Guam Prosecutes First Felony Animal Neglect Case
Written by Nicole Pallotta, Academic Outreach Manager
When Guam enacted a felony animal cruelty law in 2011, the U.S. territory moved up 18 places on the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Protection Laws State Rankings, showing the second most improvement of U.S. states and territories that year[1].
In 2018, a grand jury in Guam indicted Melchor Antolin for what is believed to be the island’s first charges of felony animal cruelty arising from willful neglect. The case involves a pit bull named Thor. Thor was found by animal control authorities chained up and with a 15-pound tumor the size of a basketball in his leg. Thor’s untreated medical condition was so severe that he had to be euthanized.
Although Guam’s felony law has been utilized in cases of physical violence toward animals, this is believed to be the first time the law was applied due to neglect, or a failure to provide minimum care. Antolin’s trial is scheduled for April 2019.
According to Cyrus Luhr of the nonprofit Guam Animals in Need: “This is a very important case for Guam. If you purposefully hurt an animal, whether through physical violence or neglect, the law is clear — animal cruelty is animal cruelty.”
Focus Area
How We Work
Related
-
A Dog Named Smokey Reunites with Guardian After Being Kidnapped
The Animal Legal Defense Fund partnered with spcaLA to take custody of the dog until his guardian could retrieve himOctober 7, 2025 News -
Appellate Court Ruling Confirms SPCA Authority to Enforce California Animal Protection Laws
Animal Legal Defense Fund utilized California Corporations Code 10404 to circumvent illegal conditions at Vallejo puppy millSeptember 2, 2025 News -
Washington Governor Signs Animal Protection Bills into Law
The four laws will offer better protections for companion animals and keep wild animals from being exploited for entertainment in the stateMay 16, 2025 News
Donate to Protect Animals
Help animals win the legal protections they so desperately need and deserve, and ensure they have an advocate in courtrooms and legislatures across the country.