Who could forget the story of Roadrunner, the little dog whose owner abused him so badly back in 2014 that he had to have both eyeballs removed?
Anderson
In case you missed it, the former owner’s criminal case was resolved this week: Kimberly Anderson, 38, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty Thursday to felony and misdemeanor animal abuse and abandonment charges in Jackson County Circuit Court.
The Star’s Glenn Rice reported the elements of her punishment:
— She agreed to enter the court’s mental health division and have no contact with or own any animals in the future.
— She was ordered to pay $200 restitution to the KC Pet Project, which treated and cared for Roadrunner after he was abused.
— She got a four-month jail sentence, but the sentence was suspended and she will have to serve no time if she successfully completes three years of probation.
If she fails to adhere to any of the above conditions, she could be sentenced to four years in prison.
…As much as I’d like to see Anderson spend time in jail, I think this is a reasonable resolution. She’s got a felony conviction on her record (I don’t know if it goes away if she successfully completes probation), which probably will affect her employment options for a long time. Plus, the prospect of incarceration is hanging over her, if she slips up.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker deserves a lot of credit for seeing that the punishment fit the crime in this case. Originally, authorities cited Anderson for municipal violations, which would have carried a maximum penalty of $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. As a practical matter, however, the vast majority of Municipal Court defendants do not get jail time; it’s usually a fine and probation. Peters Baker filed felony, state charges.
I’m not going to recount what Anderson did to this dog, a Tibetan spaniel, but he also suffered a broken pelvis, which a Pet Project veterinarian repaired by installing a plate.
Roadrunner
After this incident occurred, in November 2014, I was so upset I went to the city’s animal shelter on Raytown Road to inquire about the possibility of adopting Roadrunner. Not surprisingly, the dog was already spoken for: A Pet Project employee was in the process of adopting him.
Roadrunner reportedly made an excellent recovery and, surprising to me, apparently suffered no psychological ill effects from his ordeal. I assume that like most dogs, Roadrunner offers his owner unconditional love and wants in return only to be cared for, petted and appreciated.
Let’s hope that during the past two years, Kimberly Anderson’s heart has lost its hard edge and that her mental health has improved and will continue to do so during her probationary period.
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In a review of a new book about table manners, Dwight Garner of The New York Times took issue with the author’s conclusion that it was OK to have one’s cellphone on the table at a restaurant, provided the screen is facing down.
Garner’s response to that ridiculous notion:
“I am experiencing outrage fatigue. The best cellphone maneuver I’ve heard about — it is supposedly seen at some restaurants in Silicon Valley — is as follows: Before ordering, everyone places his or her cellphone in a pile at the center of the table. The first person to retrieve a phone must pick up the tab.”
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When I went to the Chiefs-Raiders game a week ago Thursday, the decibel level hit 142, even with the crowd gloved and bundled in 20-degree temperatures.
Tomorrow, I doubt the number will get close to 142. The temperature at game time tomorrow — noon — is supposed to be 5 degrees. About the time the game ends, 4 p.m., it’s supposed to be all of 13 degrees.
I look for a crowd tomorrow of no more than 50,000, instead of the usual 70,000 or so. If you want to go to a game cheap and don’t mind freezing your butt off, you can go out there and probably buy good seats at the curb for $5 or less. Some people will be giving them away, maybe even club-level seats.
I thought about going out and trying to buy a club-level seat on the cheap but ultimately decided against it. I’m afraid I’d be chilled to the bone before I got to the club.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Jim:
I applaud you on your heartfelt thoughts about Roadrunner and even driving all the way out to the shelter to adopt him.
Also, you deserve to stay in and keep warm during the Chiefs game tomorrow.
Enjoy it in comfort. I will.
Cheers,
Laura
Thanks, Laura…You’re right; the Chiefs game will be no time to demonstrate courage in the face of the frigid temperatures.
You haven’t been discussing Star delivery problems, but since this is an All-Things-Star blog, I will chime in. I know The Star has had all sorts of circulation problems, but last night at a Christmas party, I heard what is probably the worst.
My friend wanted to end his subscription, so he just quit paying the bill. Next thing he knows, the bill has been turned over for debt collection, with all kinds of ensuing problems. My friend told someone at Star circulation he thought not paying the bill was a clear indication that he didn’t want The Star anymore. That was apparently not enough. The Star explained, because he hadn’t actually informed them that he did not want delivery anymore the debt kept growing.
And have a heart for the folks on the lowest level of Star circulation department, the people out in the cold and the dark who actually throw the newspaper every morning. My son helps a carrier two mornings each week. My son did not help throw this Saturday’s paper, but the regular carrier called him to say that with the icy driving conditions, the carrier had not finished the route until 9 a.m.
Most of those independent contract carriers do a good job. I got a Christmas greeting from my carrier, and I appreciate his reliability and consistency.
…Not a good idea to just stop paying the bill. A quick call to India can get your subscription stopped.
As of 1:40 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, the Kansas City Star for today has not arrived on Huntington Road between Wornall Road and Ward Parkway.
The people who work in the animal rescue and adoption universe are in some ways, similar to reporters stuck in the cycle of covering crime, car wrecks and drownings…that is, it is a never ending encounter with people experiencing life circumstances far removed from the daily “toils” of the professional class…honest commentary seeking to speak for the “greater good” of this demographic is hard to uncover. (Thomas Frank occasionally connects.) This article, your anti-tax crusade, and other features have provided that needed voice. Don’t fade away.
I’m not an anti-tax crusader, Sammy.
Okay, wise guy, Maybe a better monicker… the “Anti-Stupid Tax” Crusader. Let’s meet at the flower shop and discuss it?
The “civic council research tax scam.”
Former Kansas City Star newsman Jim Fitzpatrick has registered a campaign committee to oppose a November 5 ballot measure in Jackson County to increase sales taxes for translational medical research.
The Committee to Stop a Bad Cure, as Fitzpatrick has dubbed his organization, is the first local committee going up against political muscle advocating for a half-cent sales-tax increase to fund research at St. Luke’s Health System, Children’s Mercy, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute.
I don’t like the sound of meeting at the flower shop to “discuss it.” Sounds kind of ominous, especially coming out of the mouth of a “Binaggio.” I feel like I’m being double teamed by you and that Weller feller.
There is something about people who abuse helpless animals that simply makes my blood boil. I would love to see this woman do some serious jail time just so she would come to receive perhaps a small portion of the mistreatment she gave that poor pup. I’m thinking that 3 years is a long time for a scumbag like this to not get into trouble. One can only hope.
As for anti-tax Fitz. I’m thinking that you were simply empathizing with your conservative readers and doing something you wouldn’t normally do as a service to us.