FORT COLLINS — A Loveland dog trainer who police said body slammed a female Belgian malinois and punched her in the face was sentenced Tuesday in Larimer County District Court to two years supervised probation during which he can’t have contact with dogs.
Ryan Matthews, 30, will also spend 30 days in jail and have to undergo mental-health treatment under the terms of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Matthews in October pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty in connection with the attack on the malinois, named Montage.
He originally was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals.
Matthews declined to comment during his sentencing hearing. But his attorney, Rachel Michael, said the plea deal “was a fair and appropriate offer.”
Larimer Humane Society spokeswoman Marcie Willms said the organization was also satisfied with the sentence. “We still support the court’s decision,” Willms said. “It’s a true testament that animal cruelty can’t be taken lightly in our society.”
Montage and Ruca, another malinois owned by Matthews, were relinquished to the Larimer Humane Society and have been adopted out to new homes, where they are doing fine, Willms said.
According to 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 Army, he became owner and lead dog trainer of Off Leash Dog Training.
Several people praised Matthews and his training abilities on his website. And Matthews told police he never kicks or punches the dogs he trains.
But one of his employees contacted the Larimer Human Society on July 17 to report the abuse to Montage. According to the arrest affidavit, Matthews shoved Montage’s muzzled head through wallboard, body-slammed her by the neck and punched her in the face.
A surveillance video corroborated the employee’s claim, police said.
The sentence prohibits Matthews from owning or training dogs during his probation. His jail sentence begins on Jan. 18 after he is finished with is chemotherapy treatments.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907
