Man Accused Of Engaging In Sex Act With Family Dog

[Herman Munster]

http://www.kirotv.com/news/10116161/detail.html

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. -- Investigators said 26-year-old, Michael Patrick McPhail may be the first person to face prosecution in Washington State under a new law protecting animals from sexual abuse.

According to charging documents, McPhail’s wife told Pierce County sheriff’s investigators she saw him engage in a sex act with the family pet.

Sherriff’s investigators said she took two photographs with a cell phone camera, then contacted police.

“There's pretty clear proof what happened to this dog and it something that's against the law, and we arrested him and the prosecutor's office charged him, so we'll see how this law stands up,” Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said.

Investigators said McPhail was arrested. When police arrived he began to cry and slammed his head into a glass coffee table.

[Gman]

1. He's not running for Congress as an R is he?

That's about the last thing that's left to do.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. No- He Would Have Had Sex With An Elephant

eom

[qnr]

36. Actually, as an R, a bald eagle would have been more appropriate n/t

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Cool.

Now he can check into ETOH rehab.

Must be getting crowded in them places.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Who let the freeps out !

woof woof woof woof !

[Downtown Hound]

5. I actually feel sorry for that guy

He sounds like he has a lot of problems, and I don't think going to jail is going to solve them. This doesn't mean that I think bestiality is okay, but I'm not sure they're handling it in the right way. He needs mental help.

[Herman Munster]

7. if you have friends like that wife who needs enemies..

the wife turned him into the cops and gave them evidence of the crime, maybe she could have tried getting him some mental help first.

Of course I know nothing about the marriage. He may be a horrible husband that rapes and beats her but if he was a great guy who just one day happened to fuck his dog, well i don't know if the cops should have been called and ruined his life like this.

[keepCAblue]

13. If he had molested their child...

would you be so quick to condemn the mother for reporting him to the police for his crimes? I doubt it.

[Kali]

17. I think the repercussions to a child are just a LITTLE more

serious than to a dog. Please.

[keepCAblue]

27. Please, yourself. I strongly disagree.

Obviously you skipped psychology 101. Abuse against animals is the most common predictor of abuse against children or other age groups. The two are irrefutably related. Beyond this, if our society took animal abuse more seriously perhaps there would be far less of an epidemic of such crimes. Your attitude is all-too-representative of certain religious fundamentalists who believe that animals are without souls and which were created for the sole purpose of serving humankind.

Next time I hold a dog or cat who has been beaten, burned, stabbed and/or sexually assaulted, I'll try to embrace your dismissive attitude so that the sounds of their screams won't hurt quite so much.

[theHandpuppet]

31. You are RIGHT ON

I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads: People Who Abuse Animals Rarely Stop There

[zbdent]

44. At my usual branch of the library, an employee's bumper sticker

says "Animals don't dump people" ... I always thought that was pretty good ...

[KFC]

37. What if the dog enjoyed it?

There are some horny hounds out there.

[keepCAblue]

41. Are you a parent?

I hope so. And I hope if your small son or daughter ever gets raped by an adult, someone suggests to you that your child "enjoyed" the act. Let's see how funny you find that one.

[KFC]

50. My dog has no nose

"how does he smell?"

"Awful!"

[Karenca]

79. How can you think this is funny?

[xchrom]

43. you have it right.

there's not a hairs breadth of differnce between an animal abuser and one who abuses people.

[Kali]

71. Calm down and read carefully.

I think the repercussions of sexual abuse of a child TO THAT CHILD would be much worse than what they would be for that dog. There MIGHT be SOME physical trauma to the dog, although there was no mention of it, but sorry there is no evidence dogs have souls or would have any lasting effect from being "assaulted" in this way - they do it to each other and seem no worse for the wear.

A human child on the other hand has much more capacity for psychological damage from such an act. To place them on the same level ridiculous.

Now, as to the abuser himself that is a totally different story, and I haven't seen a whole lot of information on the correlation of bestiality and other forms of deviant sexual behavior nor to acts of cruelty or other abuse. It's entirely possible the animal was not traumatized AT ALL.

[REP]

80. No Evidence Souls; Plenty Of Evidence They Can Feel Pain and Fear

There's no evidence that dogs or children have souls, but both can feel pain and fear. That's enough reason not inflict either on children or dogs.

Forcible sodomy is painful, whether the victim is a child or a dog. Whether or not the dog suffers any psychological damage from it (and the sexual aspect aside, yes, the infliction of physical pain especially by the hands of a trusted human does do mental damage to domesticated animals) is not what makes this act wrong; it is the willful and needless infliction of pain on a weaker creature that makes it inexcuseable.

[Kali]

82. There was no mention of injury.

Nor any of force. I agree about needless infliction of pain by a trusted human, but I totally disagree that sexual contact with a dog is the same as with a child.

[youthere]

23. LOL...

"... if he was a great guy who just one day happened to fuck his dog,..."
:spray:

Sorry. That's just not a sentence you read everyday.

[MrCoffee]

26. BWAH!

i thought the same thing!

[youthere]

54. Great minds dude...great minds.

[XemaSab]

67. Hey, sometimes accidents happen...

:shrug:




















































But this wasn't one of those times! :rofl:

[Karenca]

64. A great guy who just one day happened to fuck his dog

That is the most horrible thing I have ever seen
anyone write in these forums.


"A great guy who fucks his dog"-----you should delete your post.

[Goblinmonger]

69. Phrases I thought I would never read tonight: Part 1

"...if he was a great guy who just one day happened to fuck his dog..."

[leveymg]

9. I think the poor dog needs our pity most. eom

[keepCAblue]

11. He can get his mental help from behind bars.

Sexual assault against a helpless, voiceless animal is no less criminal or reprehensible than if against a child. Either crime deserves equal punishment. One could argue that child molesters have obvious mental problems too, but that does not relieve them of accountability for their crimes.

[Downtown Hound]

30. Well, I guess that's where we disagree

I myself do think it's less criminal than if it were against a child. I want to make it clear that I love dogs a lot (and no, not in that way) and do think they're entitled to protection, but this just doesn't seem quite as drastic to me as if it were a human being. I don't feel qualified or knowledgeable enough about the nature of such a sexual predilection as bestiality to give a very informed opinion here, but I do know one thing. Rape and child abuse have their origins in a need to assert one's power. They are not so much about sex as they are about victimization and domination. That is what makes them such heinous crimes, and why the perpetrators of such crimes are guilty regardless of whatever personal issues they have. They are a danger to themselves and to others.

But sex with a dog? I don't know what's really behind that, but off hand I'm not convinced it's the same thing, and I don't feel qualified to really say. And I'm not sure most of us are. That's why I'm not so inclined to jump on the punishment bandwagon here. I guess I still believe in the possibility of a society that looks at such things in a less punitive and more compassionate nature. And yes, that compassion does extend to the dog so that it not have to be subjected to such acts against its will. I just favor a more rehabilitative approach.

However, I'm not naive to the world we live in, and know that this guy will probably end up going to jail, where he will be a target for violence because of his so-called freakishness, and will end up coming out a much more violent and confused person than he ever was before.

[jilln]

39. I think the scary part

is the fact that he forced himself on someone unable to stop it. Whether that was a child or an animal, he USED someone. So at least in that sense, it should not matter whether the animal was human or not.

And the other posters are right, people who abuse animals don't stop there, so why not take these crimes seriously and prevent more tragedy.

[keepCAblue]

40. As you said, you're not qualified to give an informed opinion.

If sex with a helpless, voiceless small animal--one who is in even less a position to give consent than is a child--is not about power, domination and victimization, then what the hell is it? Again, I refer you and others on this board who find the subject of animal abuse either inconsequential or an excuse to spew off-color jokes, to post #27. Animal abuse is a SERIOUS crime. Those who commit such crimes share the same psychological profiles as those who abuse, torture and kill humans. The majority of serial killers start out as animal abusers, often beginning their reigns of terror against neighborhood and family pets in childhood or adolescence.

Gandhi said, "the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

So glad Gandhi isn't here to read the posts presented here. He would be sorely disappointed, and disgusted by some of the comments here. Guess we can forget about any "moral progress" for our nation, if the jokes and dismissiveness conveyed here are representative of the American public. How deeply sad it is to see people here, after reading of the abuse of a helpless, voiceless animal--a family pet--making jokes and excuses instead of offering compassion for the victim and condemnation for the assailant. Tell me, if the dog had been ripped internally and bled to death as a result of this man's sexual assault, would you all still find it so funny? I've seen dogs who have died as a result of internal damage caused by rape by a human. Trust me. It is not funny. Not even slightly.

[Downtown Hound]

55. Um, I haven't made any jokes and I don't find the situation funny

I also don't think that everyone who has sex with an animal is going to become a serial killer. You've obviously seen some horrible things. I'm just not sure that this case is on par with some of the things you've seen. My point was that neither you nor I know enough about it. For all we know, the guy had never done anything like this before and never would again. Probably not given that his wife was very keen to take a picture of him, but we don't know for sure. We don't know what kind of physical damage was done to the dog.

Your passion about this issue seems to stem from some atrocities you've witnessed. But I will say this, sometimes people that are too close to certain issues can't step back and see them from a different light. I think what this guy did was disgusting and wrong, but that doesn't mean I have no compassion for him, or what he's about to go through.

[hedgehog]

70. Yet so many others who post here are glad to have prisons that

are out of control. It's as if torture is OK as long as criminals do it to each other when we aren't looking. I don't mean other people on this thread. It's just that every time a pedophile is arrested, there is a lot of gleeful anticipation as to how they'll be treated by the other inmates.

[Irreverend IX]

51. We should send him a thank-you card...

For giving us such quality entertainment.

[zreosumgame]

6. ugh, sex with a dog?

but then again, it does sound like the wife was a bit to johnny on the spot (pun intended!) with that camera. And, yeah sure he pushed his own face thru a plate glass table, sure I buy that one...

[RetroLounge]

57. johnny on the spot

:rofl:

RL

[Chipper Chat]

8. Quick! Somebody call up Rick Santorum.

He'll be right on it. It will be his "I found WMDs" moment.

[Critters2]

10. The law was created after a similar incident with a horse?

The good people of Washington need more cable channels or cineplexes or something.

[RC Quake]

38. Yes, my spouse grew up in Washington

and had 2 childhood acquaintences that *did a horse* when they were teenagers. Sick. It's just too sick for words.

[Mojambo]

12. The first person to face prosecution under this new law.

That's quite a feather in his cap.

[Gabi Hayes]

14. but...what if you were married to the God Warrior?

[Mabus]

20. Are you saying he was 'darksided'?

:spray: :rofl:

[Virginia Dare]

15. It's sad that in this day and age we need new laws..

like this, but I guess this guy is a case in point that we do.

Book him Dan-o and prosecute him to the full extent allowed if he's guilty.

[filer]

16. Will this make him a registered sex offender?

Will pet owners be notified if he moves into their neighborhood?

[youthere]

24. Maybe a registered PET offender?

[Debi]

18. This will slow the peanut butter sales in Washington n/t

[Megahurtz]

19. What will the other inmates think about this one......

NT

[bigluckyfeet]

22. $300,000 Bond

Give me a break,you would think he killed someone.

[keepCAblue]

32. See post #27

Appears there's a lot of ignorance here at DU regarding the seriousness of animal abuse and its relationship to crimes against humans.

[Goblinmonger]

72. But it isn't a crime against humans

If someone kills a pet a la Jeffrey Dahmer, you can't put there person in prison on a sentence equal to a serial killer just because he may become one. That is a pretty clear violation of due process. Clearly the hypothetical person and the guy having sex with the dog need some serious psychological help, but you can't punish them as if they were committing equal crimes upon children.

[buff2]

21. That's not saying much about his wife..........

if he has to go to a dog to have sex. Oh well.......maybe he thinks BOTH of them are bitches so what's the difference? :rofl: Seriously though......that is one sick SOB. I hope he gets professional help ASAP. :puke:

[Skidmore]

25. Does Santorum know about this?

[geek tragedy]

28. Did he own a box turtle as well? eom

[KayLaw]

29. OMG!

That's just disgusting. His poor wife!

[edbermac]

33. What kind of dog, a chihuahua or a Great Dane?

:evilgrin:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

63. Pit bull. nt

[DaveJ]

34. Thought I was on hannity.com for a second

Lets blame this on Republicans. That approachs works for them so it must work for us.
:sarcasm:

I suggest we focus a little more.

[Oeditpus Rex]

35. Faux News will run this as

Man (D) Accused of Sex With Dog

[Haole Girl]

42. Has it been pointed out yet that this is not in the South? eom

[Rowdyboy]

46. Pierce county is in the south central part of Washingon state....

and we all know about those ignorant redneck southerners....

[Jamastiene]

48. Obsess much?

I assure you it DOES happen in the south too. Read my post below.

[Haole Girl]

61. Obsess much?

:wtf:

[Jamastiene]

75. It wouldn't hurt to realize that on DU, you are among

friends. Bad things happen all over the world. Jokes have even been made about sheep herders in Europe, so the north/south thing here doesn't really play, except to say that it happens everywhere. I didn't get why you had to bring up the southern thing, when the real story is that some people are twisted and cruel. Remember: you are among friends on DU and north/south stuff is really divisive and pointless here. We are friends here. Hell, I'm from the south, and yes, that sort of stuff happens here too. It happens everywhere. Your post was the first one in this thread that I saw that mentioned any north/south connotation.

Seems odd to me that the first thing you thought about was the south when someone mentioned animal sex. :wtf: is right in that case.

[Haole Girl]

76. You should talk.

I was joking. Yours was a personal attack. :wtf:

[jmowreader]

53. Well...no shit.

Because if it WAS the South...

they would have called it bestiality, not "animal sexual abuse"
it would have been an old law
he wouldn't have been the first person prosecuted under it
and he'd be on charges for doing a sheep.

[Jamastiene]

45. Even I think that is sick.

I saw stuff like that when I used to groom dogs. If you love animals, it'll break your heart. It was difficult to keep water out of the dogs wounds and it makes some serious wounds when it's a toy poodle. I'll never forget the defeated look in that dog's eyes.

[RC Quake]

52. A Toy Poodle?

They're like 3 lbs. :grr:

[Jamastiene]

58. Yes, and his wounds were horrible.

He had a lot of stitches and the wound was not closed. It was obviously painful. I felt so bad for him.

[Kali]

74. I have to ask,

Did you do anything in terms of reporting the owners or anything about this? I used to work in a pet store that also did grooming and I never heard of anything like this being noticed by the groomers.

[Jamastiene]

77. It was the local police that brought the dog in, through the local

Humane Society. In other words, the local police took the dog to the local chapter of the humane society and their representatives brought the dog in. They told us to be careful with the dog because of the open wound. The man was charged and the dog was taken away in that one worst case, but there were other abuse cases that slipped by because of who was involved, like local lawyers, doctors and others who routinely get by with stuff just because they are untouchable.

In that worst case scenario, we were told explicitly, all too explicitly why the dog's anus was hanging open an inch and a half in diameter, raw, and stitched up by the Humane Society representative who brought the dog by to be groomed. Other than the sex abuse of the dog, it needed skin care and numerous mats removed, but the look in that dog's eyes will never leave my memory. I wish I had never seen that.

In order to understand the situation completely, you'd have to understand the sick, depraved area where I live. Don't even get me started on the child abuse cases I have heard about and read about in the local newspaper and seen on the local news. I don't want that poor dog AND those children on my mind tonight. This place is pretty depraved. That's really all I can say about it.

[Kali]

78. I should have thought of that. Thanks for the explanation.

[xchrom]

47. first there's the disgusting story about the rape of an animal.

and then there are the animals thinking they're funny ripping on the rape of a dog.

[Jamastiene]

49. Hear here.

I used to see stuff like that when I used to groom dogs for a living. I still will never gforget the look in that poor little toy poodle's face now will I forget the wounds I saw other dogs due to horrible acts like that. :mad:

[YankeyMCC]

56. Perhaps more disturbing that this one horrible act

is the fact that there had to be a law created to deal with the issue. That means many people in the area thought that it was enough of a problem (happened frequently enough and by a large enough group of people) that it required legislation.

[leftofthedial]

59. OOOOPS! It's all a little mistake

it was GHW Bush trying to bang Babs.

You can understand the confusion.

[MrSlayer]

60. What a sick asshole.

That poor dog.

[Ariana Celeste]

62. I lived in Pierce County for a few years

Went to (most) of my high school there. I assure you I have never met an animal fucker- for those folks who are making fun of WA :(. A sick individual, this man is.

[ruiner4u]

65. Family Dog or Family Guy?

[Deja Q]

66. If only the dog could talk...

He'd say "Woof, woof, thank you man!"

[idgiehkt]

68. Pasado Safe Haven had a hand in getting this law passed

it had something to do with that farm that people could go to to have sex with animals (here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002569751_horsesex19m.html ), that was in the news a while back. Here is the story from their website.

Last June Pasado’s Safe Haven staff stood next to Governor Gregoire as she signed SB6417 into law making Washington the 36th state to pass anti-bestiality legislation. Pasado’s Safe Haven wrote the statute language and worked with Senator Pam Roach and hundreds of supporters to make this deplorable practice a first degree animal cruelty felony.
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/CRUELTY%20NEWS/BESTIALITYBOY/BESTIALITY_BOY.htm

Pasado is a great outfit, they are helping bring a civil suit on behalf of the animals murdered by St. Bernard Parish Deputies during Hurricane Katrina

[hedgehog]

73. Just to add to the controversy

The video on the link flashed the court documents and I saw the word "intoxicated". It makes me wonder if this guy is going to take the Foley defense.

[In_The_Wind]

81. That's sick!