(US-Hawaii) Two Men Arrested Accused of Killing a Dog for Food

[Guest guest]

The following news articles are in chronological order.

So far, I have not seen a single mention in the Philippine news about this.

---

Two Men Arrested Accused of Killing a Dog for Food

Written by KGMB9 News

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

 

Police have not yet filed charges against golf course workers accused of

abducting a pet dog and killing it for food.

 

Eight-month-old labrador, german shepard mix named Caddy was taken and killed on

Sunday.

 

The 50-pound dog was the beloved pet of Kahala couple Frank and Debbie Manuma.

 

Moanalua golf course gave permission for Caddy to be secured on a leash to this

shack with water while Frank golfed. When he returned Caddy was gone.

 

Police arrested Nelson Domingo, 43, and Saturnino Palting, 58, both of Kalihi

abducted the dog.

 

Manuma's said police told them they found the butchered pet at one of the

suspect's homes.

 

" I think people need to be educated where-ever culture they are from and what

they do to animals. this is not the place to do it at or any where for the

matter, it is cruelty to animals and it's not acceptable. he knew it was a pet,

they knew he was a pet, " said Frank Manuma, Caddy's owner.

 

Both men have been fired from their jobs and released from jail pending

investigation but Caddy's owners are outraged they can only be charged with a

misdemeanor crime of theft in the second degree.

 

Some lawmakers are now considering pushing for harsher punishment for someone

who slaughters a pet.

 

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/2724/40/

.........................

Stolen Family Dog Slaughtered for Food

Written by KGMB9 News

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

 

A family pet, stolen off a leash, stuffed in a car and taken to someone's house

and butchered for food.

 

It is a disturbing scenario but a real crime that started at a Honolulu Golf

Course Sunday.

 

This is Caddy, an 8-month-old labrador, german sheppard mix.

 

The 50 pound dog has been the beloved baby of Kahala couple Debbie and Frank

Manuma.

 

Frank named him Caddy after his love of golf.

 

And Sunday, he brought him along for his round at the Moanalua course.

 

After getting permission from management, he left Caddy on a leash secured to

this shack with water and when Frank came back, Caddy was gone.

 

Witnesses reported seeing course workers abduct the dog.

 

" Two hours later, I got a call from Moanalua Golf Course. They gave me the bad

news that Caddy was gone, apparently they had taken the dog and killed him for

food, " said Frank Manuma, Caddy's Owner.

 

Police said three workers with the course confessed to the crime.

 

Two of them have since been fired.

 

The Manuma's are still stunned someone could do something so horrible to their

pet.

 

And they're angered the crime is only considered a misdemeanor giving them very

little legal recourse.

 

" He knew it was a pet, they knew he was a pet and the motive was not good

enough. I would have gladly given them food and helped them out but to steal my

animal and to take my animal is unacceptable to me, " Frank Manuma said.

 

The Moanalua Golf Course has refused comment on the crime.

 

Video:

News clip on the page

 

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/2696/40/

.........................

2 nabbed after dog allegedly stolen and eaten

By Nelson Daranciang

Star Bulletin

December 19, 2007

 

Caddy was an 8-month-old, 50-pound German shepherd-Labrador mix.

 

His owners, Frank Manuma and Debbie Weil-Manuma, never had children. Debbie

never even had a pet dog before. She said Caddy was their little boy.

 

On Sunday, Caddy was taken from them, and they know he's never coming back. They

said police told them two men confessed to stealing the dog and one said the dog

was slaughtered and eaten. They said that was confirmed by a third person who

told police the dog was taken to his house, where it was slaughtered.

 

" The horrific part is knowing how he died, " Weil-Manuma said, " I hope he didn't

suffer. It's still kind of shocking. "

 

She said that police told her the thieves dumped what was left of Caddy into a

river when they discovered police were looking for them.

 

Manuma usually left Caddy at home with his wife when he went golfing in the

morning and picked him up to ride along during his afternoon volunteer security

shift at Barbers Point Golf Course.

 

Caddy got his name because he was Manuma's golf buddy. During Manuma's security

shift, Caddy sat in the driver's seat and Frank drove the golf cart from the

passenger's side.

 

But on Sunday, Manuma took Caddy with him to Moanalua Golf Club because his wife

was on the mainland. She was scheduled to return that evening.

 

Golf club manager Stephen Burke said the club doesn't allow members to bring

their pets.

 

" Frank is a relatively new member. He asked if he could bring it. We made an

exception to allow him to bring the dog, then take it with him to work later, "

Burke said.

 

Caddy stayed on a leash at the clubhouse while Manuma was on the golf course.

When Manuma returned about 11:30 a.m., Caddy was gone. All that was left was his

water and food dishes.

 

Confident that Caddy was not lost but just with someone, Manuma went to his

volunteer job while Burke looked for the dog.

 

Burke discovered that two maintenance workers, whose shifts ended at 11 a.m.,

were seen taking the dog.

 

" We had some members see them load the dog into the car, " he said.

 

Burke called police and called the employees back to work and fired them on the

spot. He said one had been employed for about four years and the other, three

years.

 

Honolulu police arrested the men, 43 and 58, both of Kalihi, under suspicion of

second-degree theft, a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison

and $10,000 fine. Police released them without charges Monday pending further

investigation.

 

The Hawaiian Humane Society also is investigating the case.

 

" We're working with (the Honolulu Police Department) and are investigating the

case from the animal cruelty aspect of it, " said Kawehi Yim, Hawaiian Humane

Society spokeswoman.

 

Cruelty to animals had been a misdemeanor under Hawaii law punishable by a

maximum of one year in jail and $2,000 fine. But earlier this year state

lawmakers approved legislation designating the misdemeanor offense cruelty to

animals in the second degree and creating a new offense, cruelty to animals in

the first degree, a class C felony. It became law June 1.

 

Photos:

 

-Debbie Weil-Manuma and Frank Manuma are shown with their pet, Caddy. The dog is

believed to have been eaten after being taken from Moanalua Golf Club.

http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/19/news/art2a.jpg

 

-Caddy, who belonged to a Moanalua Golf Club member, is believed to have been

taken while his owner golfed and later eaten.

http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/19/news/art2b.jpg

 

http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/19/news/story02.html

.........................

Humane Society Offers Rewards In Animal Cruelty Cases

KITV

December 20, 2007

 

HONOLULU -- The Hawaiian Humane Society on Thursday offered rewards for

information regarding two animal cruelty cases in recent weeks.

 

One involves a pig Leilehua High School students raised as part of an

agriculture program. The pig was released from its pen on Nov. 30, hunted down

with dogs in a fenced yard, slaughtered and entered into a hunting tournament, a

school official said.

 

In the other case, a dog owner said two men took his pet from the Moanalua Golf

Club and killed it for food.

 

The golf course's management said the two workers accused of killing the dog

were fired.

 

The Hawaiian Humane Society is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading

to an animal cruelty conviction in each case. Humane Society officials asked

people with tips to call 356-2247 with information.

 

http://www.kitv.com/news/14901457/detail.html?taf=hon

.........................

Two Men Indicted under New Animal Cruelty Law

By Brianne Randle

KHON2

Jan 22, 2008

 

A Honolulu grand jury has indicted two men under a new animal cruelty law.

 

Saturnino Palting and Nelson Domingo are the first to be indicted under this new

law--- passed last year making this crime a felony.

 

According to the indictment, on December 16th - both men stole and killed Frank

Manuma's eight month-old dog...who was tied up at the Moanalua Golf Course.

 

" Both suspects were identified as having stolen a pet dog without the owners

consent, who was tied up at the Moanalua Golf Course, and then left and then

killed it at another persons house and chopped it up to eat, " said Deputy

Prosecutor, Vickie Kapp.

 

The indictment says Palting and Domingo knowingly either tortured or mutilated

the dog resulting in serious bodily injury and eventually its death.

 

According to prosecutors, both men claim the dog ran away, but witnesses testify

otherwise.

 

Neither suspect has any prior offenses.

 

They face one count each of second degree theft and first degree cruelty to

animals.

 

If convicted, Palting and Domingo could face five years in prison and a

ten-thousand dollar fine.

 

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/14014482.html

.........................

2 Men Indicted On Charges They Stole Dog To Eat It

KITV

January 23, 2008

 

HONOLULU -- Two former golf club employees are charged with theft and cruelty to

animals in the death of a pet dog the owners said was cooked and eaten.

 

An Oahu grand jury on Tuesday indicted Saturnino Palting, 58, and Nelson

Domingo, 43, both of Kalihi.

 

The men were accused of stealing a dog owned by Frank Manuma, who lost his

8-month-old German shepherd-Labrador mix named Caddy.

 

Manuma had taken the 50-pound Caddy to the Moanalua Golf Club with him on Dec.

16 and left the dog tied up at an equipment shack when he disappeared. Manuma

said police told him the two men slaughtered and ate the pet belonging to him

and his wife, Debbie Weil-Manuma.

 

The charges are both felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a

$10,000 fine. The charge of first-degree cruelty to animals was made a felony

last year.

 

http://www.kitv.com/mostpopular/15120800/detail.html

.........................

Pet's owners applaud charges

Two men allegedly stole, killed, butchered and ate a beloved dog

By Nelson Daranciang

Star Bulletin

January 23, 2008

 

Two former Moanalua Golf Club employees were indicted yesterday on theft charges

in the butchering of a member's pet dog, which they allegedly ate.

 

Saturnino Palting, 58, and Nelson Domingo, 43, both of Kalihi, were indicted by

an Oahu grand jury on charges of second-degree theft and first-degree cruelty to

animals. Both crimes are class C felonies punishable by up to five years in

prison and a $10,000 fine.

 

Circuit Judge Steven Alm issued $20,000 bench warrants for the defendants.

 

" That's great news, " said Frank Manuma, the dog's owner, " We're delighted that

it's moving forward. "

 

His dog Caddy was an 8-month-old German shepherd-Labrador mix.

 

Manuma took Caddy with him to Moanalua Golf Club on Dec. 16 and had permission

to leave his pet at an equipment shack near the clubhouse while he golfed. When

he went to retrieve Caddy after he finished golfing, Caddy and the leash used to

keep him at the shack were gone.

 

Other golf club members told the golf club manager they saw maintenance workers

Palting and Domingo load the dog into a car about the time they ended their

shifts. The manager said he called Palting and Domingo back to work and fired

them.

 

Manuma's wife, Debbie Weil-Manuma, said police told her and her husband that the

maintenance workers confessed to taking the dog, butchering and eating it. A

third man, another golf course employee who was not working that day, told

police Palting and Domingo took the dog to his house, where they killed and

butchered it.

 

The Manumas were devastated.

 

They never had children or a pet dog together before Caddy and considered the

dog their little boy. Their story drew expressions of sympathy and offers of new

dogs from people as far away as Colorado.

 

Manuma said he and his wife didn't want to accept a new dog because they felt it

was too early after the loss of their first. But on Jan. 2, he said, they

relented and accepted a 3-month-old German shepherd-Golden retriever mix.

 

" We wanted to do it for the people out there, " Manuma said.

 

They named the dog Caddy 2.

 

http://starbulletin.com/2008/01/23/news/story09.html

.........................

Animal Cruelty Case Will Set Precedent

Written by Tim Sakahara - KGMB9

Sunday, January 27, 2008

 

Frank Manuma has a new best friend.

 

It's his new German shepherd/golden retriever named Caddy 2.

 

The story behind Caddy 1 has been extremely painful.

 

On Dec. 16, Manuma played golf at Moanalua Golf Course. With the course's

permission, he tied Caddy up while he played a round of golf.

 

That's when two former course employees, Saturnino Palting, 59, and Nelson

Domingo, 43, allegedly kidnapped the dog, then butchered it and planned to eat

it.

 

" I still get flashbacks it's not so much how or what happened to Caddy it was

the way it happened to him that is mind boggling and mind disturbing, " said

Manuma. " Sleepless nights, I get up three times a night every night. This has

gone on for a month. So it's been hard, mentally straining and it's created a

lot of depression in this house. "

 

Recently, Manuma has been treated for depression. He is trying to stay strong

for the upcoming criminal trial, where he will likely have to testify.

 

" I'm putting the best foot forward keeping everything together up here, because

I've got to fight for him. I don't want his death to go in vain, not only for

Caddy but all the other animals that hopefully it never happens to them again, "

Manuma said.

 

Palting and Domingo will be the first ever to be tried under a new animal

cruelty law.

 

If convicted, they would get up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

 

To get the conviction attorneys will need experts, like the humane society's own

investigators, to help prove the men tortured Caddy.

 

" This will be a test of the law and so hopefully we'll be able to see how to

successfully try these people under the felony law, " said Kawehi Yim, Hawaiian

Humane Society.

 

Meanwhile, Manuma is drawing strength from the new Caddy.

 

" He's brought a lot of love back in the house, " Manuma said.

 

We talked with the families of both Palting and Domingo. They did not want to

comment about the case.

 

Both men are expected to make their pleas within seven days.

 

Video:

News clip on the page

 

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/3555/40/

=============================

A Website For Caddy:

 

http://www.thedarque.com/

=============================

Video of Frank and Debbie Manuma with new puppy:

 

http://www.kitv.com/video/14967402/index.html

=============================

EnviroWatch:

 

'What's happening to Dogs in Paradise'?

 

Information on the dog meat trade in Oahu, as of 2004. Warning: Graphic and

disturbing.

 

http://www.envirowatch.org/Koko1.htm