July 29, 2010– A man charged with animal cruelty in Fergus Falls failed to make a court appearance on Monday. Benjamin James Stavaas faces six counts of animal cruelty, including two felony charges, after slitting his dog’s throat in a fit of anger and leaving it to die. Stavaas said that he did it because the dog would not stop chasing cars. A warrant has now been issued for Stavaas’s arrest.
The dog is a German shepherd mix named Star. About a week after the incident, she wandered into a rural Fergus Falls yard and was taken to a veterinarian. Star has now had surgery and is currently awaiting adoption in a foster home.
The incident also spurred the creation of a Facebook page, “Justice for Star in Minnesota.” The group led a demonstration of 20 people at the court appearance. They have also started a petition, which has over 1,000 signatures, calling for Stavaas to receive the maximum penalty: two years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
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