There are monsters
among us, and many walk on 2 legs. On 20
September, Donald Thomas was brutally killed by 2 Rottweiler dogs while
retrieving his mail. Consider
the Dogsbite.org article for more details.
Key Players and pertinent details of the situation:
-
Donald Thomas, Victim. Killed by 2 Rottweiler dogs while fetching mail.
-
Sally Thomas, wife of victim.
-
Jerry Lenton, dog owner. Lenton was housing 31-35 Rottweilers (!!!) on
his property to facilitate an apparent breeding operation. I believe this is Jerry Lenton’s
FaceBook Page.
-
Both dogs involved in the attack were shot dead
by police after the dogs redirected aggression towards police officers.
-
As of today, 23 September, no charges have been
filed against Lenton, nor have any of the other dogs been confiscated.
I am currently attempting to find out if any of the other
neighbors had complained about the dogs prior to this tragedy. The 2 dogs involved in the killing had
escaped several times in the past, but apparently had not behaved dangerously
on any of those occasions. In any case,
a breeding operation of this type presents a clear safety and health hazard to
everyone in the vicinity. In addition to
the potential dog attacks, an operation such as this presents a serious noise
hazard (I’m sure the dogs made their presence known to ALL throughout the day
and night) and the disposal of dog feces ALONE would present a major logistical
challenge!
The true outrage here is that there is minimal focus on
the 2 legged monster that orchestrated this event: Jerry Lenton!
Get this: Lenton is supposedly a Pastor at the “New Life Fellowship”
Church. What DO you guys worship at New
Life, Jerry? SATAN!?!
While everyone else is debating if Rottweilers should be
legal, or how many dogs should be allowed in a household (if any), and the 2
dogs involved got a well deserved “dirt nap”, the true monster still walks
among us! Again, as
I have written about in the past, what is unbearably frustrating in these
cases is that the focus is PRIMARILY on the dogs, which is NOT where it belongs
in my opinion.
Face it, if it weren’t for the HUGE legal double standard
protecting dog owners, Lenton would be in JAIL facing a negligent homicide
charge AT A MINIMUM. If the dogs had
displayed vicious behavior in the past, then he should be facing MURDER
charges! It wouldn’t even be
debated! The fact that he has been free
even THIS long is an outrage! What does
he have to do, kill the chief of police with his dogs?
OK, super, the dogs involved are dead, but SO WHAT. Lenton is FREE and he STILL has at least 30
Rottweilers! THIRTY ROTTWEILERS! And, this is a dog owner that ALREADY
facilitated the killing of another human being with his dogs! I can barely imagine 30 Rottweilers…That is
an entire PLATOON of Rottweilers! It is
a SWARM of Rottweilers!
I can't even get my head around 30 Rottweilers in a suburban backyard. If someone “Sics” 30 Rottweilers on you, you are
DONE. You are FINISHED. I don’t care WHAT you are “packing”! Even if you had an AK-47
with select fire, you would be overwhelmed by 30 Rottweilers! It would be a massive, unstoppable, wave
attack! You don’t even get to die with
the comfort that you took several beasts to the grave with you, as LENTON would
just pump out another litter! Or, TEN
litters! Nuts, he could turn those 30
Rottweilers into 50! Or 100! Again, nobody is restraining HIM.
As per the course, my head explodes because not only is
there no restraint BEFORE the fact, there is none AFTER the fact, either!
Lenton has created and unleashed a PLAGUE upon his
community, and Thomas was the first fatality.
As with any biological weapon, you want to take steps to prevent the
plague in the first place and take further steps to STOP the plague once it has
started. What is most important is, you MUST
restrain those who create and deploy living things as weapons! You don’t ban the plague and let the
biological weaponeer go free!
Biological weapons are indeed the most dangerous and
insidious weapons ever devised. ANY
other weapon, including a nuclear weapon, has limited destructive power and can
only be deployed at the discretion of a human handler. The biological weapon on the other hand, has
2 characteristics that make it unique:
1) It will act on its own
volition, including turning on its owner/handler, and 2) It can multiply on its
own thus granting it unlimited power. A
single breeding pair of Rottweilers can, by itself, turn into a platoon, or
even a Division of Rottweilers!
As per “Your Quiet Neighbor” we MUST start contemplating
these things for what they are. Lenton
assaulted and murdered Donald Thomas with a home-grown biological weapon!
If Lenton had whipped up a batch of home-grown Ebola
virus and killed a neighbor with it, there is NO QUESTION he would NEVER see
the light of day again! Forget about a “mere”
murder charge! He would be declared a
terrorist and he would be OWNED by the government!
STOP THE PLAGUE! ARREST
LENTON NOW!
This has actually given me a headache. I can't imagine this guy not being charged. I can only hope they're trying to take their time and be certain the case is strong enough, but how much more evidence do they need?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, have we all gone mad? How is this not obviously manslaughter?
Biological weapon is the correct term, indeed.
Yes, there are monsters among us - 2 legged as well as 4 legged. I grew up in a county next to Leeds Al and I now live in a county just about 100 miles north. I WILL BE VERY SURPRISED TO SEE JUSTICE FOR DONALD THOMAS' DEATH IN LEEDS AL. Go to my blog and listen to 2 recordings of the 4 pit bulls that lived next door to us. It was vicious barking and growling day and night and we were terrified. It would have been the same if these dogs had been ROTTWEILERS or any other large fighting breed. Animal control told us we needed to "make friends" - "Just go over and they will let you pet the dogs and you will see what 'SWEET BABIES THEY ARE'. It's just a Mama Pit Bull and her 3 Puppies. Listen to the recordings and you tell me if it sounds like a sweet mama and her 3 puppies. We saw the "sweet mama" and one of the "puppies" screwing all day one day and another of the "puppies" had tits hanging down like she had had a litter. And what would have happened if we had gone into their back yard and attempted to pet those dogs and they attacked us??? We would have been provoking them on their property !!! We hired a lawyer and through the 'GRACE OF A HIGHER BEING', A female judge used a state nuisance law and ruled for us banishing the dogs from the property. But chances are, noone in Leeds Al will have the "BALLS" to hold the owner/breeder of those Rottweilers accountable for Mr. Thomas' death. THEY'LL SAY THEY HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT THE DOGS COULD EVER BE VICIOUS. THEY'D NEVER BEEN VICIOUS BEFORE. "THEY ARE ROTTWEILERS, PEOPLE!!!!!" Many people saw those dogs out running loose but no one would take the lead to do something about it. Here in Decatur there is a leash law, but come weekends many dogs are out running loose, and it's totally acceptable and an animal control employee has to see the dogs running loose to do anything about it and, of course, they never do on weekends! I pray there is a stand-up person in Leeds who will hold the owner of these Rottweilers accountable, but chances are, there want be!
ReplyDeleteHello Decatur AL,
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing. Yes, I do follow your blog and I had listened to the barking audio you'd put up a while back (I don't want to listen to it again as I HATE BARKING!). You were indeed in a terrible situation and its SUPERB that you finally got relief!
Your situation indicates SO many problems:
- Authorities demand that you "get along" with the miscreant. You are right, if you set one foot on their property and the dogs attack you, that gives them a complete pass on the attack! Also, malicious dog owners often become violent when anyone complains about their dogs.
- Authorities demand that you "make friends" with the dogs. Again, why should you do that? Where does it say you HAVE to be friends with a Pit Bull or ANY dog for that matter? If they had a King Cobra in their backyard should you "make friends" with the snake, too??
- The whole "prior aggression" requirement is complete baloney in my opinion: Look, these are ATTACK dogs! It should be NO surprise when they do what they are SUPPOSED TO DO... ATTACK PEOPLE!
You people have no idea who this man is nor can you attest to his integrity. i have known pastor jerry for many years. i am sure that he is severely distraught over what happened. before you get up in arms remember, you dont know the whole story. i feel terribly sorry for the victim and his family. sometimes terrible things happen in life beyond our control.
DeleteNo, you're not getting away with that. This was not a terrible thing that happened in life that was beyond this 'pastor's ' control. This was an entirely predictable and preventable disaster, for which this 'pastor' remains responsible. He knowingly and willingly put all his neighbors in great danger, callously causing Donald Thomas's death because he got some ego kick out of having a load of Rottweilers.
DeleteNo hiding behind Christ on this one kiddo.
Thanks Sweetie Pie!
DeleteI didn't know Hitler or Ted Bundy, either, but somehow I don't think I need to!
Wayne, "we people" are sick of malicious dog owners NOT being held accountable. Our neighborhoods sound like kennels, our soil and water is befouled with dog crap and our neighborhoods are unsafe for adults and children alike!
Your friend created a tragedy and needs to pay the price. This is fundamentally no different than a DUI manslaughter, something that gets you YEARS in jail and it doesn't matter what a handful of his friends think!
Thanks for writing.
Wayne-
ReplyDeleteIf this man were any kind of Christian at all, he'd be euthanizing ALL of his dogs, offering assistance to the widow and begging forgiveness in the media.
Instead, he's likely to do what our current brand of anti-Christians are fond of doing, chalking it up to "God's Will" and deciding that the old man somehow deserved it.
I bet his puppies will go for more $$ now that they're from known mankiller lines.
cazz
Wayne, you'd have a lot more credibility if you used upper and lowercase letters. Not to mention the proper spelling of words like "don't."
ReplyDeleteI've meanwhile done some looking around. The NLF 'church' this 'pastor' belongs to is apparently a Pentecostal derivative of the evangelical type. I won't ridicule anyone's religion when it's real and not purely self-serving, but I'm suspicious of this type, partly because of the strong proselytizing. Always be suspicious of anyone who claims to know exactly what God wants, and that God wants and approves of everything that person does -- a thing I've found to be typical of most Pentacostal proselytizers.
ReplyDeleteThis NLF 'church' apparently awards a 'pastorship' to any member who can get enough contributing followers that it pays his own salary. This seems to me like a great way to sort in favor of pathological narcissists and in favor of sociopaths.
We already know that the dog is attracting too many consumerist narcissists in its capacity as a must-have consumer article (thus the chronic barking problem, since the narcissist cares neither about the dog or about his neighbors). I would guess that the killer-type dog is attracting narcissists who also would score pretty high on the Psychopathy Checklist.
It won't, therefore, be a surprise if this 'pastor' comes out with all kinds of glib talk (even as he crocodile-tearfully calls on Jesus). I will bet that any 'remorse' is merely a shallow imitation of what he knows normal people act like when they feel guilty. Unsurprising that he will want to keep the other umpteen killer-dogs, so as to continue his sins even as he claims to regret them. And least surprising of all if he has a little herd followers in his back pocket who fall for the whole lot of it.
The guy needs to be in jail. He needs to be interviewed with the Psychopathy Checklist in hand, by a trained and experienced interviewer. The killer-bred dogs all need to be dead.
Correcting two typos for YQN's sake:
ReplyDeleteThe narcissist cares neither about the dog NOR about the neighbors, and this pseudo-pastor likely has a little herd OF followers.
I wrote about this same subject last week when it happened. Remember me? You so coyly dismissed me as being one of the "Haterz" a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteOh, but hate is acidic and corrodes the soul! You bloviated. I need to provide solutions! I need to get civically involved and stop bitching!
So if this post isn't bitching, then what is it?
If you consider what I wrote carefully, my gripe is aimed at the OWNER and AUTHORITIES not the DOGS. This a HUMAN problem that needs to be solved by HUMAN BEINGS. For me, this is not a fashion statement. Hating a 4 legged mutt is pointless and below me. A dog doesn't care if you hate him... he doesn't even know what hate is!
ReplyDeleteYes, and I DO get "civically" involved and there have been a few small wins as a result of that. What have you accomplished? Have you approached your county executives or city attorney with a related matter?
I'm confident those of us who are doing REAL work will overcome. And, no need to thank us: If our efforts benefited only YOU we wouldn't bother!
Thanks for writing.
Dear Doghatersunite: After AU named your blog, I went to have a look. I saw you complaining that AU was trying to use your blog to increase his own hits, plus all kinds of other verbal temper-tantrum, piss-mark-your-territory, wa-wa-wa behavior. You said outright you just want to complain and not do anything and who does AU think he is to give you advice.
ReplyDeleteIt revolted me a bit, since people who want to endlessly whine and complain but not do anything are a waste of time. But hey, it's your blog, so I decided simply not to visit it anymore -- while at the same time hoping your constant complaining gave at least you some kind of pleasure in your apparently quite sour life.
If you don't like AU (or any other place on the Internet), then don't visit it. Hey, it's easy as pie and might make your days a bit less gloomy.
Thanks for the smiles though that this last comment of yours inspired.
Thanks Sweetie Pie!
DeleteThis "feud" started when the DHU people sniped at me for posting a link to the "dogs in service site". Apparently, supporting legit service dogs does not meet the DHU standards. Consider that Jade had posted a link to my site on her's and out of courtesy I reciprocated.
Later, I wrote the "Haterz" article and I still stand by every word. First of all, that article was aimed primarily at malicious dog owners and how they have "earned" the hatred aimed in their direction.
In any case, I am not going to communicate with those people any further: Arguing with them is even more pointless than arguing with the pit nuts... I actually respect the pit nuts MORE than them because the pit nuts at least put forth a real effort in promoting their interests (which is a primary reason we have this problem!).
It did give me an idea for another article, though. Its all good!
Thanks for writing.
Your lack of reading comprehension skills leaves me speechless. I will allow for the possibility that you have me confused with someone else. I addressed service dogs in my post http://doghatersunite.com/2012/09/07/my-position-on-service-and-guide-dogs/, which states I have nothing against service and guide dogs, if that's what they truly are.
DeleteMy blog gives a voice to dog attack victims and those who simply dislike dogs. And unlike you, I report facts instead of bluster self-righteously about what I've done. AU, you're a legend in your own mind!
You cast the first stone. I defended myself on MY SITE against you and your pretentious bloviating. Several of my posters commented on your astonishing arrogance. If you like, I will post their comments here for you.
OK, now carry on with your narcissistic tirade!
Troll, troll, troll your post... do anything useful today?
ReplyDeleteAgain I'm amused. She now again trotted all the way over to your yard to piss here. Really, I can hardly stop laughing.
DeleteMeanwhile, I'm glad this woman doesn't like dogs. If she did, she'd probably have several pit bulls.
Hello Sweetie Pie,
DeleteI'm not sure if I'm dealing with the same person or not. Some of these "interactions" may have been a different individual. Hardly anyone uses their real name so its tough to keep track. There may also be more than one person using the same "handle".
In any case, I have noted a pattern of abuse on a couple of "hater" sites where anyone who suggests real action is trashed mercilessly. Its happened to me and to several other individuals. The mere suggestion that somebody perform some real activism to ameliorate the problem drives some of them into a foaming at the mouth rage.
This behavior is incredibly toxic. Toxic to everyone involved. I think they did an excellent job of proving my initial point: Hate does more damage to the hater than the object of the hatred. What could the haters possibly gain by harassing those who are actively working to solve the problem? Have any of these people solved ANYTHING?
I had the thought just now, that perhaps some of the haters do NOT want the problem solved. Perhaps hating dogs is a key part of their identity and they see real problem solvers as stealing that identity? What are they going to do with themselves if the problem becomes marginalized?
Either that or perhaps they ARE closet pit bull lovers! They have a LOT in common with those dogs!
They are haters... its what they do!
Thanks for writing.
You're right, it's toxic...until you learn to recognize the type and find it amusing. I don't think hating dogs as such is part of their identity. Rather, it's the complaining and whining and hating *something*, anything. They're dismayed if the thing they whine about does get solved, because then they have nothing to complain about. For two seconds, anyway, because in their search for a new thing to complain about they will, as you've experienced, complain about you instead.
DeleteYou can laugh at it once you understand it. The goal of their lives isn't to solve a problem, but to complain. Whining is their most beloved sport, their most satisfying life activity. It is, therefore, a waste of time for us to listen to them (or respond) as if the complaint were really the subject at hand, since in truth they're not even interested themselves in what they're presenting as the subject at hand. The real subject at hand, the truly interesting thing, is the opportunity to whine.
I've learned to just look at them, shut my ears, and think 'you're having a great time, far be it from me to take that away from you by solving your problem.'
[I have read your latest post. It's obviously worthwhile to solve a problem because it's your own problem too, never mind the whiners. More on this in a comment at the newest post.]
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJerry Lenton has been a friend of mine for over fifteen years and I've never known a kinder, gentler, more generous and generally all around good guy. I was not aware that he owned all those dogs nor do I know why he owned them, but his owning dogs does not speak to the character of this man. I would like to suggest that y'all should stay on topic and stick to discussing the dog situation and leave his vocation and religion out of it as that is in no way related to the issue at hand. I have no first hand info about the dog situation, but I do have significant first hand knowledge of Jerry and his character and none of the comments above are correct. It's ok to have an opinion, misguided as it may be, but please don't presume to comment on something you know absolutely nothing about. Jerry is a good man, a great guy and a true man of God, and no I don't go to his church and have never set foot in it. BTW, I own 10 dogs myself, not rottweilers or pit bulls, however I am an animal lover and I rescue unwanted dogs and find good homes for them. My dogs might damage your hearing from barking to greet you or they may lick you to death, but that's the extent of the harm they would inflict on anyone.
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing substantive or persuasive in your comment. Nothing you say exempts Lenton from the horror he unleashed upon his community.
DeleteTed Bundy, Stalin, Hitler, et. al. had many friends who would defend them... your point is?
The Catholic priests who molested young boys were also "men of God". Again, your point is? If I am a "man of God" may I rip you to pieces as you collect your mail?
Bottom line: It is WAY past time we start holding dog owners accountable. You own a dog, you own what it does.
Thanks for writing.
^^^ you're an idiot, Pastor Jerry is a great man! good bye(:
DeleteYawn... yes, Lenton IS great at:
Delete- Terrorizing his neighborhood.
- Turning a neighbor into hamburger.
- Dodging responsibility.
- Unleashing shills upon the internet.
- Did I forget anything??
Jerry is a good man. You people are monsters.
ReplyDeleteAnd why is this supposed 'man of God' raising man killers anyways? Lest you're still confused here's what the BIBLE says about dogs: Matthew 7:6-Throw not your pearls before swine nor that which is holy to the dogs, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and REND YOU TO PIECES. And they DID. Too bad it was a neighbor and not Jerry.
DeleteJerry and his maulers are the monsters. Ask the widow.
ReplyDeleteUnless you know ALL of the details you should keep your inflammatory opinions to yourself. You have no right to pass judgement on the character of a person you do not know. Your opinions and comments are biased, unkind, cruel and untrue. Shame on you all. I've known Jerry Lenton for many years and I can't think of a finer person, man and good friend.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Animal Control's comment:
ReplyDeleteAnimal UncontrolDecember 13, 2012 at 4:02 PM
There is absolutely nothing Animal UncontrolDecember 13, 2012 at 4:02 PM
There is absolutely nothing substantive or persuasive in your comment. Nothing you say exempts Lenton from the horror he unleashed upon his community.
Ted Bundy, Stalin, Hitler, et. al. had many friends who would defend them... your point is?
The Catholic priests who molested young boys were also "men of God". Again, your point is? If I am a "man of God" may I rip you to pieces as you collect your mail?
Bottom line: It is WAY past time we start holding dog owners accountable. You own a dog, you own what it does.
Thanks for writing.. Nothing you say exempts Lenton from the horror he unleashed upon his community.
Ted Bundy, Stalin, Hitler, et. al. had many friends who would defend them... your point is?
The Catholic priests who molested young boys were also "men of God". Again, your point is? If I am a "man of God" may I rip you to pieces as you collect your mail?
Bottom line: It is WAY past time we start holding dog owners accountable. You own a dog, you own what it does.
Thanks for writing.
RESPONSE:
There was actually a lot of what I said both "substantive or persuasive" as well as truthful in my comment. I fully agree with you that "dog owners should be held accountable". That was not the point of my comment. Hateful, inflammatory, opinionated and false comments based on your biased viewpoint in know way holds anyone accountable nor does it do anything to further your cause. You would be well advised to invest your energy in actions that accomplish something useful and positive other than hate mongering.
FYI, UPDATE:
ReplyDeleteMr. Lenton was indeed held accountable:
March 19, 2014 at 12:56 PM
PELL CITY, Alabama - A Leeds couple was sentenced today after pleading guilty to charges in the 2012 death of an 83-year-old man, who was killed by two of their Rottweilers.
Jacqueline Lenton, 57, and Jerry Lenton, 57, were sentenced by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Bill Weathington during a hearing at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City. The pleas and sentences were part of agreements worked out in consultation with the victim's family.
Jerry Lenton pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to a split 10-year sentence, with one year and a day to serve in prison. He is to report to the St. Clair County Jail, where he will serve his sentence, on May 12. The judge also ordered Jerry Lenton placed on five years of probation, the first two years under supervision, after his release.
The family declined to comment after the hearing, but Chief Assistant St. Clair County District Attorney Lamar Williamson read a message from the family that "we believe justice was served."
Williamson said that the plea agreements were worked out in consultation with the family.
"It's just a very tragic situation. Good people on both sides," said Don Colee, attorney for Jacqueline Lenton.
POSTERS COMMENTARY:
So justice was served, the Lentons were "held accountable" and the desires and opinions of the family of the victim were considered as part of the sentencing process. It appears that they are significantly kinder and more compassionate than Animal Control would have been. Which comments above do you think reflect the attitude and personality of Ted Bundy, Stalin, Hitler, et. al.?
Are you being paid to stalk everyone that doesn't love your buddy? For crap's sake man, get a life. This thread WAS as dead as the guy your hero killed.
DeleteA WHOLE YEAR for murder. Ain't that something! Well, I'll admit its a year longer than most murdering dognuts get!
So, what is the ever amicable Mr. Lenton going to do when he is sprung from the pokey? Is he going to start up another Rottweiler breeding operation? Hell, it was just an ACCIDENT, right? It could NEVER have been avoided? Huge packs of rottweilers don't cause ANYONE discomfort, now do they? Its like a golf-ball setting off a nuclear explosion... nothing that could have been predicted!
If you let me have your email address, I will send you independent research results that have been conducted by alternative researchers over 14 years, which explain how and why the dog aggression epidemic started. The scientific cause and cure have been found. Anyone who would like this information can get it from me. martin.sutherland734@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteFeel free to post that on here. In any case, I already know the cause and the cure:
DeleteCause - canine supremacy movement.
Cure - Smith and Wesson.
Any questions?