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Friday afternoon I was arrested because a neighbor complained about the appearance of my aging 14 year old Boston Terrier, named Oreo. The Morgan City Police Department sent two units with two officers. Because of the dog’s age and inability to control her bladder her kennel had to be placed in our carport. The dog has been sickly and losing weight, despite feeding her more. We couldn’t take her to the Vet as I am unemployed and the doctors offered any payment plan. We strongly suspect (not that we’re vets in any sense) the dog, being female has some form of cancer or kidney disease, causes of weight loss. Other the weight loss and moving slower as she’s past her life expectancy she’s the same dog. Last year due to an eye infection she did go blind in one eye. So appearance wise she didn’t look great, as several of my surrounding neighbors were aware of. Because of the way she looked we were afraid to take her to be "put down" in fear that the Vet would contact law enforcement on us for neglect and abuse. It was the exact opposite as I also didn’t have the heart. After all, I lost my mother recently to cancer and her weight was 85 pounds when she died, but no one wanted to put her to sleep and like the dog, left it in God’s hands. So as long as the dog wasn’t in pain, passed blood or worms we decided to just keep caring for her as she’s been our dog since 8 weeks old and quite pampered most of her life. Apparently that morning someone either from or passing through the neighborhood spotted the dog and called the Morgan City Police. My wife and I tried explaining the situation, that the dog was just old and strangely lost much weight. The Morgan City Police Officers refused to listen and pegged us already guilty from the start. I was read my rights only 10 minutes into the discussion from a rookie cop. Once Animal Control came, who happened to be a woman without a charming bone in her body. She too immediately assumed the dog should have been put the sleep long ago and said it was cruel of us to have kept the dog alive. With closed ears my tone became more vocal and I was warned to "shut up." Well I didn’t and before I knew it I was sitting in the back of a police car, in front of all of my neighbors, with cuffs so tight I still have the bruises today, my entire ride to the station I was in excruciating pain the whole time. I was booked, printed, given a urine test and charged with "Animal Cruelty." I had to be bailed out with a court date of November 27th. The dog was taken away, not one person from the department telling me of her state or condition. Somehow through a concerned Facebook friend she managed to find out the animal is still alive, but had to be examined by the Veterinarian to determine if it indeed was abuse, neglect, disease or natural causes. Several of my neighbors tried explaining, even after I was driven away but no one listened. One neighbor who just had to put his own dog to sleep knew I was considering that myself but understood due to the pain he went through himself. Other neighbors called the Morgan City Mayor’s Office on my behalf as many knew I cared for the dog and often saw me outside caring for her. With that charge, even though a misdemeanor, I now have a record, which could damage my chances of regaining employment. I was extremely humiliated, given so little water that my mouth and lips dried to a point of bleeding, not offered any restroom breaks and locked in a holding area until another neighbor posted bail. The Morgan City Police Department is notoriously brutal and just paid a $75,000 Lawsuit in which my niece and her family were attacked by police officers and her husband no longer being able to work for permanent back injuries. I had much support with my neighbors and friends on Facebook but that’s not enough, I want this charge completely wiped off of my record and charges dropped. I’m willing to appear on camera as well as my neighbors. The Morgan City Police Department can not continue their practice of abuse and extreme force as they’re costing tax payers money and causing its citizens to live in fear and embarrassment. What you can do: 1. Call the Mayor’s Office, make sure the new Mayoral Candidate has a mandate to Police the Police. 2. Demand Captain Michael Banks resigns.