Submitted by Fox First at Ten on November 27th
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane man arrested for allegedly stabbing his own dog's throat used to work for a humane society.
Nathan Meier appeared in court Monday on animal cruelty charges after police say he stabbed his dog, Dakota, in the neck. For the time being, a Spokane County Superior court judge ruled that Meier could not have custody of any animals and set his bond at $10,000. The judge also said Dakota was with a new owner.
The seven-year-old German-Australian Shepherd mix will survive. Family members said Dakota was set to have surgery Monday although it was unclear how extensive the dog's injuries were since Meier's family asked for privacy at the animal hospital.
On Saturday, Spokane Police responded to the 3700 block of North Regal after Meier's nephew reportedly called police. He told them his uncle was threatening people with a knife and then used the same knife on Dakota.
Police found Meier covered in blood with some wounds on his wrist and soon after took him into custody. Meier was taken to the hospital for treatment but then, police said, they discovered that Meier had stabbed Dakota in the neck.
According to court documents, "He said that he had thrust the knife forward in a stabbing motion and admitted that it had been at her neck."
Neighbors in the Hillyard area were stunned.
"I got sick to my stomach," neighbor Charlene Stamos said. "It just doesn't make sense to me. He had to be out of his mind."
Meier's former boss, Sara Archer, who is the Executive Director of the Blue Mountain Humane Society in Walla Walla said she was "deeply saddened and genuinely shocked" by Meier's arrest.
"Nathan was a gentle kid and did a great job for us during the time he worked here," Archer told KHQ during a phone interview. "I never saw any signs of even the remotest inkling of cruelty and he loved his dog."
Archer said Meier worked part-time at the Blue Mountain Humane Society for about a year cleaning kennels and feeding the animals. In fact, Archer said Meier's Facebook profile picture was snapped in the lobby of the shelter. Meier came to the humane society from a work force training program.
Meier declined KHQ's requests for an interview. Family members did not return messages.
Meier is due back in court Dec. 6.
