Recently I covered a story on the first Sedgwick County man to be charged under Magnum's Law. The law was passed after a puppy died when someone poured acid on him. The law toughens the penalty for animal cruelty making it a felony to hurt or kill an animal intentionally. I truly believe this law should be on the books, but, and I say but because an attorney who is representing the Sedgwick County man charged with this crime recently made some interesting points.

He said his client loves animals and has had pets for years and has never had any kind of problems before now. Here's the story as heard in the courtroom. Witnesses say Marques Eason took two puppies and smashed them together like cymbals and then threw them to the ground. A mail carrier says she saw him slam one puppy on the ground. The puppy, Apollo, ended up dying from internal injuries and blunt force trauma. Here's the dilemma. Eason's attorney says when someone intentionally abuses an animal or tortures it, yes, that person should be charged with a felony. But his client, he says, didn't intentionally or maliciously hurt his dog. So, he believes the law should be more defined, making it a misdemeanor if there is no intent. If Eason did kill his dog then I think he should be punished for the crime, but is the law too harsh? I don't know. I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks.

The trial is scheduled for March. It should be interesting to see what a jury says.