The dog found bound and dumped in a ditch Saturday has been reunited with its owner – Kaitlynn Kofron of Barnhart, who lives a few doors down from the man who has been charged with two felonies for allegedly abusing the dog.
Authorities had been calling the black and brown dachshund “Jimmy,” but it turns out his name is Flick, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Paul Garcia, 39, who allegedly abused Flick, was charged with one count of animal abuse, a class E felony punishable by a maximum of four years in prison, and one count of armed criminal action, an unclassified felony punishable by a minimum of three years in prison.
A Jefferson County deputy on patrol found Flick Saturday morning (Feb. 9) in a ditch along Old Hwy. M near Schneider Road in the Antonia area, about 12 hours after Garcia allegedly wrapped electrical tape and duct tape around the dog’s muzzle and legs and dumped it alongside the road, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Detectives found a fingerprint on the tape that led them to Garcia, who reportedly admitted to abusing the dog, according to the probable-cause statement.
Garcia allegedly told investigators he was installing speakers in his truck and found the dog under it. He reportedly said he “was concerned” that a camera was attached to the dog because “law enforcement was monitoring his movements,” the report said.
As a result, Garcia said he “panicked,” bound the dog and drove it to Old Hwy. M where he “pulled over and threw the dog out his window onto the side of the road,” according to the report.
When the deputy found Flick, the temperature was 18 degrees, and after the dog was taken to Ivan Animal Hospital in House Springs for treatment, his body temperature was 96 degrees. Typically, a dog’s body temperature is 101, the report said.
In addition, Flick appeared to have a head injury.
As of this afternoon (Feb. 15), Flick was much better, though, and his owner picked him up at the veterinary office.
Todd Mahn of Mahn Funeral Homes in De Soto volunteered to pay the medical bills for the dog’s treatment, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Garcia was being held this afternoon in the Jefferson County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.