In June 2010
Star, German Shepherd mix
Had her throat slit by her owner in a fit of rage, Left for dead in a ditch.

Reported in July 2010
Benjamin James Stavaas fails to appear in court, arrest warrant issued for Animal Cruelty

Reporter Amy Dairymple, Forum , Worthington Daily Globe has been reporting and following this case, as well as several other reporters from different News Papers.

An arrest warrant has been issued against 23 year old Benjamin James Stavaas, after he failed to appear in court on Animal Cruelty charges who is accused of slashing the throat of his dog, in Otter Tail County District Court on Monday.
Stavaas is on probation from a 2006 Wadena County conviction of terroristic threats and domestic assault.

Recently Published August 03 2010 By: Steve Schulz, Wadena Pioneer Journal
Stavaas also has a conviction for stealing a car in 2005 in Wadena, Feb. 3, 2006, Stavaas struck and choked a woman and said he was going to kill her. He threatened to “slit her throat,” according to court documents.

Stavaas has been accused of making a seven inch cut on the dog’s throat a month ago, and told authorities he did it because he could not stop the dog from chasing cars. He slash her throat in a fit of rage. Stavaas’ eight month old German Sheppard/Pit Bull mix survived, and is currently located in an animal foster home.
Court records say that on or around June 15th 2010 Stavaas used a knife to slit the dog’s throat after he got mad at the dog for running after a car.
Star the German Shepherd mix wandered into a rural Fergus Falls yard about a week later and was taken to a veterinarian. Is now currently in foster home waiting for adoption.

The felony charges each carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
Animal Activist and Animal Lovers would like to see Stavvas receive the maximum penalty allowed, which would be either two years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.

Stavaas is being charged with two felonies, two gross misdemeanors, as well as two misdemeanors related to torturing and mistreating his dog, (Star, German Shepherd mix)
The case against Stavaas has gained global attention, as well. Nearly 1,500 people have signed an online petition calling for Stavaas to receive the maximum penalty..

There are several Petitions in the making.
Two which are on facebook. Others may be found online Care2 petition site

Information use here are from different
new articles / Papers / online internet news

To contact the courthouse regarding this case, send a letter to:
Otter Tail County Court Administration
121 West Junius Ave. No. 310
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Amazing Newstory!

“If not for German shepherd, our family would have lost our home.” Said owner of dog who led an Alaska State Trooper to a fire at his workshop.

Buddy was honored for the feat, which was video taped on patrol car dashcam.

In honor of National Dog week, Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, Massachusetts announced their “Perfect Paws Pet Ministry.”

Starting later this month they plan to offer services for church members and their pets. Services will include communion for owners and special treats for their four-legged companions.

Similar news has been reported from other areas of the country.

“I don’t have any kids, so my pets have always been my children, so it does mean a lot,” Emma Sczesniak told the Associated Press. Accompanied by her Dachshund-terrier mix and black Lab, she said that though she’d fallen away from church, the dog-friendly service “might push me into it.”

Laura Hobgood-Oster, a religion professor at Southwestern University, says she’s heard of a half-dozen pet-friendly services in the U.S. — for instance, “Woof ‘n’ Worship” held at Pilgrim Congregational Church outside of Boston — though traditionally Christians believe only humans have redeemable souls.

More at USA Today