'Monster' sprung!

By GIL BRADY
Star-Tribune correspondent

Filed 1.19.06

JACKSON -- As the world debated a Baghdad tyrant's ghastly video-phone hanging this month, an 8-month-old pet raccoon named "Monster," confined to his roomy death row cell here, waited out a judge's quarantine that has now saved the critter's neck.

Before about 17 eager and anxious supporters, and as impounded dogs barked excitedly in their kennels Thursday, Jackson veterinarian Erica Periman removed a thermometer from the young raccoon at 4:15 p.m. and pronounced Monster healthy and completely untainted by rabies.

Monster's ordeal began on New Year's Day when, while playing with 11-year-old Tyler Martin on his grandfather's bed, the boy was either "bit" or "scratched" by the animal. During a routine physical of Tyler two days later, Public Health Officer Dr. James Little learned about the nick and signed an order that would have meant euthanizing the animal and sending its decapitated head to the state veterinary lab to check for rabies.

Monster's benefactor, Cathy "Cat'" Bradley-Stephens, however, found local attorney Jody Chance, who immediately filed for a restraining order, delaying Monster's execution until a hearing. On Jan. 5, after hearing expert testimony from Little and Periman, 9th District Judge Nancy J. Guthrie halted Little's execution order and sentenced the raccoon to quarantine for 13 days.

(Click & Read on courtsey of the Casper Star-Tribune)

Photo Captions & Credits: 1) "Monster in Beast Jail"; 2) "Monster Kiss"; 3) "Dr. Erica Periman checks Monster's soul"; 4) "Tyler, 'Shady Snake' Martin & Monster, sprung from Beast Jail," courtsey of Andrew Wyatt for the Casper Star-Tribune & The Cowboy Times