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Marine Accused of Killing 2 Puppies

by Jo Singer
Published March 8, 2012

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A North Carolina man and marine is accused of killing two puppies.

On Friday, March 2, Police arrested Cpl. Benjamin Asher Link, a 21-year-old Marine from Jacksonville, North Carolina, who is stationed at the New River Air Station where he is assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26. He was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals for allegedly drowning two puppies. Arrest warrants describe the deceased puppies as a Pit bull and a Pit-Labrador Retriever mix. The ages of the puppies were estimated to be between two weeks to eight weeks old.

According to MyFox8, after Cpl. Link drowned the puppies, he stuffed them in a plastic bag, and then tossed their bodies into a dumpster behind his house. The marine is also facing two counts of illegally disposing the bodies of dead, domesticated animals. Link went before a judge on Monday, March 5, and was remanded to the Onslow County Jail where he is being held in lieu of bail set at $25,000.

Although no information was available about what Cpl. Link's motivation might have been for killing the puppies, according to wcti.com, neighbors of the Jacksonville marine accused of killing the puppies told News Channel 12 that in thinking back on it, they could see warning signs.  

One neighbor, Tomara Burge said that she had earlier heard Cpl. Link complaining about the puppies.

"He was talking about how they weren't potty trained, but it was kind of aggravating and he was going to get through it," Burge said. "I just didn't think it'd come to that."  

Madeline Fleshman, another neighbor, thought that Link was a nice guy. But she became concerned when she saved a stray dog and discovered that she belonged to Link. She thought that apparently Link didn’t want to keep the dog because she was too much work. He told her that since she had taken such good care of his dog, and since he didn’t want her back, he offered to give the dog to her.

This writer cannot even begin to conceive what might have motivated Cpl. Link to take the lives of these two innocent young puppies.  

What do you think? Share your thoughts in a comment.

Author's profile photo
Jo Singer

Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…

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Comments (9)

Cynthiaw (Unverified)
Added 03-06-2013 07:07am
One of the "anonymous" posters below suggested since we kill cows, etc. that this was somehow justified. The POS who killed the puppies could have taken them to, or called an animal no-kill shelter, but that might have taken a few moments of his worthless time. He's a loser! Re: the killing of other animals, I'm also strongly against those acts. As a vegetarian I've been healthy, not even a cold or headache or the past 16 years since I switched from meat. Anyone who harms animals is someone seriously lacking.
Cynthiaw (Unverified)
Added 03-06-2013 07:02am
He's a violent, out of control, cruel individual whose lack of compassion and intelligence suggests he may very well harm others. Should be given the more severe punishment possible!
Anonymous (Unverified)
Added 03-11-2012 10:12am
Someone should hold him underwater until he drowns. Just awful.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Added 03-11-2012 05:20am
This act is despicable to say the least. This "thing" called a human being is not in any way shape or form a human. He is very sick, and should not only dishonorably discharged but should be jailed and fined. He should be banned from ever owning a pet at any time.
Iniki (Unverified)
Added 03-09-2012 07:40am
This is a very sad story. You have to wonder if this person even knew or cared that he was taking a life. Until someone can talk to this young man they will not be able to figure out why he did this. Who knows what or how he was raised as far as caring for animals is concerned. I am not defending him in any way. I do know that lack of education leads people to do cruel and stupid things to animals and people too. One bottom line to many people is money. If shelters charge to take in animals then people find another way to rid themselves of unwanted pets. They are just to cheap to pay a shelter to take an animal. No matter the reason, it is a saddening story.
Kathy (Unverified)
Added 03-08-2012 11:22pm
Apparently, some people still think of animals as objects, not living, breathing, feeling creatures of God. Why didn't he just take them to the a local shelter? Even if it wasn't a no-kill shelter, puppies have a better chance of getting adopted than older dogs.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Added 03-08-2012 08:29pm
A dog or cat is an ANIMAL. People don't have problems with a cow being electrocuted or hit on the head to kill it so they can eat it. Then why do people feel that drowning puppies is worse than that? If no one can take care of the dogs then it is better they are put down than left to starve or be abused. Why not get rid of them before they become a nuisance. We did it to kittens when I was a child because there was a war on and we couldn't feed them. There wasn't any way to keep them nor was there vets to euthanise them in those days. I know it is cruel to do it but it is better than abandoning them in the wild to fend for themselves. I believe in euthanising people if they want to be. So there.
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