ Wednesday’s probable cause hearing for Eric Hillard a man accused of shooting “Jake” the dog paralyzed by the brutal incident was postponed until December 17th. According to the District Attorney’s Office it had not had a chance to meet with the defense attorney in the case.
Jake’s owners the Hausmanns and animal rights activists across North Carolina are campaigning to bring “Susie’s Law”, a law recently enacted in the state, to be brought into full force in this high-profile animal abuse case.
Last October, Eric Hillard, 47, was charged with cruelty to animals. The Granite Quarry-Faith Police say Hillard shot “Jake” a dog who belonged to Karen and Carl Haussman. “Jake” survived the February shooting which left the pet paralyzed and requiring constant care from the family. Area animal rights activists are livid with the dog’s senseless shooting.
People advocating for “Susie’s Law” being brought to bare in this case are hoping that District Attorney Brandy Cook will prosecute the case under the new law. If this occurs, Hillard would be the first case in North Carolina to be tried under the new animal abuse law that may include an up to 10 months of an active prison sentence.
The Haussman family, joined by animal rights activists, have campaigned for Susie’s Law to be brought into Jake’s senseless shooting. The Haussmans last summer offered a $5,000 reward for information about the dog’s shooter and put up signs in Faith.
“Susie’s Law” was named after a dog set on fire and badly beaten by her owner after Susie licked the face of the owner’s child. The dog survived, but the owner who burned the dog and beat it received a 4 to 6 month prison sentence for burning “personal property”. Susie was the “personal property”.
Since the weak sentencing, animal rights advocates worked tirelessly for a tougher law regarding animal cruelty. This resulted in “Susie’s Law” a Class H felony.
http://northcarolina.arrests.org/Arrests/Eric_Hillard_7905350/
