Man accused of abandoning puppies charged with animal cruelty
TACOMA, Wash. -- The 27-year old Lakewood man accused of abandoning nine emaciated puppies in the woods was charged Tuesday with animal cruelty.
Christopher Merrick is accused of dumping the emaciated and dehydrated dogs in the woods near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Investigators say the animals' ribs were protruding and their paws were swollen to twice the size. Some had their eyes swollen shut with mucus. Others were bleeding from open sores.
A Lakewood Animal Control officer first received an anonymous complaint about Merrick and went to his house to check on the dogs in September. Merrick allegedly told the officer he had taken nine 6-month old puppies to the Humane Society, but the officer soon found out that wasn't true.
The Humane Society's kennel supervisor told the officer that Merrick brought the dogs in, but decided not to leave them after learning he would have to pay a fee.
Merrick's mother defended her son's actions last week.
"We didn't abandon our dogs; we took them to go get help," said Lori Merrick. "I couldn't afford no $900."
Over the next several days, all nine puppies were found in the woods near JBLM. A veterinarian evaluated the puppies and determined that they had severe parasitic skin infections, which cause raw and hairless skin, a condition related to purposeful neglect, according to prosecutors.
One of the nine puppies found did not survive, but the others are all doing well in their new homes.
Merrick is set to be arraigned Wednesday morning.
Christopher Merrick is accused of dumping the emaciated and dehydrated dogs in the woods near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Investigators say the animals' ribs were protruding and their paws were swollen to twice the size. Some had their eyes swollen shut with mucus. Others were bleeding from open sores.
A Lakewood Animal Control officer first received an anonymous complaint about Merrick and went to his house to check on the dogs in September. Merrick allegedly told the officer he had taken nine 6-month old puppies to the Humane Society, but the officer soon found out that wasn't true.
The Humane Society's kennel supervisor told the officer that Merrick brought the dogs in, but decided not to leave them after learning he would have to pay a fee.
Merrick's mother defended her son's actions last week.
"We didn't abandon our dogs; we took them to go get help," said Lori Merrick. "I couldn't afford no $900."
Over the next several days, all nine puppies were found in the woods near JBLM. A veterinarian evaluated the puppies and determined that they had severe parasitic skin infections, which cause raw and hairless skin, a condition related to purposeful neglect, according to prosecutors.
One of the nine puppies found did not survive, but the others are all doing well in their new homes.
Merrick is set to be arraigned Wednesday morning.
I was lucky enough to adopt one of these pups. After several months of special care she is healthy and has a beautiful coat. She is happy, sweet, much adored, spoiled, and forever grateful to her rescuers.
 @JJ - I write the Seattle Pets Examiner column and I'd love to talk with you about the pup you adopted! Let me know if you'd be interested. This is such a sad story and I'd love to talk to someone who has experienced the happier side of the story.
 @TLCampion  @JJ You bet!  Give me your number and I'll call on Monday...
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 @JJ Hi JJ - send me an e-mail to TLCampion@Gmail.com and I'll happily give it to you! I just don't want to post it on a public forum. Thanks!
How about he be abandon'd in a prison cell for 10 years on bread and water. thats a year in dog time. what a Cretin.
His mother sounds ridicoulus. I understand not being able to pay $900 but how going to a public place with a free sign. I have seen that done on several ocassions. Try for gods sake!!!
This is a traviste, these type of morons who disegard are allowed to be free in our society.. Throw the book at them please!
Merrick's mother defended her son's actions last week."We didn't abandon our dogs; we took them to go get help," said Lori Merrick. "I couldn't afford no $900."
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Apple does not fall far from the tree...they are both a couple piles of crap!
You shouldn't be in the business of trafficking dogs if you can't afford to take care of them. F*cking morons.
$900? It's free to surrender a baby at a local hospital or fire station.Â
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I'm sure there are other shelters that would have taken them for free. Pick up a phone...
"I couldn't afford no $900"
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Wow, that says a lot. There are ALWAYS shelters who WILL accept your animal if surrendered, so spare me the "poor is me" act.
i place partial blame on the humane society - when he was told $900 to surrender the pups - and he said he couldn't afford it - he should NOT have been allowed to leave the bldg. with the dogs until they either made financial arrangements or he was put in touch with organizations that would take them. they let him walk out knowing he didn't have the $ - what did they think he was going to do with them ?
@justme Unfortunately the humane society can not legally hold anyone. They are not the cops and at that point he had not commited any crime. what he did was disgusting and he could have tried harder. The humane society should at least be able to get you in touch with somewhere else if you explain to them that you don't have any $ and can't take care of them.
@tkyed i didn't say the HS should "hold him" - where did that come from ? again i just think they could have done more to give him information if they could not help him.
 @justme I disagree. If you get a dog, YOU are responsible. Was the dollar figure confirmed? Even so, if he couldn't afford it, then the next step is to look up other shelters and start making calls. When you have a pet, it is up to you to care for it, no one else. If you can't, then it's your responsibility to find someone who can, especially before they become as sick as those dogs were.
@tats76 yes i agree don't have them to begin with but he was beyond that point and was trying do take them to the right place. i still say the HS should have/could have a preprinted sheet to hand someone with alternatives including their financial assistance plan - which the lady from the HS spoke of in her interview. this was after the fact. if one is told a price and you can't afford the price and don't know there is another option - how would he know to even ask. i found her attitude a little cavalier - that the HS is not there for any old drop off of unwanted animals. huh ? they are there to help - and help can mean giving help with options. not everyone is internet savy - or information searching savy - come on - HS could have been a little more helpful.
 @justme I think that reinforces my stand though - I don't believe you should get any type of pet until you have done some research on the type of care you will need to provide for the animal - be it dog, cat, fish or fowl. And if you can do research on the care, then you can do research on where to take them if you are no longer able to properly provide for your pet. That's the problem - too many people still think that pets are disposable property.
@tkyed he may be 27 in years but i doubt he has that mental age ! i did not know that (some) shelters charge a drop off fee until i read this saga. there are a lot of folks who don't have the wherewithall to figure things like this out - i am not defending him i am disappointed in the Tacoma HS for not providing available options. i think one can assume that not everyone can afford the $100 fee - i just think the HS could have been more forthcoming with helpful information to him or who knows how many others that don't have the money nor the time or brain power to find another solution other than what he did.
@justme He is 27 not 7 it's called common sense at that age to at least try!! You are commenting about him as if he is a kid or something.
@Northend @tats76 i agree one should ask questions but if you don't know the questions to ask.... ? some folks are just not informed enough to know what to ask or to think it out and look for somewhere else. not saying what he did was right - certainly not. but the HS ended up with the pups anyway - w/out the fee. this was sad all the way around. and if Tacoma is high kill and they would have been put down quickly - i can only assume euthanasia is a kinder way to go than death from starvation/cold in a ditch at the side of the road.
@Northend @tats76 i agree one should ask questions but if you don't know the questions to ask.... ? some folks are just not informed enough to know what to ask or to think it out and look for somewhere else. not saying what he did was right - certainly not. but the HS ended up with the pups anyway - w/out the fee. this was sad all the way around.
 @justme  @tats76 Tacoma is a high kill shelter and will put down pit mixes quickly. You have to remember a lot of people don't offer information unless asked. I see it daily at work and in my personal life. Unless he asked, he wasn't going to get options. He also did not bring them in with him he just asked the question.  Everyone should know to always say it's a stray. Shelters are houses of horror unless it's no kill and Tacoma isn't one of those. If he had called a no kill shelter or a rescue he would have had options.Â
Merrick's mother defended her son's actions last week. "We didn't abandon our dogs; we took them to go get help," said Lori Merrick. "I couldn't afford no $900." Ok, you sorry excuse for a human being, this just goes to show that loosers like this should not be allowed to have children of their own, and never be allowed to ever own an animal. Thats why there are animal shelters, at least the pups would have had access to food, shelter, and veterinary care. This POS couldnt even do that much. Left them in the woods to suffer and die. It would be really helpful if KOMO would post pictures of both sweet, dear old mom and that POS son. At the very least, maybe someone would recognize them before they get their hands on another animal.
I'd like to pick this guy up by his heels and swing him into a brick wall really hard.Â
How can people be so cruel?Â
I can hardly wait to read about this brainiac when he decides to reproduce............. " Golly, Honey Boo Boo looks like them thar kids er sick or somthin......... I ain't got no job, ain't got insurance, and fer sure ain't got no clue 'bout nuttin...... guess we should just loadem' up in the Pacer and set 'em long side the freeway fer someone real nice to stop and help em out......... Shucks Boo Boo, whaddaya think"?
Think about it--his mother stated she "didn't have no $900" yet thought it was ok to abandon puppies (or any living being be it a dog, cat or child) in the woods? This wasn't a catch and release. I volunteer in dog rescue and there are many many rescues willing to help. I am not stating the poor shouldn't have animals, but they should spay/neuter them. There are free clinics everywhere. They obviously have a female dog that gave birth to the puppies, and any rescue would have helped them spay her BEFORE she had puppies. Thankfully the pups are being treated and I think the county should bill them for the vet care.Â
I agree, there are many places to get help, however I do disagree with your statement "I am not stating the poor shouldn't have animals...."   If you are low income and are struggling to take care of yourself/kids/bills you have no business getting an animal.  So many seem to think you get an animal and your only obligation is to buy  a bag of food every so often.  If you can't afford the potential vet bills that may crop up, I'm sorry, but you have no right to get a pet.  Its an expensive commitment!  Animals aren't disposable.
 @Maggie1 I disagree. There are plenty of poor people that take care of their animals. By your logic, they shouldn't have kids either.  I know homeless people who take care of their dogs.  I have 5 dogs and only take them to the vet for illness. Mine are healthy so I haven't had to go to the vet in years. Country dogs get fed table scraps and live happy long lives.  Many shelters give out pet food to the needy and seniors. I used to deliver it.  One does not need to earn six figures in order to have a dog.Â
The only thing this story needs is guns to REALLY get liberal panties twisted. What's wrong with you KOMO?
@CenterFire Thank you for your thoughtful, intelligent comment. I will take it under advisement.
@Hagar Yes, I agree with you Hagar. I guess if you have feelings for defensless animals being abused or hurt, you are automatically a liberal, gay loving, anti gun freak. Now I know where I stand.
"We didn't abandon our dogs; we took them to go get help," said Lori Merrick. "I couldn't afford no $900." Really? So why the hell did you have that many dogs to begin with? If you can't afford that kind of money, then you clearly have no business to be caring for that many dogs to begin with!
 @Zoso "If you can't afford that kind of money, then you clearly have no business to be caring for that many dogs to begin with!"
That's probably why they tried to take them to the Humane $ociety... think about it.
@Fooey Patooey! @Zoso Did you read the article????? They didnt take them to the humane society! They left them in the woods to starve and die. Oh yes, thats why we have this little thing called spay/nueter so that there are not that many unwanted puppies
 @mpatrick From the article: "The Humane Society's kennel supervisor told the officer that Merrick brought the dogs in, but decided not to leave them after learning he would have to pay a fee."
Now re-read my comment and notice the words "tried to take them to the Humane $ociety."Â
Tried... as in couldn't afford the required fees imposed on those who cannot afford to keep their animals and want to do the right thing.
So... did YOU read the article???
 @Fooey Patooey!  @Zosothere are free spay/neuter clinics everywhere. Zoso is correct--can't afford that many dogs, then don't have them,Â
Cruelty and neglect towards our animals is one of the lowest of lows. I am so thankful 8 of them survived and I hope they live their lives in wonderful, loving homes. If he did have to abandon them somewhere......why not outside a veterinary clinic? animal shelter? someone's home? To leave them all alone to die in the freaking woods by themselves! How dispicable!! :( The poor pups. I'm so glad they have a new chance at life.Â
Nice to hear he is being charged with animal cruelty. Hope he gets an appropriate punishment for his crime. I'm very happy the survivors are doing well in new homes.