Man who attacked dog with a chain saw gets 2 1/2-year jail term

PALMER, Mass. --A man who severely maimed a friend's dog with a chain saw because he "saw the devil" in the animal's eyes was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Randall Mason, 42, of Monson, received the maximum possible sentence on Monday in Palmer District Court.

The dog, a Labrador-husky mix named Blue, had to be euthanized after suffering deep cuts to its head and paws during the Jan. 4 incident.

Mason was staying with the dog's owner, Jason Wemette.

A baby sitter caring for Wemette's two children called police at about 1 a.m. after she awoke to the sound of a running chain saw and a whimpering dog. She said in a statement to police that she found Blue with one paw nearly severed and saw a large amount of blood in the house.

Police said they think Mason was drinking just before the incident. The baby sitter said in her statement to police that when Mason drinks, "he does stupid stuff." She also said that Mason cried as he tried to stop the dog's bleeding with a towel.

Police said Mason claimed he "saw the devil" in the dog's eyes.

Mason's court-appointed attorney said at his arraignment that his client was acting in self defense, but prosecutors said Mason did not have injuries consistent with a dog attack.

"I'm glad Mr. Mason has accepted responsibility and is being held accountable for his actions," Monson Police Chief Stephen Kozloski said in a statement.