| No Justice in Washington State for Sodomized Kitten �This is a sickening story. It makes me question the humanity of people.� � Larry Siegler, DVM When an abused kitten was brought to Pasado�s Safe Haven of Snohomish County in February 2001, the animal protection agency's staff members were not prepared for what they saw. Angel�s anus had been ruptured, she had suffered internal injuries and neurological damage, and her tail was badly broken. Emergency surgery was necessary to treat the colon and rectal cavity, and her tail had to be amputated to prevent gangrene. Drs. Siegler and Mueller, who worked intensively to save Angel, believed that she had either been raped or sodomized with a large object. As a result of this vicious attack, Angel will suffer a lifetime of fecal incontinence. Read the veterinarians� reports here. �It would seem to me that the anus was purposely targeted for repeated acts of violence. On exam, it basically looked like her anus was torn apart � The injuries were quite severe.�� Karen Mueller, DVM �It is nearly impossible to accidentally insert a stick into a kitten�s rectum. I feel the injury to this kitten�s tail was most likely a result of abusive handling and was likely to have been done during the rectal penetration.� � Karen Mueller, DVM Neighborhood children interviewed by Pasado�s Safe Haven recount Angel�s vicious abuse at the hands of two sadistic boys, both age 13. Angel had reportedly been following the youths when they turned on her, picked her up, shook and swung her violently, and repeatedly threw her to the ground. When Angel attempted escape by climbing a tree, the boys followed and �[were] shoving [a stick] into the cat and � hitting [her] behind.� Angel was torn from the tree by her tail and thrown to the ground According to one witness, �She hit [the ground] and didn�t move much because I think she was in pain.� The following day, a stumbling Angel greeted one neighborhood child who reports, �[T]he hair on the back of [her] legs was dried with blood and poop. [She] had poop and blood on [her] tail and the tail, was not moving�it was dangling. [She] was walking awkwardly and limping.� After an uninspired inquiry, the Snohomish County sheriff�s office stated to the media, �Although the boys acted in a careless manner and may have used poor judgment, it does not appear that [they] intentionally tried to injure the kitten.� That agency interviewed no witnesses, made no attempts to speak with the attending veterinarians, and declined to review Pasado Safe Haven�s documentation. After conducting its own interviews, the Snohomish County prosecutor�s office has refused to prosecute this case. In their own press release, they cite the witnesses� ages (10 and 11) and lacking memory as cause for this decision. However, these witnesses were not interviewed by that office until May 2001, nearly three months after the attack. Further, Drs. Siegler and Mueller were never consulted. The prosecutor also cites an �independent� veterinarian�s speculation that Angel�s injuries were due to malnutrition. That veterinarian has never examined Angel (click here to read Dr. Mueller�s letter to the editor). Please urge the Snohomish County prosecutor to reopen Angel�s case and ask for his assurance that animal cruelty will be taken seriously by all those in his office. Encourage him to address issues of animal abuse in a timely and thorough manner. Contact: The Honorable James H. Krider Snohomish County Prosecutor�s Office 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 504 Everett, WA 98201-4046 Tel.: 425-388-3681 Fax: 425-388-3572 E-Mail: [email protected] Please also urge the Snohomish County sheriff�s department to take animal abuse seriously. Contact: Sheriff Rick Bart Snohomish County Sheriff�s Office 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 606 Everett, WA 98201 Tel.: 425-388-3393 (ask for "administration") Fax: 425-388-3805 ................................................ Please urge the Snohomish County prosecutor to reopen Angel's case and ask for his assurance that animal cruelty will be taken seriously by all those in his office. Encourage him to address issues of animal abuse in a timely and thorough manner. Sample Letter #1 - Please include your name and address, and mail a copy if possible. ====================================================== The Honorable James H. Krider Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 504 Everett, WA 98201-4046 Tel.: 425-388-3681 Fax: 425-388-3572 E-Mail: [email protected] (co.snohomish.wa.us) [email protected] Please reopen Angel's case and consider animal cruelty the serious crime that it is! Dear Mr. Krider, Considering the gravity of this offense, it was with disbelief that I learned that the Snohomish County prosecutor's office has refused to prosecute the perpetrators responsible for the malicious act of sodomizing a kitten, despite having eyewitnesses to the crime. In its own press release, the Snohomish County prosecutor's office cites the witnesses' ages (10 and 11) and lacking memory as cause for this decision. It is my understanding that these witnesses were not interviewed by your office until May 2001, nearly three months after the attack. Further, the attending veterinarians, Drs. Siegler and Mueller were never consulted. You have also cited an "independent" veterinarian's speculation that Angel's injuries were due to malnutrition. That veterinarian has never examined Angel. Angel's anus had been ruptured, she had suffered internal injuries and neurological damage, and her tail was badly broken. Emergency surgery was necessary to treat the colon and rectal cavity, and her tail had to be amputated to prevent gangrene. Drs. Siegler and Mueller, who worked intensively to save Angel, believed that she had either been raped or sodomized with a large object. As a result of this vicious attack, Angel will suffer a lifetime of fecal incontinence. "It would seem to me that the anus was purposely targeted for repeated acts of violence. On exam, it basically looked like her anus was torn apart . The injuries were quite severe."- Karen Mueller, DVM "It is nearly impossible to accidentally insert a stick into a kitten's rectum. I feel the injury to this kitten's tail was most likely a result of abusive handling and was likely to have been done during the rectal penetration." - Karen Mueller, DVM Neighborhood children interviewed by Pasado's Safe Haven recount Angel's vicious abuse at the hands of two sadistic boys, both age 13. Angel had reportedly been following the youths when they turned on her, picked her up, shook and swung her violently, and repeatedly threw her to the ground. When Angel attempted escape by climbing a tree, the boys followed and "[were] shoving [a stick] into the cat and hitting [her] behind." Angel was torn from the tree by her tail and thrown to the ground According to one witness, "She hit [the ground] and didn't move much because I think she was in pain." The following day, a stumbling Angel greeted one neighborhood child who reports, "[T]he hair on the back of [her] legs was dried with blood and poop. [She] had poop and blood on [her] tail and the tail, was not moving-it was dangling. [She] was walking awkwardly and limping." The veterinarian photos have been posted on the internet, and after viewing them, I take issue with the fact that no action is scheduled to be taken on this case, especially considering that legislation in Washington makes some acts of cruelty to animals a felony. As long as these young men are allowed to escape justice, they will continue to be a serious threat to animals as well as society. As you may know, social scientists and law enforcement officials have identified animal abuse as a symptom of emotional illness and a precursor to violent crimes against human beings. You may be interested to know that the Humane Society of the United States has released the findings of a yearlong study on animal cruelty in the United States. Please find a copy of that press release enclosed. As a society, we must call a halt to the acceptance of cruelty to animals and enforce a policy of harsh punishment for these crimes. To allow individuals guilty of perpetrating such cruel acts to go unpunished or not sufficiently punished would be to sanction these horrific crimes and would permit them to go on to commit serious and violent crimes against humans. The Snohomish County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices have acted negligently in investigating and prosecuting this case, causing a loss of confidence in these agencies. Please send a strong message to the community that these atrocious acts will not go unpunished, by reopening Angel's case and seeking the maximum penalty and mental health evaluations for the perpetrators of this very serious crime. Thank you for your attention to this very urgent matter. I look forward to learning what action you decide to take. Sincerely, Please also urge the Snohomish County sheriff's department to take animal abuse seriously. Sample Letter #2 - Please include your name and address, and mail a copy if possible. ====================================================== Sheriff Rick Bart Snohomish County Sheriff's Office 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 606 Everett, WA 98201 Tel.: 425-388-3393 (ask for "administration") Fax: 425-388-3805 (www.free2fax.com : click on "Send a free fax") Please reopen Angel's case and consider animal cruelty the serious crime that it is! Dear Mr. Bart, Considering the gravity of this offense, it was with disbelief that I learned that the Snohomish County sheriff's office has stated to the media, "Although the boys acted in a careless manner and may have used poor judgment, it does not appear that [they] intentionally tried to injure the kitten." It is my understanding that the Snohomish County sheriff's office interviewed no witnesses, made no attempts to speak with the attending veterinarians, and declined to review Pasado Safe Haven's documentation. Angel's anus had been ruptured, she had suffered internal injuries and neurological damage, and her tail was badly broken. Emergency surgery was necessary to treat the colon and rectal cavity, and her tail had to be amputated to prevent gangrene. Drs. Siegler and Mueller, who worked intensively to save Angel, believed that she had either been raped or sodomized with a large object. As a result of this vicious attack, Angel will suffer a lifetime of fecal incontinence. "It would seem to me that the anus was purposely targeted for repeated acts of violence. On exam, it basically looked like her anus was torn apart . The injuries were quite severe."- Karen Mueller, DVM "It is nearly impossible to accidentally insert a stick into a kitten's rectum. I feel the injury to this kitten's tail was most likely a result of abusive handling and was likely to have been done during the rectal penetration." - Karen Mueller, DVM Neighborhood children interviewed by Pasado's Safe Haven recount Angel's vicious abuse at the hands of two sadistic boys, both age 13. Angel had reportedly been following the youths when they turned on her, picked her up, shook and swung her violently, and repeatedly threw her to the ground. When Angel attempted escape by climbing a tree, the boys followed and "[were] shoving [a stick] into the cat and hitting [her] behind." Angel was torn from the tree by her tail and thrown to the ground According to one witness, "She hit [the ground] and didn't move much because I think she was in pain." The following day, a stumbling Angel greeted one neighborhood child who reports, "[T]he hair on the back of [her] legs was dried with blood and poop. [She] had poop and blood on [her] tail and the tail, was not moving-it was dangling. [She] was walking awkwardly and limping." The veterinarian photos have been posted on the internet, and after viewing them, I take issue with the fact that no action is scheduled to be taken on this case, especially considering that legislation in Washington makes some acts of cruelty to animals a felony. As long as these young men are allowed to escape justice, they will continue to be a serious threat to animals as well as society. As you may know, social scientists and law enforcement officials have identified animal abuse as a symptom of emotional illness and a precursor to violent crimes against human beings. You may be interested to know that the Humane Society of the United States has released the findings of a yearlong study on animal cruelty in the United States. Please find a copy of that press release enclosed. As a society, we must call a halt to the acceptance of cruelty to animals and enforce a policy of harsh punishment for these crimes. To allow individuals guilty of perpetrating such cruel acts to go unpunished or not sufficiently punished would be to sanction these horrific crimes and would permit them to go on to commit serious and violent crimes against humans. The Snohomish County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices have acted negligently in investigating and prosecuting this case, causing a loss of confidence in these agencies. Please send a strong message to the community that these atrocious acts will not go unpunished, by reopening Angel's case and seeking the maximum penalty and mental health evaluations for the perpetrators of this very serious crime. Thank you for your attention to this very urgent matter. I look forward to learning what action you decide to take. Sincerely, (Note: Include a copy of the "ENCLOSURE" posted below) ===================================================== ENCLOSURE: ===================================================== THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES RELEASES YEARLONG STUDY ON ANIMAL CRUELTY IN AMERICA WASHINGTON (April 12,2001) -The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), as part of its First Strike Campaign, has released the findings of a yearlong study on animal cruelty in the United States. Results from the study show an extremely high number of intentional cruelty cases were committed by male teens under the age of eighteen. The research also shows that a large number of cases of intentional animal cruelty also involved some form of family violence whether domestic violence, child abuse or elder abuse. The HSUS is the first organization to conduct a national study examining the prevalence of human violence as it relates to animal cruelty incidents. The HSUS seeks to turn the nation's attention to the connection between abuse towards animals and violence towards people, which as the study reveals, is a clear and present problem in our society today. The HSUS compiled information from more than 1600 high-profile animal cruelty cases nationwide that occurred between January and December 2000. Reports came from well-documented sources such as media reports and local humane societies. Of these cases, more than 900 involved intentional violence toward animals. The balance consisted of animal cruelty that resulted from neglect. Among the findings: - 94 percent of intentional animal cruelty incidents were committed by males. - 31 percent of the animal cruelty incidents were committed by perpetrators age 18 and younger. (Four percent of those were under age 12). - 21 percent of intentional animal cruelty cases also involved family violence. Of all the animals abused in these cases, 76 percent of the cases involved companion animals, 12 percent farm animals, 7 percent wildlife, and 5 percent involved multiple types of animals. In 63 percent of all cases, animals were killed as a result of violence or euthanized due to extensive injuries. The high percentage of male teenagers perpetrating intentional acts of cruelty against animals, and the large number of cruelty cases in which animal cruelty and family violence coexisted, should be a red flag to anyone concerned about reducing violence in our society," said Claire Ponder, HSUS First Strike Campaign Manager. "You don't have to be an animal lover to see that animal cruelty is a warning sign that an individual could be involved in other violent crimes and could pose a risk to family members as well as the larger community. Our best hope for preventing violence against both animals and people is early identification and intervention with violent perpetrators." The First Strike Campaign is an educational initiative launched in 1997 to increase public and professional awareness of the connection between animal cruelty and human violence and to encourage professionals involved in antiviolence to work together towards solutions. Many criminals in this country, from the young school shooters to the most notorious serial killers, have had a history of cruelty to animals before turning their violence onto people. Intervening early with a child who is abusing animals can help prevent violent behavior from escalating. Tackling animal cruelty usually involves a multitude of resources including social workers, mental health and law enforcement experts, and animal care and control professionals, to address the associated problems with animal cruelty. More and more lawmakers across the country are cracking down on animal cruelty through state and local laws. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia have adopted felony-level animal anti-cruelty laws, the majority having passed in the last few years. Several states have passed laws mandating psychological evaluation and counseling for convicted animal abuses. This year, 18 states are working on felony cruelty legislation and improving provisions within current felony cruelty laws. Five states, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts, have introduced bills that mandate cross reporting between animal control officers and child protective services. To learn more about The HSUS First Strike campaign please visit www.hsus.org/firststrike. |
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