35-year-old Bobby Loggins has been charged with animal torture and false reporting to a law official after police were called to his home overnight.

Just after midnight on June 9th, Sioux City police were called to the 1600 block of 23rd Street. Once there, witnesses told police that Loggins had punched his pet pit bull repeatedly in the face after the dog urinated on the carpet.

According to the police report the three witnesses were present in the kitchen where it happened, and they were the ones to notify authorities.

One witness told officials that Loggins punched the pit bull over 30 times, and police reports confirm the animal was bleeding from the facial area when they arrived.

Sioux City Police Sgt. Mike Post said Loggins was intoxicated when the incident happened.

Post said 34-year-old Chad Peterson was one of the witnesses and reported the incident to police.

Loggins was released from jail on bond about two hours after being taken into custody, according to the Woodbury County Jail.

It's a brutal animal cruelty case that police say is luckily quite rare.  "We just don't see cases like this where it's an actual intentional act by the owner to assault an animal to the point of its death," said Lt. Mark Kirkpatrick of the Sioux City Police Department.

Loggins was also charged with false reporting after he told police the dog had just been hit by a car, Loggins also told police he accidentally slammed the dog's head in the door  Both statements were contrary to all witnesses' statements. He could face up to a year and a half in jail and substantial fines if found guilty of these misdemeanor charges.

Update 6/15/09:  Loggins pleads not guilty to animal abuse charges.

  (Photo courtesy of KTIV)   Loggins pleaded not guilty and said he'll hire his own attorney.  His trial is set for August.

Update 6/16/09:  The Siouxland Humane Society is launching a letter writing campaign after the violent death of a dog, allegedly at the hands of its owner.

The incident happened at the Sioux City home at 1611 23rd Street back on June 9th.

The Siouxland Humane Society is hoping a letter writing campaign will encourage the Woodbury County Attorney to seek the toughest penalties possible.

"People who start out hurting animals quite often go on to hurting people, so there needs to be a stiff penalty for this, you know there needs to be jail time," said Jerry Dominicak, Siouxland Humane Society.

Update 6/22/09:  Charges of animal abuse have lead the Sioux City Council to discuss an animal abuse ordinance.

The council will consider changing the city ordinance to ban anyone convicted of animal abuse from owning pets.

A little more than a week after a Sioux City man was arrested for beating his bull dog puppy to death, it didn't take long for city council pass a stricter law on pet ownership.

Sioux City council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will not allow anyone to own a pet after they've been convicted, or plead guilty to animal cruelty charges. Animal lovers say they're hoping the revamped ordinance will help cut down on animal abuse in Sioux City.

"I've become more and more aware just with volunteering with animal control here just of how much abuse and neglect really goes on in this town and it's just an every day activity that people think is ok, and it's not" said Amanda Gardner of Sioux City.

The previous ordinance allowed owners to be convicted *twice* before losing their right to own a pet.

Update 6/29/09:  A "senseless" act. That's what animal lovers call the killing of a six-month-old dog earlier this month.

  (Photo courtesy of KTIV)  Animal activists gathered for a prayer service at Bacon Creek Dog Park in the dog's honor. The message of the service: to raise awareness of animal abuse. Organizers say they want people to realize that every life is sacred.

"It's not only for Sire, but it's for all the animals that are abused, that came into the shelter abused, and the ones in the future. Hopefully we can find justice to speak up for those that can't," said organizer Brenda Iwen.

Update 7/7/09:  Several pit bull owners urged city lawmakers to repeal the ban on new pit bull ownership, pointing out that it's not just their breed that bites people.

The group referred to Councilman Aaron Rochester's Labrador retriever. Sioux City Animal Control declared the 3-year-old dog, Jake, vicious for biting a neighbor who was walking by the Rochesters' home on June 27.

Rochester appealed the designation, but last week, Police Capt. Pete Groetken upheld Animal Control's ruling.

Rochester, who initiated the pitbull ban last year, said he intends to appeal to a special master in an effort to save Jake from a death sentence.

The ban, which took effect in September 2008, includes regulations for microchipping, leashing and kenneling pit bulls and pit-bull mixes. Owners were allowed to keep pets they already had but may not replace any that die.

"I think it's been proven that any breed can bite," Andy Bagshaw said at the City Council meeting. "I commend the City Council for wanting to keep citizens safe. ... This ordinance only hurts responsible pet owners. If my dog has to be behind a 6-foot fence, all dogs should be behind a 6-foot fence."

Rochester has said Jake was wearing a collar to shock him if he strayed across the underground electric fence in his yard, but said he didn't know whether the animal got shocked when he ran onto the sidewalk and bit the neighbor. The man, who has not been identified, received five stitches in his left thumb. Groetken's report on the incident indicates the attack was unprovoked.

Rochester has said he believes Jake was protecting his daughter, who was playing with a friend in the yard.

"I do not believe in these electric fences," Rick Borg, a pitbull owner, said at the Council meeting. "They aren't worth a darn. ... I'm sorry for you, Mr. Rochester. If a fence had been there, your kids wouldn't have to worry about losing their dog."

If a special master appointed by the council upholds the vicious designation, the Lab will have to be euthanized. Rochester would have the option of appealing the master's decision to district court but said he does not plan to do so.

On Feb. 4, 2008, the council appointed retired Police Capt. Glen Hanson to serve as special master in such appeals. Hanson, a 34-year veteran of the department serves as a volunteer and is not reimbursed.

Amanda Gardner, another pitbull owner, said she and others started Justice for Pitbulls, which finds out-of-state homes for pit bulls that can't be licensed in the city but haven't been declared vicious or high risk.

"I'm sorry anybody has to go through this," she told Rochester. "If it comes to that (euthanization), maybe we can place your dog."  Rochester replied, "I really appreciate that."

It's most likely a vain hope, however, Cindy Rarrat, owner of Sioux City Animal Control, said that the city's vicious animal ordinance no longer allows animals that have been declared vicious to be placed in other jurisdictions.  "I have 11 dogs all waiting who have been determined high risk or vicious," Rarrat said.

Among them, in addition to Jake, is Jeri Dillavou's dog. Dillavou also has appealed her case to the special master. She urged the council to redefine vicious animals to give Groetken and the special master more authority to consider the circumstances of each dog bite.

Councilman Jim Rixner told her, "I strongly disagree. If a dog bites someone, we have Animal Control to protect the public. I believe these hearings are done in a fair way."

Mayor Mike Hobart, who owns three dogs, said, "My heart goes out to you if your dog ends up being euthanized."

Update 7/21/09:  Loggins appeared in court today.  His trial for animal torture was scheduled for 8/13/09 however it has been continued to September 1st at 2:30pm.  Loggins remains free on $6,000 bonds for animal torture and filing false reports to law enforcement.

According to court records in Woodbury County, Loggins is no stranger to the court system.  Under Bobby Joe Loggins is 25 cases for driving violations or drugs.  The latest case #03971 AGCR076347 for animal torture brings the total to date to 26 cases.

Reference:

Sioux City Journal

KTIV 4KCAU-TV