JACKSON COUNTY (WSIL) -- The Jackson County State's Attorney will not file charges in the case of a dog that had it's mouth shut by rubber bands.
State’s Attorney Michael C. Carr said, "It seems clear that this was not a malicious action on anyone's part, but the unfortunate result of a young child who was not capable of understanding the results of his actions."
He said a 7-year-old boy’s parents and siblings said he was known to try to braid the hair of the dog with rubber bands in the past.
The dog, later named Wyatt, was surrendered to animal control by the family and taken to St. Francis Animal CARE.
Wyatt underwent a 2 and a half hour surgery to remove the bands that had been around the dog's mouth so long they were eating into the bone.
“We have determined that this was not a deliberate criminal act of animal cruelty perpetrated by a 7-year-old child or anyone else in the family household. As such, neither criminal nor juvenile charges will be filed," said Carr.
In its post about the decision, St. Francis CARE said "Clearly the system set up to address animal abuse & neglect did not work for Wyatt. We are heartbroken & in complete disbelief!"
