An Edmonds man apologized to a court Monday and said he learned a big lesson about putting out anti-freeze for local pooches that defecate in his yard.
Nonetheless, Donald K. Fraser, 56, was sentenced to 60 days in jail following his conviction of felony animal cruelty for causing the death of a golden retriever.
The anti-freeze he set out in November led to an agonizing death for a neighbor’s 9-year-old canine, Caber.
“I’m not the ogre I’ve been made out to be,” Fraser said after the sentencing.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Thorpe said 30 days of the sentence will be converted to 240 hours of community service. The judge will allow Fraser to spend the other 30 days in work release.
Deputy prosecutor Travis Johnson asked for the maximum penalty, a year in jail, but neighbor Angus Fraser, one of Caber’s owners, told the judge that was too harsh. He asked the judge for a sentence that will make Donald Fraser take responsibility for his actions, but he didn’t want to ruin the rest of his life. Angus and Donald Fraser are not related.
Angus Fraser’s wife, Janice Peterson, said she intends to remain living next to the defendant, and the two households will have to get along, if not be friendly.
“I don’t know you ever completely get over something like this,” Peterson said, “but you have to move on.”
Donald Fraser said frequent unwanted piles in his yard pushed him over the edge. He was aiming at another dog that was a nuisance, not Caber.
He said he diluted the anti-freeze with water, intending to get the animal sick, not kill it.
“I wanted him to get a hangover,” Donald Fraser said. “I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want this dog to die.”
Peterson said her dog was never a problem, and it was the one that ended up ingesting the toxic anti-freeze. She said her neighbor doesn’t know what it’s like to lose a pet one loves, especially under agonizing circumstances.
In a trial early this month, Donald Fraser argued that he never meant to kill any animal, and he believed the smell of anti-freeze would keep neighbor dogs away.
Caber wandered away from its yard when it was let out without a special collar designed to keep it within its own yard.
The registered golden retriever was treated aggressively, but a veterinarian couldn’t save it.
Jim Haley is a reporter for the Herald in Everett.
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