Oconee County, Ga. - Michael Hammons said when he heard a
dog was in distress, he jumped into action. The tiny, Pomeranian-mix was left
inside a hot car, with no water, in an Athens shopping center.
Hammons said he grabbed the foot rest of his wife's
wheelchair and smashed the windows of the car to get the dog out.
When the dog's owner came out of the store, Hammons said
she was irate. "She said you broke my window, and I said I did. She says
why would you do that? I said to save your dog." said Hammons.
Oconee County authorities said the owner of the car
insisted on pressing charges against Hammons. Chief Deputy Lee Weems, said he
understands why Hammons did what he did.
"We didn't want to charge him, but he told us he broke
the windows and when you have a victim there saying she wants him charged, we
had no other choice," said Chief Weems.
Hammons served in Desert Storm. His wife, Saundra, said he
battles PTSD and is always the one to come to the rescue in the face of danger.
"He has seen so much, and been through so much, his
thing is he's got to save him.
Michael says I have to save lives because I couldn't save everyone else over there," said Saundra Hammons.
Michael says I have to save lives because I couldn't save everyone else over there," said Saundra Hammons.
Hammons said despite the arrest and the likelihood he will
have to pay for the windows he smashed, he said there's no doubt he'd do it
again.
Hammons said "I knew there'd be consequences, but it
didn't matter. Glass, they make new glass every day, but they could never
replace that dog."The dog's owner was issued a citation from animal
control. The citation was for proper care.
PETA announced Wednesday Hammons will be honored with a
Compassionate Action Award.
"Every summer, PETA receives dozens of calls about
dogs left in hot cars for whom help came too late to save their lives,"
says PETA Senior Director Colleen O'Brien. "Rather than be arrested, this
man should be applauded for deciding not to stand idly by, but for acting in
the best interests of the victim."
There is now a fundraising website for Hammons. Some
supporters are calling for the charges to be dropped.
But the Oconee County Sheriff's Office said Hammons not
only broke one window on the car, but two. And, while they understand the
emotional aspect of what happened, Hammons broke the law.
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You can read the initial story here: Veteran Breaks CarWindow To Save Dog, Owner Has Him Arrested: What Are Your Thoughts?

