This article originally appeared as Mindy McCready’s Tragic Death Also Claims a Canine Victim on Dr. Mahaney’s Pet-Lebrity News Blog on Pet360.
The world received some unfortunate news recently when country music superstar, Mindy McCready, was reported to have committed suicide. To compound the tragedy, there was also an animal casualty found at the crime scene. Shortly before McCready reportedly ended her life with a shotgun, she killed her dog (reportedly with the same shotgun).
An official statement from the Cleburne County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Office reads:
At 3:31 PM, Sunday, February 17th Deputies from the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of gun shots fired in the area of 1132 Fox Chase Drive in Heber Springs. Officers arrived on the scene at 3:58 PM and discovered the body of 37 year old Melinda Gayle McCready on the front porch of the residence at 1132 Fox Chase. Ms. McCready was pronounced dead at the scene from what appears to be a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this time family members have been notified of the incident. Ms. Mcready will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy and the matter will be fully investigated.
Why would someone who is about to kill herself also take the life of an innocent animal? McCready left behind no suicide note, so the reason behind killing herself and her dog are unknown.
Months before taking her own life, McCready suffered the loss of her boyfriend David Wilson. The cause of Wilson’s death is currently under investigation, but suicide is most highly suspected.
According to E! News, McCready’s friend and private investigator, Danno Hanks, says
I’ll tell you why she would have done it—if she did it—why she would have done it. Her discussions about leaving her life wasn’t that she wanted to end her life but she wanted to join David, and David loved that dog and so she’d be taking the dog with her.
I find this entire story extremely disturbing. Yet, I feel that the fact that McCready’s canine companion unnecessarily died at the hands of its mentally ill master also needs to be told. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats suffer under the observation (or lack there of) of humans incapable of properly taking care of themselves or other living creatures (as frequently seen on Animal Planet’s Confessions: Animal Hoarders).
I believe that if someone has their children taken away from them as a result of their inability to be an effective parent, the same procedure should also be put into place for their pets.
A police source told People magazine, “The house reeked, food was left out and dog feces were everywhere. Bottles full of prescription pills sat on the nightstand and in the bathroom.” Besides the obviously poor sanitary conditions on which McCready provided for her pooch, the plethora of human prescription drugs could also have caused life threatening toxicity if inappropriately consumed by the dog.
Perhaps this poor pooch would still be alive if Clerbune County (or other) animal control stepped in and removed the dog from McCready’s household at the time when it was apparent that she couldn’t be an effective parent to her children? On February 6, 2013 McCready’s two sons were removed from her home under a judge’s court order. She was then committed to a rehabilitation facility for mental health and alcohol abuse assessment, but exited after only two days.
Although McCready reportedly loved her dog, she certainly didn’t show it by the conditions in which she forced her dog to live and her decision to end the dog’s life.
My condolences go out to McCready’s family. Hopefully, law enforcement agencies can learn from the multiple tragedies and strive to promote animal welfare when incidents of concern human well-being are identified.
Sources:
http://www.tmz.com/2013/02/17/mindy-mccready-dead-dies-suicide/
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20675310,00.html
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome (I’ll respond).
Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.
Copyright of this article (2013) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Dr Deb
I think I fit this profile. Do you know if this study and inmftoarion would apply at all to Borderline Personality Disorder sufferers? It seems to me it hits a lot of the same notes? Thanks for posting this! Angel Chasse (again)
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