- Minnesota, USA -
~ Update: May 25, 2023
On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, RAYLEAN CHASTITY GURNEAU (pictured), pleaded not guilty to four counts of animal cruelty, one of them a felony, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, and placing a fake 911 call.
Court records show that GURNEAU is due back in court on August 31, 2023.
I sadly learned from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office that “Taho was euthanized by the non-profit organization that was trying to help.”
~ Original story:
On Monday, April 10, 2023, in Ramsey County District Court, 26-years-old RAYLEAN CHASTITY GURNEAU (pictured), was charged with four counts of animal cruelty, one of them a felony, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, and placing a fake 911 call.
GURNEAU is accused of throwing a Pitbull puppy out of a window during a January police chase through Ramsey County.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by Voice For Us, on the night of January 30, 2023, 33-years-old DONOVAN ALAN GOODMAN (also pictured), led Ramsey County deputies on a chase while traveling the wrong way on Interstate 694 in a stolen Ford F150.
During the pursuit, one of the pickup’s rear doors opened, a small dog tumbled out and landed onto the busy road.
One officer pursuing the stolen vehicle, executed a PIT maneuver and when the vehicle stopped, GOODMAN and another unidentified male suspect ran out.
In the backseat of the stolen Ford F150, deputies found GURNEAU and another woman along with a backpack containing methamphetamine.
The day after the chase, Ramsey County Deputies launched a search effort and “found the puppy, alive and hiding in the snow,” said the sheriff’s office. Sgt. Dan Young explained to KSTP that he used his drone to search for the dog. He said: “We honestly didn’t think we were looking for a dog that was alive.” He went on to say: “We were looking for a white dog in a whole bunch of snow, so it was a difficult search.”
Thankfully, the technology used by the sheriff’s office led deputies to some footsteps, and they found the puppy alive. The Voiceless Victim shivered in subzero weather until he was finally found along the side of the freeway about 50 yards from where he was thrown from the stolen vehicle.
Sgt. Young told KSTP: “He was burrowed way down. You could see his snout and the top of his head, and I think that insulated him enough that he could survive that night.”
Deputies rushed the furbaby to an emergency veterinarian. The vet then asked deputies: “What’s his name, what do you want to call him?”
One of them said: “Taho because our patrol deputies drive Tahoes.”
Taho is less than a year old and suffered a broken leg and other lacerations.
He is in the care of a dog rescue and rehabilitation organization while he recovers from physical and emotional abuse. Taho’s veterinary care totaled more than $20,000.
Sgt. Young said: “The outpouring of help and concern over a dog is amazing to see, and it shows the goodness of people, and it shows that people are willing to help.”
GOODMAN was eventually arrested on February 25, 2023, and KSTP reports that in an interview with law enforcement, he confirmed that GURNEAU “was the one who threw the puppy out of the vehicle.”
As the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office explained, Taho’s next steps are unclear because he’s technically evidence in the case.
If you wish and can afford to donate toward Taho’s veterinary care, please click here. Thank you!
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
Taho’s pictures were shared from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
GURNEAU and GOODMAN’s mugshots were shared from the Hennepin County Jail.
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