EASTPOINTE, Mich. – An Eastpointe teen has been bound over to Macomb County Circuit Court after she allegedly kicked her mom’s dog in the face, causing it to lose an eye.
Dezhiar Blair, 19, was charged in February with third-degree animal torture.
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A woman told police that when she got home, her dog got excited and started barking. Her daughter was allegedly upset by the barking and kicked the 3-year-old Shih-Poo dog, which weighs less than five pounds, in the face.
The dog started bleeding from its eye, and the mother took it to an emergency veterinarian.
They told the teen’s mom that the dog suffered head trauma and one of its eyes had popped out of its socket. Officials said the dog had surgery to remove the eye.
According to authorities, Blair waived her preliminary exam and was bound over to Macomb County Circuit Court. She remains lodged at the Macomb County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
In Michigan, it is a felony to intentionally kill or torture an animal. Penalties for torturing or killing an animal can vary in severity in Michigan and can be impacted by many factors, including whether the animal is a pet or a companion animal. Someone convicted of animal cruelty as a form of domestic violence can face up to 10 years in prison.