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What follows is a series of opinion pieces written by The Mississippi Press newspaper in Pascagoula, MS, in response to shocking cruelty to a young dog called Buddy.
Support is growing but still much needed to stop animal cruelty. We have links here for house ads for newspapers, and sample letters to send to your legislators urging them to take action.
The Mississippi Press Association Board of Directors encourages you to consider joining The Mississippi Press newspaper in a similar community service project in your area.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Our Opinion
Evil behavior must not be dismissed
All cases of cruelty to animals are shocking, but the news that a 16-month-old black Labrador retriever had been brutalized and left to suffer in Gautier is disturbing.
The dog was discovered with its eyes sealed shut with glue. Its mouth, throat and ears were glued. The puppy’s hind legs were broken in several places. It is also suspected that the puppy had been starved. The vile act resulted in the dog being euthanized by a veterinarian.
Those responsible for this act of torture must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The penalty for those convicted of cruelty to an animal is a sentence up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. Acts such as this warrant far greater penalties.
Legislators should recognize the severity of these crimes and increase the punishment for those convicted of animal cruelty. There’s no justification for cruel behavior toward animals, and the justice system should recognize that fact.
Dr. Colleen Lennep said, “People who can do that to defenseless animals eventually think nothing of hurting a child or another person.” That’s why police shouldn’t take such animal abuse cases lightly.
And, if you think such cases are rare, think again. In a report on the puppy, Bill Richmond, director of the Jackson County Animal Shelter, said this type of cruel act is common. “We see people who just refuse to take care of their animals, and that’s a form of animal cruelty in my opinion. And truly, I’ve seen animals in far worse shape than the puppy sounds like it was. Most of those kinds of acts are not suitable for your readers,” he said.
While it isn’t directly comparable to this action, animal cruelty can be as simple as allowing the family pet to roam free. It may seem like a kind act, but the dog or cat faces dangers when left to roam. The family pet can become a victim to traffic, other animals, poisons and vicious animal abusers. There are incidents where dogs are captured to be used to train fighting dogs. Pet owners can guard against such abuse by simply taking care of their animals and not letting them roam free.
The abuse of the puppy found at Gautier is a stomach-turning act that should not be dismissed. Police may have tons of other cases to work, but if they solve this cruelty case they may be saving a life in the future.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Your help is needed
Below is a sample letter that you can send to area state representatives and senators asking them to pass legislation to provide stiffer penalties for those convicted of abusing animals. Cut the letter out and send it to your representative and senator.
Dear ___________________
Your leadership is urgently needed to combat animal cruelty such as was discovered on July 20 in Gautier. A 16-month male black Labrador Retriever was found with its eyes, mouth and ears covered with PVC pipe glue. The glue had entered the puppy’s throat and his hind legs were fractured in several places. The dog had to be euthanized by Dr. Colleen Lennep, of Pet Connection Town and Country Veterinary Hospital.
You are urged to reconsider House Bill 710 and Senate Bill 2410, which were introduced in the 2006 session. The bills expand the animal cruelty law and provide a felony penalty for:
- Cruelly beating, mutilating, or intentionally killing an animal.
- Unjustifiably administering any poisonous or noxious drug or substance to any domestic animal
- Extreme deprivation of minimum care that causes critical physical injury to any living animal.
Please make cruelty to animals the serious crime it is.
Sincerely,
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Our Opinion
A dog’s life that no one wanted
I can only assume that what I’m about to tell you really happened.It could have been a dream. I was tired. Maybe it was the glass of Merlot, or the droning of the television. I want to say I was awake and not lucid.But I do remember that night well. The night Libby looked at me with her dark brown eyes and said, “Lance, do you think Buddy’s killer will be caught? I’m scared he’ll come after me.”Libby, you see, is my 4- year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I know for fact that she had jumped on the couch beside me and laid her head in my lap. I recall scratching her behind the ears. And though I consider her the smartest dog I’ve ever owned, and capable of understanding many words and commands, I’d never to this point ever heard her talk.”You’re safe here, Libby. No one will hurt you. I’ll see to that,” I said, rubbing her between the eyes with one finger.”I know you’re a good human. I just don’t understand how someone could be so cruel to a dog,” she sighed.”Yeah, yeah … why would someone do that … why why why?” Sparky, my parents’ Boston Terrier asks as she spins on her rear-end on the carpet in front of us. “Just don’t know, just don’t know just don’t know.”
While Libby can be more reserved and more protective, Sparky is spastic, constantly energized and perpetually in motion. Sparky is five years older than Libby, but acts half her age.
“Would you just calm down Sparky! This is serious,” Libby barks, trying to quell Sparky’s sudden burst of energy.
I have to agree with her.
This is serious.
In the weeks since Buddy’s broken body was found at a nursery in Hickory Hill, no one has stepped forward - not Buddy’s owner or Buddy’s abuser. The only people who have come forward in this sad story are the one’s who want to see justice for Buddy.
Those who claim to speak for those without voices.
They’ve sent money, some large amounts, some small, in hopes that someone will step forward and turn in the person who perpetrated this act.
They’ve also sent letters of encouragement.
But still, no one has been caught, no one has confessed. And tragically, a criminal is still at large in Gautier. And if the experts are to be believed, the person or persons who perpetrated this act on a defenseless animal may be honing their cruel skills to practice on people next.
While these thoughts pour through my head, Libby has rolled over on her back, her short little legs sticking straight up in the air. She peers at me from her upside-down pose and asks, “Why would someone do this? How could someone be so cruel to a puppy?”
“That’s hard to answer, Libby,” I say. “People can cruel to each other. They hurt their own young as well as poor puppies.”
I try to tell Libby about Wyishia Smothers, the 4- year-old boy who was beaten to near death in Moss Point, and who later died in an Alabama hospital. I try to explain how two other people were shot to death last week. I try to tell her that senseless violence is a common trait among humans.
She just looks at me with those brown eyes. I can tell she wants to understand that bad things happen, but her innocent dog brain just can’t quite come to grips with the random acts of violence that have hit our community.
“You know, Lance, I’ve heard some humans say they’d rather have a dog’s life. And mine is not that bad. I got plenty of kibble, I have bones to chew on and I get to go on plenty of walks. My life isn’t bad. But who would want to live Buddy’s life?”
Assistant Executive Editor Lance Davis can be reached at (228) 934-1478 or ldavis@themississippipress.com
Sunday, August, 6, 2006
Our Opinion
“Thank you” not enough for supporting Buddy
Every day that passes brings another letter, another donation and an outpouring of support for Buddy, the Labrador retriever puppy that was maliciously tortured and left for dead. Thousands of letters are on their way to local legislators demanding a change in Mississippi’s animal cruelty law. Currently, it is a misdemeanor offense to abuse an animal - a slap on the wrist that Buddy’s plight has brought to the forefront of public awareness. Judging from the overwhelming response in Jackson County, and from across the nation, lawmakers need to change that when they reconvene in Jackson next year.State Reps. Jeff Smith of Columbus, Billy Broomfield of Moss Point and John Read of Gautier have heard that public outcry and have vowed to change the law. Darren Versiga, a private investigator and Jackson County deputy, and Rod Rodriguez, his partner at Covert Investigations, are volunteering their time to assist the Gautier Police Department track down and capture Buddy’s assailant.It seems insufficient to say “Thank You” to all of those people who have been touched by Buddy’s story and who have donated to the reward fund in his name. It is truly humbling to know that so many people have taken time from their busy schedules to write to their state representatives, and that so many businesses have made space available in their stores for boxes and letters addressing the issue of animal cruelty. And at a time when so many need help themselves recovering from Hurricane Katrina, they have still found a way to donate their precious dollars to help catch and convict the person or persons responsible for this heinous act. It is a testimony to the fact decency reigns supreme.
A simple “Thank You” for that support hardly seems adequate.
And Buddy’s story is far from over. It does not end when the individual responsible for this act is captured and convicted - when he does his mandatory six months in jail.
When that day comes, that outpouring of support will need to be doubled and redirected at Jackson, where Read said it will be sorely needed to ensure the passage of an animal cruelty law that truly holds perpetrators of such reprehensible acts accountable for their crime.
And still, there is one more thing to consider. Owning a pet is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly.
Dogs and cats should not be allowed to freely roam neighborhoods. They should not be allowed to propagate at will.
Responsible pet ownership means having dogs and cats spayed and neutered. It means keeping dogs and cats properly confined to homes and yards. It means obeying the leash laws that are in place in every city.
Unwanted litters of puppies and kittens indirectly lead to the acts of wanton violence that was perpetrated on Buddy and four other Labrador puppies that may have come from the same litter.
If you love your pet, if you consider your pet to be part of your family, then do the right thing for your pet.
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