Marty
02-03-2005, 08:53 PM
USA -- Today, PETA sent an urgent plea to Assistant District Attorney Joel Abelove, urging him to charge and vigorously prosecute an unnamed Troy woman after authorities reported December 27, 2004, discovery of a pit bull-mastiff frozen to the ground on her property. News sources state that the dog may have been part of an investigation of dogfighting activity on the premises last summer.
People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to the people and animals with whom they come into contact, says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Kristin DeJournett.
Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag.
PETA is asking that if convicted and in addition to a period of incarceration the suspect be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling. PETA is also urging authorities to seize any other animals currently in the womans custody and to ban her for life as allowed by New York law from owning or harboring animals.
For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.
PETAs letter to Assistant District Attorney Joel Abelove follows.
February 3, 2005
Joel Abelove, Assistant District Attorney
Rensselaer County District Attorneys Office
80 Second St.
Troy, NY 12180
Dear Mr. Abelove:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the worlds largest animal rights organization, with more than 800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter concerns a recent case of cruelty to animals that your office is handling, involving an unnamed Troy woman.
Charges against her are said to be pending following authorities reported December 27, 2004, discovery of the frozen remains of a dog behind her 361 Ninth St. residence. According to news sources, the pit bull-mastiffs carcass was found frozen to the ground near the accuseds shed. One official was reported as saying that he had responded to the same address a year earlier to investigate allegations of dogfighting on the premises.
Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider the blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering evidenced by all forms of cruelty to be a red flag. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior, not the species of the victim, that matters.
On behalf of our thousands of members in New York, we respectfully ask that your office file appropriate charges against the accused and that, upon conviction and in addition to a period of incarceration, she be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at her own expense the safety of the community may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the accuseds apparent prolonged and utter disregard for the lives and suffering of animals in her custody, we implore your office to take every measure necessary to ensure that she is banned for life from contact with animals per Article 26, 374.5(c) of New York Consolidated Laws and to immediately find and seize any animals who remain in her charge.
Thank you for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration. Do not hesitate to contact me at 757-622-7382 if you have any questions or if our office can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Kristin DeJournett, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department
People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to the people and animals with whom they come into contact, says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Kristin DeJournett.
Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag.
PETA is asking that if convicted and in addition to a period of incarceration the suspect be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling. PETA is also urging authorities to seize any other animals currently in the womans custody and to ban her for life as allowed by New York law from owning or harboring animals.
For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.
PETAs letter to Assistant District Attorney Joel Abelove follows.
February 3, 2005
Joel Abelove, Assistant District Attorney
Rensselaer County District Attorneys Office
80 Second St.
Troy, NY 12180
Dear Mr. Abelove:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the worlds largest animal rights organization, with more than 800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter concerns a recent case of cruelty to animals that your office is handling, involving an unnamed Troy woman.
Charges against her are said to be pending following authorities reported December 27, 2004, discovery of the frozen remains of a dog behind her 361 Ninth St. residence. According to news sources, the pit bull-mastiffs carcass was found frozen to the ground near the accuseds shed. One official was reported as saying that he had responded to the same address a year earlier to investigate allegations of dogfighting on the premises.
Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider the blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering evidenced by all forms of cruelty to be a red flag. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior, not the species of the victim, that matters.
On behalf of our thousands of members in New York, we respectfully ask that your office file appropriate charges against the accused and that, upon conviction and in addition to a period of incarceration, she be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at her own expense the safety of the community may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the accuseds apparent prolonged and utter disregard for the lives and suffering of animals in her custody, we implore your office to take every measure necessary to ensure that she is banned for life from contact with animals per Article 26, 374.5(c) of New York Consolidated Laws and to immediately find and seize any animals who remain in her charge.
Thank you for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration. Do not hesitate to contact me at 757-622-7382 if you have any questions or if our office can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Kristin DeJournett, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department