MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — Mary Rivers, accused of felony animal abuse for allegedly throwing dogs off the Dog River Bridge, appeared before a judge today. Her trial is set for next April. Investigators claim Rivers was frustrated with the dogs for eating her chickens and tossed them from the bridge’s crest. Remarkably, the two small dogs survived by swimming through icy waters to reach marshland.
Outside the courthouse, animal rights activists protested, demanding accountability for Rivers and others who harm animals. “I hope that it’s not a plea deal,” said one protester, Whitehurst, who attended the rally. “That’s why we’re doing the plea for prosecution because we want them to prosecute these crimes and stop giving them plea deals. When we give them plea deals it’s not really teaching them that what they’re doing is wrong. We’re going to take a stand and let people know that we’re not going to stand for animal cruelty anymore.”
Eighteen-year-old Tavoris Gallery, who was 17 at the time, also faces felony animal abuse charges. A judge appears to have granted him youthful offender status, sealing his court file and limiting his sentence to a maximum of three years…