Protestors demand harshest penalty for woman accused of leaving her dog to die.

This update on the Christine Abrams case from Ann Hellmuth, who does the Orlando Sentinel’s “Animal Crazy” blog. The rally demanding the maximum possible penalty for Abrams went on today as planned, although Abrams’ next court date has been delayed until next week.

I also included a couple of photos from the protest, by Sentinel staff photographer Ricardo Ramirez-Buxeda.

From Ann:
Nearly 50 people protested outside the Brevard State Attorneys Office early Tuesday, urging prosecutors to seek the stiffest penalty possible for a Cocoa woman accused of leaving her 2-year-old German shepherd to die in a locked crate without food and water.
Carrying signs bearing a picture of the dog Ella, with wings and a halo above her head, the group presented State Attorney Norm Wolfinger with a petition signed by more than 3,700 people.

The petition asks that the state not negotiate a plea with Christine Abrams, who is facing two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, punishable by up to a year in the county jail and a $5,000 fine.

Abrams' attorney, who is trying to get most of the evidence tossed out, also has indicated that he hopes to work out a deal so she can avoid jail time. Her next court date is June 27.

Back to me:
One thing that bugged me today...
I noticed, on the Orlando Sentinel's comment board, several posters suggesting that the protestors at this rally were narrow-minded wackos who cared only about animals, ignoring "more important" issues of child abuse, poverty and the homeless.

How does that figure?

Seems to me that most people who feel empathy for animals are so moved because they understand that they are creatures without a voice. Animals need and deserve our respect and support -- just like kids and other populations (like the mentally ill) that society would rather ignore. I was proud to see teenagers at this rally, with their pets and their signs. We need more of this, not less, in the world.

There still is time to send letters to the Brevard-Seminole Attorney's office and the Brevard courts if you want to express your feelings about this case.
Click here for the site that is collecting petitions.

And you can keep reading if you want to see the full Orlando Sentinel story on today's rally.

Protesters want harshest penalty for woman accused of leaving dog to die

By Laurin Sellers | Sentinel Staff Writer
10:27 AM EDT, June 17, 2008

VIERA - Nearly 50 people protested outside the Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's office this morning, urging prosecutors to seek the harshest penalty possible for a Cocoa woman accused of leaving her dog to die in a locked crate without food or water.

"I am outraged over Ella's death,'' said Pam Mistyhn, 37, of Mims, who waved a sign bearing a photo of the dog when she was just a furry, white puppy, only.weeks' old.

"Ella died a senseless, tragic, painful, slow horrific death and (her owner) Christine Abrams was charged with misdemeanors,'' she said. "The laws need to be changed.''

Abrams, 30, is charged with two first-degree misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in connection with the death of her 2-year-old, three-legged white German shepherd.
If convicted, the maximum penalty she would face is a year in jail and $5,000 for each count.

A court hearing had been scheduled for today but was postponed until June 27 after Abrams' attorney filed a motion to throw out most of the evidence in the case.

Protesters said they decided to go ahead with their scheduled march today but plan to return in even larger numbers on the 27th.