FORT COLLINS — A Loveland dog trainer accused of severely beating his own dog pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty and faces 30 days in jail and two years of supervised probation.
Ryan Matthews, 30, would not be allowed access to any animals during those two years, according to his plea deal. Matthews also must submit to a mental health evaluation and a pre-sentence investigation.
His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29 in Larimer County District Court.
According to the arrest affidavit, Matthews shoved the muzzled head of a female Belgian malinois named Montage through wallboard, body- slammed her by the neck and punched her in the face. Montage and Ruca, another malinois owned by Matthews, were relinquished to the Larimer Humane Society.
The dogs were then adopted by an area family and have acclimated well to their new home, said Marcie Willms, spokeswoman for the Larimer Humane Society.
Matthews declined to comment Tuesday.
According to a resume posted on his business website, Matthews spent six years in the U.S. Army military police, where he trained bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs. After leaving the military, he become owner and lead dog trainer of Off Leash Dog Training.
Several people praised Matthews and his dog-training abilities on his website.
Matthews told police that he never kicks or punches the dogs he trains.
But one of his employees contacted the Larimer Humane Society on July 17 to report the abuse suffered by Montage, and a surveillance video corroborated her claim, according to the arrest affidavit.
An online campaign sought to pressure the Larimer district attorney to hand Matthews the maximum sentence for the original charge — felony aggravated cruelty to animals.
But Willms said she was satisfied with the plea bargain.
“I think the proposed sentence indicates that the county does not take animal abuse lightly,” Willms said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
