DETROIT – The Gideon animal abuse case got an update Friday while protestors were outside the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Members of the Detroit Animal Welfare Group gathered outside the prosecutor’s office on Friday to protest the county’s handling of Gideon’s case and animal abuse cases in general.
She released a statement saying, in part, that her team is still working on the case and that the investigation is “nearing completion.” You can read her full statement below.
Wayne County prosecutor responds
Local 4 reached out to the prosecutor’s office for a statement while the protest was going on outside.
Here is the full statement we received from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
I firmly believe in the First Amendment and the right of people to peacefully protest. I understand that the Gideon animal abuse case is important, and people are passionate about it.
My detectives have been working on the case for six weeks, and the investigation is nearing completion. It is important for people to understand that we cannot and will not rush our work. We will thoroughly review the evidence in this case to make a charging decision
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy
Dozens of protestors were outside the building, carrying signs such as, “Speaking for the voiceless,” and “Enough is enough -- we need charges.”
Gideon’s story
Local 4 has followed the story of Gideon for several months. The 3-month-old Jack Russell Terrier puppy was taken in by DAWG on Jan. 12, 2025, with what members described as serious injuries.
They believe he was purposely submerged in boiling water.
“I’ve never been -- 13 years of rescue, in 20 years of anesthesia -- seen any living being in so much pain,” DAWG Director Kelly LaBonty said.
Third-degree burns covered Gideon’s body. LaBonty said the puppy was suffering badly, but he slowly began to recover. He was eventually transferred to the care of a foster family in Lake Orion.
“We didn’t think he was going to survive,” said Janet Austin, DAWG volunteer and Gideon’s foster mom (and now permanent dog mom). “So, my husband and I just focused on giving him the daily care he needed.”
His care included daily bandage changes, pain medication, soothing creams, and even skin grafts.
Gideon’s popularity
Gideon’s story went international, reaching as far as the UK, Australia, and Africa.
Supporters from around the United States -- Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Pennsylvania -- sent gifts and even traveled by car and plane to meet Gideon.
READ: Gideon inspires with survival story as investigation into abuse continues
More than 1,500 people gathered at Bubba’s 33 in Macomb for the chance to see him in person.
“The line was wrapped around the restaurant,” LaBonty said.
“People were waiting over an hour just to meet him,” Austin said. “He has quite a following.”
DAWG expresses frustration
Even when we first spoke to her back in February, LaBonty expressed frustration that more than six weeks had passed without justice for Gideon.
At the time, Local 4 contacted multiple agencies -- the police, the prosecutor’s office, Detroit Animal Care and Control, the Michigan Humane Society, and even the dog’s original owners -- to determine who was working on Gideon’s case.
We learned that the prosecutor’s office and police were both working on the case. Detroit police said the investigation was ongoing, and prosecutors said they’d assigned an animal cruelty detective to a “very disturbing case.”
“Prosecutor Worthy will contact DPD to determine who will take the lead on the case,” Local 4 was told.
Prosecutors told Local 4 that they started working on the case in mid-March. In early April, they were still gathering evidence.
“We must prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt by having facts and evidence that can be presented in a court of law,” the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said.
“I hope we obviously get prosecution for Gideon and not just a slap on the wrist and not just probation,” LaBonty said. “I mean, this is serious. ... We have to be the voice for all the animals. It’s not just Gideon. Gideon’s just a small part of the story.”
Upon receiving information about Gideon, Michigan Humane told us an investigator responded to the complaint, learned that the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office was involved, and began working with them.
