Rowdy Stops By As Suspects Face Beating Charges Three Men Accused Of Walloping Dog With Bat While It Was Tied To Table

Rowdy the dog is alive and relatively well, considering three men are accused of using his head for batting practice.

The black mixed-breed lounged in the shade outside Spokane’s Public Safety Building on Tuesday as the men suspected of walloping him with a baseball bat made their first appearances in District Court.

The animal is recovering from a broken nose and lumps on the back of his head. The dog was treated by a veterinarian after he wandered to a neighbor’s house several hours after the attack.

Rowdy’s new owner, George Carter, brought the dog to the courthouse Tuesday so “he could be here when those guys who beat him were in court.”

Carter owns Rowdy’s mother and has taken custody of the abused animal. “I’ll take care of him,” he said.

Lawrence McIlveen, Ralph Wren and John Weddle were each charged with one count of felony animal cruelty. Wren also was charged with obstructing a police officer.

Police believe the trio beat the dog bloody after tying him to a table about 9 p.m. Saturday. Detectives still haven’t learned of a motive. A neighbor stopped the attack by cutting Rowdy loose.

All three men have lengthy criminal records.

McIlveen, 48, has 16 convictions dating back to 1972, including one for assault.

Wren, 46, has nine convictions, including one for armed robbery. He also is a registered sex offender, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Weddle, 48, has been arrested numerous times, including for public drunkenness and domestic violence.

Citing the men’s criminal records and the “extreme violence” of the beating, prosecutors asked that they each be held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

Acting Court Commissioner Richard Kayne refused. Kayne set bail for each man at $10,000. He also allowed them to use a bonding company, which means they could get out of jail for a 10-percent down payment on their bail.

Both McIlveen and Weddle denied Tuesday taking part in the attack.

“I’m pleading innocent to this, and I do have a right to a lawyer, don’t I, sir?” said McIlveen, clad in gray jail coveralls, his thinning gray hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Weddle, also wearing gray coveralls, was indignant when Kayne read the charge against him.

“I don’t recall any time ever being abusive towards animals, sir,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I used to train dogs. I strongly contest the charges here.”

Wren, with a scruffy beard and short gray hair, said little during his appearance.

If convicted, the men could face up to five years in jail if prosecutors can convince a judge to impose an exceptional sentence, said Jim Sweetser, Spokane County prosecutor.

Neighbors said Rowdy has lived a tough life. His former owners beat him with a chain and kicked him, said Carol White, who lives a few blocks from where Saturday night’s attack occurred.

“He’s been beaten and abused his whole life,” said White, who was once bitten by Rowdy. “He used to be a sweet dog. They made him mean.”

Rowdy seemed happy-go-lucky Tuesday, until a stranger approached him. Then he bared his teeth, growled menacingly and lunged at the end of his chain.

“See, see. He’s not going to let anyone near him now,” White said. “He’s got a lot of scars to get rid of.”