URGENT ACTION NEEDED***URGENT ACTION NEEDED***URGENT ACTION NEEDED
My husband and I witnessed a horrible scene on Saturday Sept.25th,1999........
My father lives next door to us...his dogs were barking at about 10:55pm Sat.night. My husband Ed went to the door and noticed a man walking around outside. I came in to see what was up and i noticed he was our neighbor across the street,who also happens to be a Marine at the 29palms base. We are in Yucca Valley.
We watched him for a while.He was obviously a little tipsy but not too drunk to walk well. The street is well lit up around here. My dad has a mercury light out front and we had both of our outdoor lights on as well. Also there was a very bright full moon.
I walked away from the window and my husband saw this man go into his front yard and pick up a cat. That is when i went back to the window. In a second, this man was choking this poor cat...We heard the cats crying and we saw everything. He then threw the cat in his driveway,took off his white T-shirt and walked into his house. My husband got on the phone to the police.
Then I saw the man come out of his house and pick up the cat and carry it across the street. He tried to throw the dead cat over my dad's front gate. He dropped the poor thing and picked him up again and threw him over the fence. The cat was now lying in the middle of my dads driveway. Luckily his dogs were not able to get to the cat. The man just calmly walked back to his house.
First the police couldn't figure out if we were city or county...we live right in the middle of town! They sent out a sheriff an hour later. In the meantime the man had gone back into his house and the lights went out like nothing happened. When the sheriff finally got here, he saw the cat in the driveway and told us that he couldn't do anything. That he couldn't go knock on his door. He could only shine his light around and see if he was around outside....Duh!......we told him who the man was and that he had gone back into his house.
My husband and I picked up the cat in the morning. We were just so scared and shocked that we couldn't pick him up that night. The next morning i noticed the cats eyes were popped out of his little head. This idiot had choked him so hard! I to called Animal Control to come and get the cat and tell them the whole thing. I was very upset at this time.
When the Animal Control officer came out (Kim Casey is her name) she was just disgusted and told me it does fall under the Animal Abuse Law and that we could file statements and she could get the cat autopsied to make sure it was choked to death. She told me that we can try to do something about this.
The next day i had the statements to her. Hopefully she can start the ball rolling on getting this creep. We think he threw the cat over my dads fence to make it look like his dogs killed him. Who knows a killers reasoning! We don't know the guy and have never talked to him or had any problems with him before.
I just saw Kim this morning.(Thursday Sept.30).She told me the autopsy shows definite asphyxiation and that the case is on the District Attorneys desk now. The D.A.can do one of 3 things...drop the case, push for misdemeanor or felony charges or push the case to the Marine Corp.
This incident is killing me! I can't sleep for the sight of this poor cat is sticking in my mind. If this jerk can do this he can do anything. I don't want him to slide for this and yet I'm afraid he may. My husband and I are willing to testify in court to what we saw. I just can't believe the hatred this man had in him to be able to choke that cat so hard. What can he do next?.
I believe the case is at the Yucca Valley D.A. office or they sent it on to 29palms. I am so upset and frightened for me and my family but I'm not going to drop this. Thanks so much for listening and i sure hope you can help me do something about this. I will never ever get that picture out of my head.
Cyndie and Ed
Cyndie and Ed's e-mail address is BentLamb@aol.com in case anyone wants to write in support.
(Note from Joan Conley) As of the last time I heard from Cyndie (yesterday, Wednesday the 6th) the DA's office has kicked the whole mess back to the animal control officers. Cyndie and Ed have contacted media, but have had no response. This information will be posted on at least one web page soon, we're just in the process of getting things organized now.
Here are some addresses to send letters to demanding that this killer be brought to some kind of justice. There may be others added as time goes on.
The Marine's name is------Jaramillo.
Commanding General of 29palms Marine base:
Major General Clifford L.Stanley
Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center
29palms,Ca. 92278
Commandant at Washington DC Marine Base:
General James L.Jones
8th and i St. Southeast
Washington DC 20390-5000
San Bernardino District Attorneys:
6527 White Feather Rd.
Joshua Tree, Ca. 92252
Head Chaplain of 29palms Marine base:
Captain Ivan B. Burnett
Director of Religious Ministries Directorate
Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center
29palms,Ca. 92278
E-mail of Local Media:
newsroom@kesq.com
jallred@hidesert
Website for local news media: desertsunonline
SPECIAL ALERT on Airline Safety for Animals --
October 4, 1999
SAVE ANIMALS' LIVES BY CALLING YOUR SENATORS TODAY:
More than 5000 animals are killed, injured or lost on
commercial
airline flights every year, according to the Airline
Transportation Association. Family pets and other
animals
suffer and die due to extreme heat or cold
temperatures,
lack of oxygen, and rough handling. The loss of
these
animals is treated like the loss of luggage, with no
higher
penalties or accountability to the flying public.
In an
effort to stop such terrible suffering and needless
animal
deaths, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) is offering
an
amendment, the "Lautenberg Amendment to the FAA
Reauthorization Bill," which will make cargo holds
safer for
animals to help prevent these tragedies in the
future. It
will also increase the penalties when animals are
killed,
injured, or lost through airline negligence, and
require
airlines to report harmful incidents.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please immediately call your two U.S. Senators and ask that they "support the Lautenberg Amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill." We expect the vote to happen as soon as Tuesday, Oct. 5th, but keep the calls coming until we report the results to you. Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121. If you don't know your Senators, just call us at 202-955-3663 and we'll give you their names and numbers. You can also look them up at The HSUS website at www.hsus.org/forms/search_reps.html. Please ask your friends and family to make calls, too.
FOUR REASONS TO CALL IMMEDIATELY:
1. December 24, 1996: Barbara Listenik waited at New York's LaGuardia Airport where her dog, Boris, was to arrive on a Delta flight from Ft. Lauderdale. She was approached by Delta employees who showed her a bloody, dented, empty crate and told her the situation was "under control." After 45 minutes, she was informed that Boris had escaped and was being chased by Delta employees somewhere in the airport. Boris ran out of the airport into nearby Queens, NY. He was finally found six and a half weeks later, suffering from serious facial injuries, frostbite, dehydration, malnutrition, and infection. Delta refused to pay the $3600 vet bills for Boris and Ms. Listenik only received reimbursement for air fare and the value of the crate.
2. October, 1997: The Calk family flew on American Airlines from Newark, NJ to Los Angeles, CA and were told that their golden retriever, Jed, who traveled by cargo was "not ready yet." After 20 minutes, Mr. Calk returned to find Jed unconscious, covered in urine, feces, and vomit, and rushed him to the emergency vet. Jed died on route from suffocation due to lack of oxygen.
3. May 14, 1999: Two dogs on a Continental flight from Seattle, WA to Newark, NJ were both unconscious and nearly frozen to death upon arrival because baggage had blocked an air vent. Both were resuscitated by a police officer, but one had to be euthanized because of severe injuries. The other dog is still recovering.
4. June 28, 1999: The Anzalone family boarded a TWA flight from St. Louis, MO to Ft. Lauderdale, FL with their beloved 8 year old boxer, Enzo, below in the cargo hold. After several delays on the ground, Mr. Anzalone grew concerned about the uncomfortably warm temperature on the plane. When he asked a flight attendant to have someone check on Enzo, he was assured they would. After more delays and no report on Enzo, Mr. Anzalone asked about Enzo once again. He was rudely rebuffed and told that Enzo was "smiling and drinking water." After more delays, the plane took off. After arriving in Ft. Lauderdale, the family was told that Enzo was dead. An autopsy revealed that Enzo died of heat stress.
THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS--TODAY!
For more information on legislation, how to find
your legislators,
and past HUMANElines, visit www.hsus.org or
www.fund.org.
SAFE AIR TRAVEL FOR ANIMALS IS TAKING OFF:
On Tuesday, Oct. 5th, the Senate
accepted the Lautenberg Amendment
to protect pets in travel as part of
the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Every year,
over 5000 family pets and other animals
are injured, lost, or killed in airline
cargo holds due to extreme heat or cold
temperatures, lack of oxygen, and rough
handling. Senator Lautenberg's amendment
would hold the airlines responsible for
these tragedies by increasing penalties
and accountability for these incidents,
as well as requiring airlines to make
improvements in airflow and climate
control in cargo areas. Senator Frank
Lautenberg (D-NJ) declared that, "Pets
are not baggage and should not be treated
like baggage. They are a living, breathing
member of the family" (AP, 10/7/99). While
this is a great step forward (thanks to
the many calls HUMANElines readers made
in response to our Special Alert this week),
the fight is not over yet.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: The FAA Reauthorization Bill will now go to a conference committee and there are some key members of Congress who need to hear from everyone who cares about animals. Please call Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ; 202-224-4744) and Representative Menendez (D-13th/NJ; 202-225-7919) and thank them for sponsoring this legislation and URGE THEM TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE IT IS INCLUDED IN THE FINAL FAA BILL. It is also critical for everyone to reach the following key conference committee members (especially if you live in their districts---and if you do, tell them you are a constituent!). Urge them to "keep the Lautenberg provision for safe pet travel in the final FAA Reauthorization Bill":
Senator Gorton (R-WA) at 202-224-4852;
Senator McCain (R-AZ) at 202-224-1251;
Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) at 202-224-6472;
Senator Hollings (D-SC) at 202-224-0427;
Representative Duncan (2nd/TN --
Knoxville/Maryville/Athens) at
202-226-3220;
Representative Shuster (9th /PA --
Chambersburg/Altoona/Clearfield) at
202-225-9446;
Representative Lipinski (3rd/IL -- Chicago/Oak Lawn/La
Grange) at
202-225-9161;
Representative Oberstar (8th/MN --
Duluth/Chisholm/Brainerd/Elk River) at
202-225-4472.
Thanks for making these calls --- we need to see this through to the end!
The FAA reauthoriztion bill has gone to a House-Senate conference committee and may be in danger. They will decide whether the airlines will finally have to take responsibility for the animals entrusted to their care or will be allowed to continue exposing them to cargo holds that are death traps and baggage personnel who treat them no differently than the suitcases and golf bags they load on the plane.
Sen Frank Lautenberg successfully attached his legislation, the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act, to a bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (S. 82). His bill will improve the dangerous handling and cargo holds animals endure during air travel. A conference committee must now reconcile the differences between the Senate and House versions. The airlines want these important protections OUT. We need your help to make sure these protections stay IN!
BILL TO BAN "CRUSH VIDEOS" APPROVED BY HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE TODAY: H.R. 1887, the "crush video" ban, was approved by the House Crime Subcommittee on 10/7. H.R. 1887, introduced by U.S. Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA), would prohibit interstate commerce and commercial gain from the creation, sale, or possession of "crush videos" (in which animals are crushed and tortured by scantily clad women for the sexual gratification of viewers). The bill was introduced after law enforcement officials in Representative Gallegly's district were unable to arrest a Ventura County man who was selling crush videos over the Internet. Typically, small animals such as mice, rats, frogs, turtles, goldfish, chicks, lizards, hamsters, and guinea pigs are tortured and killed in these sadistic videos.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please contact your Representative to urge him/her to co-sponsor this important legislation. Go to our website at www.hsus.org or call us at 202-955-3668 to find out who your legislators are and how to reach them.
DOG AND CAT FUR BILL NEEDS YOUR CALLS: A legislative response to the estimated 2 million dogs and cats slaughtered and sold annually on the international fur trade market, H.R. 1622/S. 1197 introduced by Representative Jerry Kleczka (D-4th/WI) and Senator William Roth (R-DE), would ban imports and sales in interstate commerce of products made with cat and dog fur. The bill requires labeling of fur content for all products regardless of their price -- current law exempts products with fur valued at less than $150 from any labeling requirement.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please contact your Senators and Representative to urge them to support S. 1197/H.R. 1622. Go to our website at: www.hsus.org or call us at 202-955-3668 to find out who your legislators are and their contact information.
STATE UPDATE: While there's progress in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts is in danger of taking a huge step backwards. There is momentum is in favor H.B. 912, a bill to ban pigeon shoots in PA -- this bill needs support from all PA citizens! Contact Heidi Prescott at hprescott@fund.org or 301-585-2591 to learn how to help this crucial legislation. Unfortunately, in nearby MA, legislation (H. 3525) that would gut the 1996 citizen initiative banning cruel traps, passed out of committee on 9/30. For how to help stop this bill, contact HSUS at 202-955-3668 or ahuemer@hsus.org.
THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS--TODAY! For more information on legislation, how to find your legislators, and past HUMANElines, visit www.fund.org.
KITTEN SAVED IN BILLINGS CRUELTY CASE: "Rocky," a kitten in Billings, MT under foster care, was abused by two teenage boys who brutally beat and kicked him until he was motionless. Rocky was treated for a punctured abdomen and lost a leg but will survive this terrible ordeal thanks to the efforts of Dr. Suzanne Roth, the veterinarian at Granite Peak Veterinary Hospital who treated Rocky, and "Help For Homeless Pets" (the local animal rescue group now trying to find him a home). The boys who nearly killed Rocky were caught, thanks to the perseverance of Casey Hafner, the Billings police officer who acted quickly to follow up leads and never gave up because he understood the serious nature of animal abuse. The link between cruelty to animals and violence to people has been well established. Animal abuse is most often committed by juveniles who have experienced domestic violence. Without intervention, victims of domestic violence often repeat the cycle of abuse. If you would like to thank police officer Casey Hafner for his excellent work on behalf of Rocky, you can write to:
Chief Ron Tussing,
Billings Police Department,
P.O. Box 1178,
Billings, MT 59103.