Judge orders competency test in animal cruelty case

By CHRIS HARRIS, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal

October 30, 2008 07:04 pm

— A man charged with attempting to snip off a dog’s body parts will be tested for mental competency before standing before a judge again.
Michael Salyers of Science Hill was arrested last week and charged with second-degree animal cruelty. He is accused of using a pair of scissors to try to cut off the puppy’s ears and tail.
Salyers stood before Judge Katie Wood in Pulaski District Court on Thursday, his second appearance thus far, having pleaded not guilty in his first appearance last week.
Salyers’ counsel, Jim Cox, made an oral motion Thursday requesting to have Salyers examined for competency to stand trial. County Attorney Bill Thompson had no objection, and Salyers will be evaluated with a doctor’s report on his mental status to be returned before his next court date.
Science Hill Police Chief Robbie Gossett, who arrested Salyers on Oct. 23, said that Salyers pulled the puppy, estimated to be between eight and 10 weeks old, from an acquaintance’s car and attempted to first cut through the puppy’s ears and tail with a pocket knife. When that didn’t work, he used a pair of scissors, doing substantial damage to the dog.
The acquaintance rushed the puppy to a local veterinarian, who repaired the damage to the ears and tail.
Gossett said Salyers told police that he attempted to cut the puppy’s ears and tail because he thought it would look good.
Salyers will appear again in court on Dec. 22.