Fla. man allegedly bites dog as punishment

updated 4:00 p.m. ET Dec. 14, 2004

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A man accused of biting his Jack Russell terrier as punishment was jailed on animal cruelty charges, and police say he also used a 200-pound bull mastiff in an attempt to keep officers from arresting him.

The mother of Mount Lee Lacy’s girlfriend called police after he and her daughter argued about Lacy’s method of disciplining his Jack Russell terrier, authorities said.

Officers kicked down the apartment door when they heard an argument and barking and said they found Lacy holding the mastiff on a taut leash.

Lacy, 21, remained jailed Tuesday on one count each of felony animal cruelty and resisting arrest without violence. Bail was set at $25,000.

“He said that biting the dog was good punishment and that’s how you train them, that dogs bite so that’s what they understand,” Sgt. Keith Kameg said. When an officer approached the terrier, Kameg said, she “was cowering in the back of her crate as if the officer was going to hurt her.”

Police reported the dog’s left front paw was bloody from a bite.

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