Slidell man cited for allegedly slapping neighbor's dog

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Friday, July 25, 2008 1:49 AM CDT

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The usual story is about a dog biting a man, but on Tuesday, it was a man slapping a dog.

Slidell police issued a summons for animal cruelty to Ronald A. Meyers, 63, 1533 Lakewood Drive, Slidell after he allegedly slapped his neighbor’s dog because it was barking too much.

Police spokesman, Capt. Kevin Foltz said officers were called to the home of Meyers’ neighbor on a complaint of a dog biting someone.

When police arrived, the dog’s owner told officers that Meyers had left for the hospital to be treated for the bite.

When officers located Meyers at Slidell Memorial Hospital, he told them that he was enjoying an afternoon in his back yard, but his neighbor’s dog, Pedro, kept barking, and “getting on his nerves.” Meyers noticed that Pedro was sticking his muzzle through a hole in the backyard fence, so Meyers went up to the fence and slapped Pedro’s muzzle. The dog responded by biting Meyer, causing a moderate injury to one of Meyers’ fingers. He then went to his neighbor and informed them of what happened.

The neighbor told police that Pedro has never bitten any person, and that there never had been any prior problems between the dog and her neighbors. Pedro is a mixed breed dog that weighs between 30 and 35 pounds.

However, police reported that Meyers told them that he “would kill the dog if it got out of the yard.”

Police issued a summons for Meyers to appear in the Slidell City Court for cruelty to animals.

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Comments

14 comment(s)

Brittany wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:14 PM:

" This is the stupidest thing i have heard in my life!!! He slapped a dog...teaches the dog to shut up!! They owners should have some respect for their neighbors!!! Quit making a big deal out of stupid stuff...worry about the more important things!! And trust me this world has more inportant things to worry about!!!! "

holly wrote on Jul 26, 2008 3:31 PM:

" well chanchu....stupid people talk all the time, their mommas arent fined for having big mouthed offspring. i agree with you joe, if it gets annoying, aim the water hose and fire, besides its hot outside anyway. after so long, the dog will stop. "

cbs wrote on Jul 25, 2008 9:03 PM:

" If the dog did not bite or was not consantly barking,why did he have a muzzle on? "

Rachael wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:25 PM:

" My cat does't bite, but she will claw anything put in her face, same way I would swat a finger put in my face...unless I am pms-ing, then i would do way more than swat that person and their finger...bring it on...humans are becoming flowers-pansy like flowers. silly humans!!!! "

joe wrote on Jul 24, 2008 6:42 AM:

" you guys are kidding right?
no dogs anywhere! the "human"
jeez what a bunch of losers.
the cops, Animal control, how about your Priest.

wait here's a idea go make friends
with your Neighbors TALK TO THEM
then ask about their dog

could be after the dog see you by your neighbors house he won't bark at you any more "

Earl wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:31 PM:

" The last time we complained about a barking dog, animal "un"control thought I was the nuisance! Had to video the dog barking EVERY morning for a week starting at 4AM and then send the video to the mayor to get some action about nuisance barking. There is a provision in the city criminal code about nuisance barking & noise, but it is NEVER EVER enforced. It is time that it is enforced! "

Joe wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:17 AM:

" Just hose down the dog. When it starts barking and sticking his nose through the fence, just aim and soak the dog down. "

Steve wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Easy...the dog was probably annoying but it sounds like this guy that got bit is also annoying...either walk next door or call animal control....but don't stick your body parts through a hole and not expect to be bit... "

Me wrote on Jul 22, 2008 4:00 PM:

" Protecting his territory???!!!??? The animal stuck his snout THROUGH THE FENCE. I say Meyers was protecting HIS territory. Shame he was bitten. His neighbors should have been cited for disturbing the peace. "

STACY wrote on Jul 21, 2008 4:48 PM:

" HA! HA! HA! WHAT A JOKE! "

Williams wrote on Jul 21, 2008 11:22 AM:

" The dog was protecting his territory and that of his master.If Mr. Meyers had a problem with the dog he should have 1.knocked on his neighbors door, 2.Called animal control,3.called the police. It is just paid stupidity that he slapped the dog in the face. If he slapped me in the face I might have also felt the need to bite him. I have called animal control for several different things in the past and they have always been prompt and effective. Get a life and a brain. "

What wrote on Jul 20, 2008 6:37 PM:

" Why would you slap a dog and think that you would not get bitten? Knock on the door first! I am slightly amused by the whole thing. Dog-1....Neighbor-0 "

Peter Bright wrote on Jul 19, 2008 1:07 AM:

" Noise, especially that from barking dogs, must be upgraded from Nuisance to Assault.

The proper suburban solution is No Dogs Anywhere.

There is even a web petition of that name. "

chrisleclair wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:15 PM:

" What about cruelty to humans? Why is this man expected to tolerate the torment of constant dog barking infiltrating his own home and affecting the peace and enjoyment of his own property? Cruelty to animals for slapping a dog - that has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Hopefully he will sue his neighbors for harassment and dog assault. www.dogassault.com "

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