In brief: Chain embedded in dog’s neck
A Spokane Valley man faces a second-degree animal cruelty charge after his husky mix needed surgery to remove a choke chain embedded in its neck.
Marlon Baker, 43, told Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services officer Nicole Montano he didn’t know his dog Bobo was wearing a choke chain and hadn’t smelled the rotting stench coming from his neck wound that Montano said she noticed immediately, according to SCRAPS director Patricia Simonet.
“He stated that he doesn’t see the dog much as it’s mostly an outside dog,” Simonet said.
Montano was at Baker’s home at 6513 E. Sixth Ave. on Monday to check on an animal neglect report. Two pitbull mixes were found to be in fair health and stayed at the home, while Bobo was rushed to an animal clinic for surgery. While SCRAPS sees embedded collars a few times a year, Montano said this was one of the worst.
“This took several months to embed so completely,” she said in a news release.
Bobo will be going to rescue to help prepare him for adoption, according to SCRAPS.
Meghann M. Cuniff
Council members’ salaries may go up
Pay for Spokane City Council members would increase 67 percent under a plan that will be debated tonight by the city’s Salary Review Commission.
The commission, created last year by the Spokane City Council, is charged with setting pay for the council. Some city leaders argue that council members work 40 hours or more a week on city duties and should be paid similar to full-time employees.
Under the salary commission’s proposal, council member pay would increase from $18,000 a year to $30,000, according to a City Council news release. Pay for the City Council president would increase from $40,000 to $55,000.
The new commission has the final say on council pay – unless voters collect enough signatures to put it on the ballot.
Tonight’s hearing starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Jonathan Brunt
Man injured by tree branch falling on car
A man was hurt Tuesday when a large tree branch fell on his car as he drove down East 17th Avenue.
He was taken to Deaconess Medical Center with a large cut on his head, said Spokane police Officer Bill Hager. The man was not identified.
The man apparently was driving west about 4 p.m. when “all of the sudden a section of tree fell” trapping him inside, Hager said. Fire crews were able to get the man out.
He was conscious and alert the whole time, Hager said.
Jody Lawrence-Turner
Body found in SUV identified
The man found dead in an SUV on the South Hill Monday evening has been identified as Michael R. Giannotti, 40.
Major Crimes Unit detectives found no trauma on Giannotti’s body and are awaiting toxicology reports before determining the cause of death, according to Spokane police.
A group of teens spotted Giannotti’s body in his 1995 white Nissan Pathfinder with Kootenai County license plates about 5 p.m. Monday and called 911.
Detectives said they don’t believe Giannotti drove himself to the corner of Sixth Avenue and Jefferson Street where the Pathfinder was parked.
Giannotti was last seen May 13, according to police. Police ask anyone who saw or was in contact with Giannotti to call (509) 242-8477.
Meghann M. Cuniff