Did gold digger kill her elderly boyfriend?
Katherine Brotherton Didn't Want Her Dogs Anymore. So She Set Them On Fire.
Friday, Mar. 19 2010 @ 6:53AM
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And humane in her mind was to place them in a 55-gallon drum, douse them with gas, and set them on fire.
Jake, a 6-month-old pit bull, suffered severe burns all over his body. He still shakes with fear from the incident, but is expected to recover.
Boomer, a 5-year-old pit, suffered burns to his body and ears, but is also expected to live. Detectives found cuts on his head, however, and believe Brotherton beat him. They also think she left him chained in the yard for most of his life.
Brotherton has been charged with two counts of felony cruelty and faces up to 6 years.
See our last edition of Animal Cruelty: Terra Cotromano, Animal Rescue Founder, Charged with Cruelty, Missing Money.




Six years isn't enough in my opinion.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 08:07:17 AMummm, why were these dogs not just put down after found with such severe burning? they were neglected until this incident. that doesn't make for friendly pit bulls. if you are not interactive with pits, they will bite, and become aggressive. you can't leave this breed of dog chained without the love and company of a human, they get mean and aggressive.
and what interaction they did have with their owner was obviously part of the reason they were aggressive towards her. she was likely aggressive to them.
i hope they can ban her from ever having any more pets...and/or children!
six years, if she serves it all, i feel is plenty of time.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 08:20:41 AMthis kind of crap really pisses me off...
i hope these dogs are able to be rehabilitated after what they have endured
Posted 03/19/2010 at 10:21:38 AMwhy not save some taxpayer $$ and set her on fire??
Posted 03/19/2010 at 10:36:05 AMUmm, pit bulls are not bad dogs. If you leave ANY breed neglected, it will become fearful. Don't single out the pits, jaden.
I agree, let's put HER in a 55 gallon drum and set her on fire. Then leave her there.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 10:53:52 AMWe went to Italy for the express purpose of learning to make pasta from scratch, in a very authentic way. Properly dressing the pasta, and the pasta's texture and shapes are far more important in Italy than in America.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 11:03:30 AM6 Years for that p.o.s is not enough. I have met many pit bulls in my time that are the sweetest dogs imaginable. I have also met some nasty ones. The nasty ones are usually that way b/c their owners don't treat them well. Instead of the 6 years, lets chain her up outside for 5 years, then put her in a barrell, douse her with gasoline and set her on fire. What's good for "unwanted" dogs should be good for her right? I wonder if she would like the healing process that goes along with being severly burned. I hear that it's not pleasant.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 11:38:53 AMdont get me wrong ppl.. i am a dog lover myslf.. i was just thinkin that it would be a better option to put the dogs to sleep.. since they are in so much pain after the incident. atleast if they rest in peace, they dont hv to suffer and live a miserable life. this incident not only has made life terrible to the dogs.. but also to the ppl around them.. cz this incident will leave the dogs totally aggressive to humans.. and considering the fact tht pitbulls are very aggressive dogs by nature.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 12:53:28 PMi saw the dogs on the news. they actually don't look like they're too bad off. the hair in singed in some places, and the young one has some burns on his hind legs and tail, but it just looks really sensitive, not infected or anything like that. They will easily make a full physical recovery. No need to put them to sleep.
and pits are not an aggressive breed, that is a myth. The truth is, they are an ACTIVE breed, and when left alone, active breeds become aggressive. it is a result of bad pet ownership.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 01:53:33 PMI agree kavi. I think it would be best to just put them down too. But I don't agree that pits are aggressive by nature...no more than other breeds at any rate.
BAD DOG = BAD OWNER
Posted 03/19/2010 at 01:58:15 PMI have an American Pit Bull Terrior (APBT) whom I have owned for about 4 years now. He is my child. The love of my life. My everything. I found the APBT in a slum neighborhood in the town i live. At the time he was 2 years old and I was told that his owner was an alcoholic who abused women and his dog and apparently had abandoned him at this apartment building. The guy that took him in said that his neighbor had already caused an uproar about the fact that the dog was an unusually large and ominous looking pit bull and the ASPCA had been called. As I looked at this dog who was very weak looking, amaciated, and confused, I couldn't help but think of his mortality and his impending future at animal control. I immediately volunteered to take him home not knowing what was in store for any of us. That night it took my fiance 2 hours to get into bed because the dog was still confused and obviously trying to protect me from a man whom he had every right to assume was going to hurt me. After that he was fearful of my fiance for a while and we had several vet visits for advice on training and discipline tactics. I had no job at the time and spent every waking moment with the APBT. My fiance was totally in love with our new dog as well despite the fact that the dog seemed to be afraid of him. Our APBT became my best friend very quickly and aside from the 2 hours of defensive behavior that first night we met I have not seen ANY agression in him at all. He weighs 110 pounds and thinks that he is a 7 pound baby. The only sign of his abusive past we have not been able to overcome is an obsessive licking issue that is a common problem with many dogs and doesn't seem to bother anyone in my household. Since we have owned him, he has been exposed to all types of people from a newborn baby, who took a 3 hour nap with our dog curled around him the entire time with no movement, to my 90 year old aunt who weighs less than he does and is content to have him sit by her chair as she rubs his head all day. He is a very gentle giant considering the hell that he lived in for his first 2 years of life. He overcame his fear and is now a very happy, playful, MINDFUL APBT who seems to be a lot of peoples' best friend. I was so fearful of him when we first plucked him out of that little apartment but I have learned not to fear an individual just for what they are or what they represent in the general public's opinion. I have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) coupled with panic disorder. It used to rule my life. Since I have had my APBT to focus on I have only had 3 panic attacks in 4 years compared to 3 a day beforehand. He has completely turned my life around and I his. I think that any person who abuses any animal is up there with the child abusers and domestically violent individuals of the world. I think this woman should be tied to a pole outside with no food or water and left in the sun to bake. Anyone who is so abusive toward anything should not exist in my opinion!! >>>Please visit www.understand-a-bull.com to learn more about our friend the pit bull in all its wonderful shapes and sizes and Breed Selective Legislation (BSL) in your area.
Posted 03/19/2010 at 02:46:47 PMMy little chocolate red nose pit is my baby. These dogs are smarter than most people. These guys will love and appreciate whoever takes them in and treats them well. She should be put down, not the dogs!
Posted 03/19/2010 at 02:58:34 PMOf course I want to set her on fire, thats a given. I also have to agree with jadensmokes that (though I haven't seen these dogs) It proabably would have been more humane to have put them to sleep, not just because of the fire but because they are probably a risk as far as bieng adopted out. I think I want to put her and the bitch who beat the dog with a shovel in a big barrel and burn them both!!!!
Posted 03/19/2010 at 05:00:19 PMHow did these dogs get rescued? I mean she was obviously intent on burning them to death, so how was she stopped?
Posted 03/19/2010 at 06:01:44 PMOMG De javu! I have anxiety and PTS which has been improved since adopting my beautiful Bull Matiff over a year ago, same as you!!!!! She had also been neglected and mistreated and is a HUGE, intimidating looking dog. She is, however, the most loving, sweetest, most well behaved dog EVER. Shes my first dog (the only dog Ive ever loved;), and given my complete inexperience, she has been nothing but a pleasure to have around. I used to find it difficult getting out of the house but now Im out everyday on crazy adventures with my BFF!
Posted 03/19/2010 at 09:18:30 PMOH! AND BURN THE STUPID B*TCH!
Yes Ryan, Id like to know how this woman was disovered and how her plan was interupted
Posted 03/19/2010 at 09:21:20 PMHaving worked in a veterinary hospital for some time now, I have seen all types of dogs. All dogs can become aggressive. It is all about how they are raised, placing the fault of the aggressiveness on the OWNERS!! A large city around here, has a very strict Pit Bull policy. Once the laws were placed, and pit bulls in the city limit had to be registered, the owners have to have, I believe, upwards of $100,000 liability insurance. These dogs must be muzzled and double leashed when out in public, even just to go to the vet. They also are not allowing any new pit bulls to be brought into the city. I personally have never owned a pit bull, but I believe that laws like this are ridiculous!!! Again, any dog can become aggressive. Why must people single out one breed? It makes no sense. A friend of mine has a pit, and she is the best behaved dog I know. She listens, follows commands, and I have never seen her aggressive even with their 10 month old son.
Posted 03/20/2010 at 04:11:27 AMI think that people need to pull their heads out of their asses, and realize that it's not the dog, but their environment and how they have been raised that makes them mean/aggressive.
As far as this woman, there are so many rescue groups that will take dogs you now longer want, or cannot care for. I definitely think she needs jail time. I am glad that the dogs will be OK!!
Read the history. Any animal, human animals as well, can be made aggressive by their environment. My experiences w/pitbulls is that they are loving sweet friendly & devoted unless encouraged or taught otherwise. http://www.pitbull411.com/history.html
Posted 03/20/2010 at 06:06:16 PMIf these dogs weren't fit to be adopted the Vet team would have put them down. Whenever a dog is brought to the authorities whether it be abuse, abandonment, or aggressiveness on the dogs behalf, a vet or vet med personnel evaluates the dogs personality, and injuries. If it is possible to give a dog a chance at a happy life then why put it down? There are dogs that have injuries most people have a hard time over coming, but they live happy lives and give unconditional love to those who love them back. That woman is a lazy waste of space, she could have called a rescue group, she could have gave them to a shelter. Pure sloth.
Posted 03/21/2010 at 01:21:43 AMDeja Vu said,
Posted 03/21/2010 at 04:14:21 AMYour story was beautiful! I'm so happy for you and your baby(APBT). Both of you need one another. God Bless and take care.
Let's face it, Pit Bulls tend to be more aggressive than other dogs because of the type of people who raise them. Every Pitt Bull in my neighborhood (there are about 5, lots of Hispanics around here) is tied up in the back yard, barking ferociously at anyone who walks by. I'm terrified that one will get loose and attack me, cause I know they want to. So in general, I never trust a Pit Bull due to the high chance that it is not socialized and wants to bit me. Good Pit Bull owners are rare, whilst most owners like their pup's reputation as a "bad-ass" breed (as one owner elegantly put it).
Not to mention they have jaws that lock, which are incredibly dangerous. Combine this with stupid owners and you get an unfortunately dangerous breed of dog. I'm actually pro pit-bull bans, like the ones we have in Colorado (I'm in college now and the surrounding area isn't as nice as my neighborhood in Denver, hence all the Pit Bulls). This breed was genetically chosen to fight, so why keep it around? Although soe may be sweet dogs, I generally don't like the culture surrounding Pit Bulls. Ban the breed and no longer can gang-bangers and low-lives abuse them. These bans are really in the best interest of the dogs. Thus, I think every living Pit Bull should be spayed/neutered. Problem solved. And maybe neuter abuse owners too :-)
What do you all think?
Posted 03/21/2010 at 09:16:34 AMShe really thought setting living creatures on fire was a humane way to put them down? I hope she doesnt get off with an insanity plea, but this lady is crazy either that or has hit her head a few too many times. I say if your not going to love your animals, keep them fed and happy, and treat them well then don't get an animal. If you want protection get a gun, you can tie it up and beat a gun as much as you want without being arrested or just known as a horrible person. Scared of guns? Get an aluminum baseball bat, thats my weapon of choice and it'll work just fine if you arent afraid to use it when needed.
I agree with a few commenters up there that it depends on the people raising the pitbull that determines its behavior. Ive had friends with loving and sweet pit bulls. They wouldn't let anyone hurt their owner, but they wouldn't attack anyone for no reason.
Posted 03/21/2010 at 10:34:28 AMFirst of all I owned a beautiful white and brendal pit fo r her ENTIRE life she was raised around my daughter who was an infant at the time and I LOVED HER till the day she died, still do. I am not suggesting they be put down BECAUSE they are PIT BULLS! Also I work at a spca shelter so I know all about the process of deeming any breed dog fit for adoption.
Posted 03/21/2010 at 11:14:03 AMMY point was any dog can become another derivative of "Kennel Crazy" bieng raised on a chain for extended periods of time as this woman did, making them aggresive. It does'nt mean its the dogs fault u put anything on a chain long enouph it is a FACT they become unstable.
If the injuries were extensive (ANY BURN VICTIM) Human or otherwise has ALOT of rehabilatation to go through to heal. On either of those basis alone is grounds to end thier misery.
Also the whole nature vs. nuture theory for pit bulls in most cases its true it is in the person who raises them. But I have learned bieng in the line of work I am in older pits can and will turn without EVER having been abused, usually do to WAY to much over-breeding. Also some lose thier good natured tempraments, much later in their life be it becoming senile or otherwise.
It just makes these poor dogs high risk for potential adopters, through NO fault of the DOGS themselves.
Any older dog can turn. Most small breeds like shitzus, chihuahuas, and any terriers have shown aggressiveness with age and improper training(treating them like infants,being held constantly). The difference is that a bite or attack from the taco bell dog won't compare to the bite of a 90 lbs pit.
Posted 03/21/2010 at 12:44:46 PMIve had pitbulls all my life and i can definatly say ive never had any problems. They`re beautiful friendly dogs.Its how they get brought up.
Posted 03/22/2010 at 07:06:23 AMThat nutjob needs thrown into a pit with a bunch of ferrets!
Can we get rid of her humanely too?
Posted 03/22/2010 at 01:59:34 PMthese cruel people i cannot believe. what idiots. who couldnt take animals to a shelter instead of starving them or catching them on fire. i say the teacher lose her teaching liscence and the other lady have to pay big fines to a shelter and serve 20 years. shameless. God will have his way with them.
Posted 04/01/2010 at 11:39:34 AM