Diamond, Ill. – A teenager from Diamond, Julian Decker, has been sentenced to the Grundy County Alternative Court Program for the Unlawful Killing of a Service Animal, a class three felony.
According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Decker was watching a two-year-old dachshund/rat terrier/chihuahua mix registered emotional support dog on May 3rd, 2022. When the dog’s owner returned, the dog was found dead.
Court records show that Decker has no previous criminal history. However, the indictment alleges that Decker willfully or maliciously pushed, pulled, or struck the dog, resulting in its death. Upon investigating, police officials found that the dog had a brain bleed, various bruises throughout the body, and a puncture mark inside the snout behind the nose.
Decker’s sentence requires him to complete the Alternative Court Program. If he fails, he will have to serve 30 months of probation and 180 days in the Grundy County Jail. If he passes, the felony charge will be dropped.
Animal welfare advocates have expressed their outrage over the incident and called for stricter laws against animal cruelty. The death of an emotional support animal is a reminder that pets need protection, and animal cruelty is a severe offense.
