From the Despicable Acts Department:

Burglars who broke into a Sunrise home Saturday night took little – but strangled one of the family’s two pet rabbits.

The would-be thieves opened the rabbit cage on the patio and took out bunny Lolo.
When the family came home, they found Lolo’s dead body outside the patio, the fur around his neck heavily ruffled, according to the Sunrise police report.

“His eyes were popped out and stuff. It looked like he had been choked. My mom was crying,” said son Anderson Baez.

The second rabbit “must have ran away,” Anderson said. They later found her in the backyard.

Police found no prints at the scene, according to the report. The family said drawers and closets had been opened, and papers gone through, but could not tell if anything was missing.

“It looked like they used gloves and stuff, police told us,” Anderson said.
Mom Rosamaria Baez told police she was willing to press charges if anyone was caught.

> Discuss this entry

A story in today's Sun Sentinel reveals that a Palm Beach County teenager accused of sexually assaulting the family's German shepherd also had child pornography videos on his computer, showing grown men performing sex acts with little girls, police said.

Surprise, surprise.

Research repeatedly has shown that people who sexually abuse animals often do the same to humans they also feel they can dominate -- just as people who physically abuse animals tend toward violent crimes. It's all well and good that county officials, who removed dogs and two cats from the family's home, have banned them from owning pets. But now is another good time to point out something that really will shock you, folks:

It's legal in our state to sexually assault animals.

Yep, we are one of 20 states where this is true. The reason is that when states struck down laws outlawing sodomy, the ones barring sex with animals went, too. This makes it hard for prosecutors and law enforcement to pursue these cases.

Sen. Nan Rich, a Democrat representing parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, introduced a bill last session (SB 0744) that would have fixed this, but admits it got started too late to get very far. She plans to try again. And she needs your support.

There are 215 days until the 2009 Florida legislative session begins. Tell your elected senators and representatives that you want them to support Rich's measure, which I hope will be introduced again this year. Stop legalized rape of our innocent animal companions and friends.

Click here to read my original post on this subject, with much more background and details on how to contact Sen. Rich.

> Discuss this entry

The American Humane Association is looking for a federal resolution acknowledging September as “National Link Awareness Month.” The Link being referred to is the connection between animal abuse and other violent crimes.

Here’s the piece from the PRNewswire today.

DENVER -- In 1894, the American Humane Association first noted a connection between animal abuse and other forms of societal violence. More than 100 years later, this connection -- which American Humane now calls The Link -- is internationally recognized. Yet so much more must be done to address The Link’s tragic impact on victims of abuse.

With the support of U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), American Humane’s Office of Public Policy recently introduced House Resolution 1046 to designate September 2008 as “National Link Awareness Month.” Davis is a strong advocate for children and animals, and is a longstanding member of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus. The resolution is currently pending before the House Agriculture and Judiciary Committees with 19 co-sponsors, and American Humane is working with Davis to move the resolution to a House vote soon.

In her March 13, 2008 statement before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Davis emphasized the resolution’s importance. She stated, “This resolution would highlight the need for more attention and resources to be focused on how violence toward animals is indicative of other violent tendencies. By investigating The Link further, information could be gathered that will help mitigate societal violence.”

Earlier this year, in anticipation of the bill’s introduction and with the support of Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and the late Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), as well as U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), American Humane held a congressional briefing in the Rayburn House Office Building. Speakers on The Link included Dr. Frank Ascione, Utah State University professor of psychology and an adjunct professor for American Humane; Phil Arkow, American Humane interim director of human-animal bond programs; and American Humane’s director of public policy, Allie Phillips, J.D.

Phillips recognizes the positive impact Congress’ interest in the issue could have. She noted, “The Link is typically addressed at the state and local levels. The fact that key congressional leaders are now committing themselves to addressing The Link is a promising step toward future action and increased exposure for the issue.”

American Humane is the only national humane organization with divisions for protecting both children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Addressing The Link between violence to people and violence to animals is integral to the organization’s mission. For this reason, American Humane facilitates workshops to build collaboration on The Link among human services, animal protection, public safety and law enforcement professionals.

American Humane also operates the National Resource Center on The Link, provides professional training at national conferences, publishes resources and training guides, and advocates for the passage of legislation that includes pets in domestic violence protective orders.

Marie Belew Wheatley, American Humane’s president and chief executive officer, strongly encourages the House of Representatives to pass HR 1046. She said, “As America’s leader on The Link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, American Humane enthusiastically embraces Congress’ interest and looks forward to further collaboration on this issue.”

> Discuss this entry

Marion County animal officials have gained permanent custody of 123 horses and minature ponies from an Ocala-area woman, described by friends as a "one-woman rescue mission." Officials seized the animals in May, after getting reports that many of the horses were malnourished, and had overgrown hooves and other serious conditions.

Five of the horses were so sick they had to be euthanized; two died from malnutrition.
Oddly enough, no mention in the story below, from the "Ocala Star-Banner," of animal cruelty charges.

COUNTY GETS CUSTODY OF 123 HORSES

By Suevon Lee
OCALA STAR-BANNER
Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008

OCALA --A judge on Wednesday gave Marion County permanent custody of 123 horses and miniature ponies that were seized from their owner in late May following an extended period of neglect and maltreatment.

County Judge Steven G. Rogers also ordered that the owner, Francine Derby, be held responsible for $15,000 of the nearly $25,000 the county spent for hauling the horses from four properties and bringing them back to health.

"Obviously, the care was something that was lacking here," Rogers said after listening to an hour's worth of testimony from county officials and animal care experts and viewing photographs of the horses.

Wednesday afternoon's hearing at the Marion County Courthouse came nearly three months after the county filed an emergency petition for protective custody of the horses, which witnesses described in court as severely malnourished, crawling with parasites and suffering from overgrown hoofs.

Not all of the animals made it; five horses have since been euthanized, while two have died from malnutrition.

> Discuss this entry

Two pit bulls -- ears close-cropped to sinister points, one in a spiked collar and both draped in heavy chains -- loll in the sun at a junkyard. They quickly come to life when a young man leaps the fence, drawn by a glistening high-tech cellphone that somehow got left behind. The dogs rush with teeth bared as the man races to the phone...

Edgy commercial? Or pit bull stereotyping, definitely un-PC in the age of Michael Vick?
The latest ad for Verizon's new LG Dare phone is drawing plenty of comments from both sides. Watch it for yourself, if you haven't seen it already.

SSS! reader Jenni thinks the spot is "disgraceful" and glamorizes animal abuse, of which pits are some of the most frequent targets. She also is appalled that the ad targets young consumers -- the ones that need to be taught chaining dogs, and turning them into fighting machines, is wrong.

Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney said the ad was just a fictious, over-the-top presentation designed to get attention.

If you agree with Jenni's view:
Click here to sign an online petition, being sponsored by the ASPCA Online Community. It asks Verizon to "show more compassion" about stereotyping a breed often unfairly judged and to not use any live animal performers in the future.

So: What do you think about the commercial? Is it just broad-brush, harmless satire? Or harmful to pit bulls and promoting animal abuse?

And keep reading for Jenni's comments.

> Discuss this entry

Surprise! Florida is among the states ranked tops in doing something we can be proud of (as compared to, say, mortgage foreclosures).

The Humane Society of the United States has released a chart of all states and their laws regarding three possible offenses: Running a dogfigh, being a spectator at a dogfight, and owning fighting dogs.

Florida is among 20 states that have felony penalties for all three. We are number 15. We classify all three offenses as third-degree felonies, carrying a maximum sentence of five years and a maximum fine of $5,000.

At the bottom?
Montana and Hawaii, where it is legal to go to a dog fight (so how is it legal to go to a fight but illegal to put one on?).
And Nevada, where it is legal to own dogs for the purpose of fighting them.

Click here to see the rankings.

The Humane Society also is offering a $5,000 for reporting dogfighting. Click here for more details.

What do you think about dogfighting penalties? Too strict? Not strict enough?

> Discuss this entry

The animal cruelty case against Christine Abrams -- the central Florida woman accused of starving her dog Ella to death by leaving her behind, locked in her crate, when she moved -- is far from over. During today's hearing (Wednesday, July 9), defense attorney Andrew Stine asked the Brevard County judge to withdraw, saying she signed an order involving the case without his knowledge.

Here was the story filed earlier today by Orlando Sentinel reporter Laurin Sellers:

VIERA — A hearing in Christine Abrams’ animal-cruelty case ended abruptly Wednesday when her attorney asked Brevard County Judge Kelly Jo McKibben to withdraw from the highly publicized case. McKibben postponed the proceedings to give attorney Andrew Stine time to put his request in writing.

It was uncertain when McKibben would respond, or when the hearing on a defense motion to toss out key evidence would resume.

Abrams, 30, is accused of moving out of her Cocoa home late last year and leaving her dog, Ella, to die in a locked crate without food or water. Police found the dead dog in March after neighbors smelled a foul odor. She is charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and could face a year in the county jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Stine said McKibben spoke Tuesday with Brevard Assistant State Attorney Michael Raska and signed an order without the defense attorney’s knowledge. Raska said he contacted the judge about a mislabeled packet of case law he submitted during a previous hearing.

"The defense is trying to play every trick in the book," said Holly Gann, one of more than 60 animal lovers who packed into the courtroom. "He has no case and he knows it."

> Discuss this entry

The "Sun-Sentinel" story yesterday (click here to read it) about Nikki, the local poster dog for the Humane Society's campaign against abusively tethering dogs, came at a perfect time. It also was the last day of Dogs Deserve Better's national Chain Off, an event held since 2003 to bring awareness to the misery, discomfort and sometimes fatal conditions animals face when they are chained or penned for hours in unsafe environments.

An estimated 6 million dogs spend most of their lives chained. The American Veterinary Medical Association has condemned the practice, saying it makes dogs aggressive, neurotic and potentially vicious.

Last year, the Chain Off drew more than 108 people in 36 states, who chained themselves to doghouses in backyards, on street corners or in local parks for eight to 24 hours to simulate what many of these dogs endure.

This year, one of the participants was Bryan Wilson, 39, who shackled himself to a doghouse in a park in Sanford, near Orlando. He and his wife, Carla, are lobbying Seminole County to pass an anti-chaining law.
Click here to read the full "Orlando Sentinel" story and see the video.

Nikki and her owner, Tony Vincent of Southwest Ranches, are pushing their hometown city council to pass a similar ordinance, as 12 Broward County cities already have done. But there is resistance in the Ranches, as there has been in Seminole County. Excuses have ranged from that exisiting animal cruelty laws already cover abusive chaining to that it would prohibit low-income people from having pets as they can't afford to fence their yard.

And here's a comment from Southwest Ranches council member Don Maines: It's better to put your dog in a pasture under a tree, with a bowl of water, he said in the "Sun-Sentinel" story, than leave it "in the garage cooped up all day."

Gee, maybe neither option is very humane. Perhaps Mr. Maines should spend 24 hours shackled to a tree in the July heat and see if he changes his opinion.

Click here for more information about Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting laws against abusive tethering and chaining .

Chaining laws do stir up strong opinions, and we welcome yours at Sit, Stay, Speak!
Keep reading for one from Monica Schreiber, posted on the "Sun-Sentinel's" comment board, in response to Maines' statement and the article.

> Discuss this entry

The Brevard County judge has set Wednesday, July 9, as the next hearing for Christine Abrams, the central Florida woman accused of starving her dog, Ella, to death. Abrams left Ella behind, locked in her crate without food or water, when she moved out of her home, as her new roommate did not want pets.

Abrams and Ella

Andrew Stine of West Palm Beach, Abrams' attorney, tried to get critical evidence thrown out at the last hearing, saying police did not have a search warrant and therefore could not legally enter Abrams' vacated house. Neighbors had called police after they noticed a foul odor and, looking in the window, saw the dead dog still in her crate.

The case gained the attention of animal lovers around the world. There have been protests outside the courthouse in Viera, with people calling for a maximum sentence for Abrams. I'm sure there will be more on Wednesday and we'll keep you posted.

Click here for a previous post that includes instructions on how to make your views known to the court.

Thanks for the heads up, Lynn.

> Discuss this entry

The media spotlight this past week was on dogs that were brought to Broward County after being rescued from a deplorable Tennessee breeding operation. But it turns out we may have had a puppy mill in our own backyard.

Local10.com, the Web site for WPLG-TV in Miami, is reporting that an alleged puppy mill was discovered in the Florida Keys last weekend. Linda Gottwaldof, of the Marathon Animal Shelter, said 46 dogs were found locked in a windowless warehouse. Many were malnourished and so matted they had to be shaved.

Most of the pups have been adopted, but some adult dogs still need homes. Call the Marathon Humane Society at 305-743-3253.

Click here for the story from Local10.

> Discuss this entry

As suspected, the next hearing for Christine Abrams, accused of leaving her dog Ella in her crate without food or water after she moved, is NOT this Friday, as previously reported. Friday is the Fourth of July holiday.

Brevard County Judge Kelly Jo McKibben sent out a note earlier this week, saying the hearing was postponed but giving no date, according to Animal Crazy, the Orlando Sentinel’s animal blog.

Animal Crazy’s Ann Hellmuth also mentioned a story in her newspaper about Holly Gann, a 21-year-old Melbourne woman who has been a leader in organizing the protests against animal cruelty and calling for a maximum sentence for Abrams. Gann and her fiance are behind the Voices For Ella buttons being sold on CafePress that we blogged about here earlier.

Click here for story about Gann.

Click here to buy Voices For Ella buttons from CafePress.

> Discuss this entry

There was no ruling Friday on defense attorney Andrew Stine's motion to throw out the evidence against Christine Abrams, the central Florida woman facing two animal cruelty charges. Abrams is accused of letting her dog, Ella, starve to death after she moved out and left the animal locked in her crate without food or water.

Neighbors called police two months after Abrams was gone and they noticed a foul odor; looking through the windows, they saw Ella dead in her crate, a bag of dog food nearby. Abrams, who was living about five miles away, said she did not take the dog because her new roommate did not want pets. Stine has argued that police had no right to break into the house without a warrant.

Abrams and Ella

The case has stirred outrage literally around the world, with animal lovers calling for the judge to levy the maximum penalty against Abrams.

The "Orlando Sentinel" story below says the trial will resume July 4 -- not sure how that is possible, given its a federal holiday. Will post more later.
Below is the rest of Orlando's coverage from Friday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brevard County Judge Kelly Jo McKibben did not rule Friday on defense attorney Andrew Stine’s motion to toss out the evidence against Christine Abrams. The judge will hear arguments from both sides on Friday, July 4 before deciding. A trial date has not has been set.

Earlier today, reporter Laurin Sellers wrote from the courtroom -- The hearing could last for a few more hours. Right now a police sergeant that responded to Christine Abrams' Cocoa home on March 12 is testifying about what he saw that day and why officers entered the house.

They said there was a foul odor and flies and that seeing the dead dog in the crate through an open window only heightened their concern about Abrams' safety. They said they went inside to search for her. But her attorney, Andrew Stine, said they should have obtained a search warrant before entering the house on Peachtree Street.

Stine has spent much of the day grilling the neighbor that called police to the home and the officers that responded.

> Discuss this entry

Here are live updates from the hearing of Christine Abrams, who is accused of starving her dog to death by looking her in a crate without food or water when she moved out of her central Florida home. These are being posted on the Orlando Sentinel’s “Animal Crazy” blog. We will keep you posted as the hearing goes on.

(From Orlando Sentinel reporter Laurin Seller, blogging live from the Brevard County Courthouse. Filed at 1:30 pm today)

VIERA - A hearing in the case of accused animal abuser Christine Abrams is underway before a packed crowd at the Brevard County courthouse in Viera. Abrams' attorney is trying to have all of the evidence tossed out, saying police were illegally searching her home March 12 when they found her dog, Ella, dead in a crate without food or water.

For nearly an hour, the attorney, Andrew Stine of West Palm Beach, has been grilling Abrams' neighbor about what he did and saw that day when he called police about a foul odor and flies at the Cocoa home. Abrams, 30, was arrested after police peered through a window and saw the white, three-legged German shepherd dead in the crate, a bag of unopened dog food just a few feet away.

Police said they broke into the home because they feared for Abrams' safety. She was found about five hours later and six miles away at her new roommate's home. She told investigators she had moved out two months earlier and left Ella in the locked crate because her roommate didn't like dogs, according to arrest reports.

She is facing two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Each carries a maximum penalty of one year in the county jail and a $5,000 fine. The case has drawn outrage from animal lovers worldwide.

(More from Laurin Sellers, posting at about 3:10 pm today)
The hearing could last for a few more hours. Right now a police sergeant that responded to Christine Abrams' Cocoa home on March 12 is testifying about what he saw that day and why officers entered the house.

They said there was a foul odor and flies and that seeing the dead dog in the crate through an open window only heightened their concern about Abrams' safety. They said they went inside to search for her. But her attorney, Andrew Stine, said they should have obtained a search warrant before entering the house on Peachtree Street.

Stine has spent much of the day grilling the neighbor that called police to the home and the officers that responded.

> Discuss this entry

So Josper Sanon, convicted of animal cruelty charges in 2005 after he threw his son's Labrador puppy off the family's fifth-floor balcony, is out of jail after serving about half of his three-year sentence. Turns out there were legal glitches in the case that overturned the conviction.

Click here to read today's Sun-Sentinel story on Sanon's release.

Question: What now?
Does Sanon remain a danger to other animals -- or people?
Should he have been required to do community service with an animal welfare organization -- although I don't know if the court could order that, given the conviction was overturned.

Thoughts? Opinions?

> Discuss this entry

Update on yesterday's video from the Humane Society of the United State's investigative video, released yesterday, of animal abuse in a New Mexico stockyard.

SSS! reader KCK asked about laws or standards that presumably would prohibit this treatment. The United States Department of Agriculture is the one responsible for enforcing humane handling standards. But obviously, this isn't being done. The Humane Society also opposes a loophole that allows some "downed" cows to be used as beef. As the video shows, these dairy cows can spend the last days of their lives in agony.

Click here to see how you can tell your elected federal representatives that this practice is wrong and must be stopped -- and that the USDA needs to do its job.

Below is a repeat of my original post from yesterday -- plus a link to the video that actually works.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Although we have focused this blog on companion animal issues, vs. wildlife and livestock, I think this is worth publicizing.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, the main professional organization for vets, has just issued a statement condemning the cruel practices of the cattle industry and calling for stricter compliance with animal handling guidelines. (Click here to see it).

The organization is responding to the latest video, also released today, in an ongoing investigation by the Humane Society of the United States of cattle auctions and the treatment of "downed" animals, or those that cannot walk. The latest installment, filed undercover at the Portales Livestock Auction in New Mexico, shows downed cows repeatedly being shocked with electric prods to get them to stand, as livestock that cannot are not supposed to be sold for food.

Some of the animals have gruesome eye injuries, or try to drag themselves on their knees across the ground. A calf is kicked repeatedly in the head. I honestly wept, as I watched the suffering of these creatures. How can we, if we say we love our animal companions, turn our back on other species?

I love steak, but I honestly think this is it for me. I haven't eaten veal for 20 years, due to how veal calves are raised. Now I may add all beef to the list.
How do the rest of you juggle the reality of meat and poultry production with animal welfare issues?

Here is the Humane Society video.

> Discuss this entry

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.

> Discuss this entry

This just in from Associated Press:

However, only six years were for the dogs. Marijuana charges earned him the rest of the sentence. Makes you wonder what would have happened to the animal cruelty charges if drugs weren’t involved.

DOGFIGHTER TIED TO MICHAEL VICK GETS 13-PLUS YEARS.
APNewsNow

CINCINNATI (AP) — A man who authorities say sometimes refereed fights involving former NFL star Michael Vick’s dog-fighting operation has been sentenced to 13 1/2 years in prison.

Authorities say Terry Kendrick bred fighting dogs in the basement of his Cincinnati home and had connections to dog-fighting from New York to Florida to Texas.

Judge Robert Ruehlman said photographs and videos showed mauled dogs and blood-stained rings.
Ruehlman sentenced Kendrick to six years for dog-fighting and seven-and-a-half more years for marijuana trafficking. Kendrick apologized in court Monday.

Vick is a former Atlanta Falcons quarterback serving a 23-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges. He still faces state dogfighting charges in Virginia.

> Discuss this entry

The court hearing for Christine Abrams, the central Florida woman accused of starving her dog Ella to death, has been rescheduled from this Tuesday to June 27. The delay apparently was due to the Abrams’ attorney, Andrew Stine of West Palm Beach, asking that some evidence be barred from the case, as police did not have permission to break into Abrams’ vacated house.

Abrams and Ella

Abrams had left Ella behind, locked in her crate without food and water, after she moved out, saying her new roommate did not want pets. Neighbors, concerned about a foul odor coming from the home about two months after Abrams left, looked in the windows and saw the dead German shepherd, then called police.

Animal rights group plan to continue with a protest scheduled for 8 am, Tuesday, in front of the Brevard County Courthouse in Viera. They are outraged that Abrams is being charged only with two misdemeanors, rather than felony animal cruelty. Prosecutors have said state laws don’t consider depriving an animal of food and water a felony offense.

Keep reading for an email I received today from Holly, of Fight Against Cruelty, about the rally and the group’s position on why prosecutors should proceed with felony cruelty charges.

> Discuss this entry

Christine Abrams, the 29-year-old Central Florida woman accused of starving her German shepherd to death by leaving the dog locked in her crate after she moved away, goes before a Brevard County judge on animal cruelty charges next Tuesday, June 17. Abrams has said she left the dog, Ella, behind because her new roommate didn't like pets.

Abrams' attorney is trying to negotiate a plea deal so she will avoid jail time. But animal lovers from around the world have been sending letters to the court and prosecuting attorneys, demanding Abrams be punished to the full extent of the law -- which sadly, isn't very full. Florida law states deprieving an animal of food and water is a misdemeanor, not a felony.

Reader TJ told me about an update on the Voices For Ella Web site that gives very detailed instructions on how to tell the courts personally how you feel about this case. The more voices heard, the site suggests, the better. Click here for the information. And do remember: Be respectful for maximum impact.

Here also is a YouTube video commentary from Kathleen Burns as she tries to explain this sad case to her own dog, Sadie.

Oh, and the Voices For Ella folks did write us this week, thanking SSS! for the support -- and pointing out they make no profit on the items they sell through the CafePress site. Here is their note.

FYI - the Cafe Press store with Voices for Ella items have NO mark-up on the items - the cost goes strictly to Cafe Press. We had two generous people donate their time & artistic skill to create those items, and run the Cafe Press store.

Thank you again!
Voices For Ella

Click here to buy Voices For Ella buttons from CafePress.

> Discuss this entry

The Humane Society of the United States today (May 28) announced it will give a $5,000 reward to people who report illegal animal fighting in Florida. The offer applies to those who blow the whistle on cockfighting as well as dog fighting.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum was present at the announcement – as was Winston, a black pit bull formerly used as bait to train fighting dogs.

Winston, former bait dog

Floridians convicted of dog fighting can face five years in jail and a $1,000 fine.
To report dog fighting, call your local CrimeStoppers program or the Humane Society at 202-452-1100.

Seems like one good thing that came out of the Michael Vick case is that awareness has been raised about this cruel practice. Any other thoughts?

My only other comment is: If you don’t know your local CrimeStoppers number (I sure don’t), call the police. This is a crime, not something that is none of your business.

Here is the AP story. (Photo by Associated Press)

By BILL KACZOR"
Associated Press Writer"
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Winston, the black pit bull, is gentle and happy in his new home, his adoptive family says.
But when animal officials confiscated him from a fighting ring last July he was emaciated, covered with scars and had two fractures in his right front leg and heart worms. Authorities said Winston was used as “bait” to train fighting dogs.

The Humane Society of the United States used the pit bull Wednesday during its announcement of a $5,000 reward program for reporting illegal animal fighting in Florida.
The reward program, offered nationally, will be paid out of donations that have poured in after the arrest of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick is serving 23 months in federal prison after admitting he helped run a dogfighting ring out of his Virginia home and executed dogs that performed poorly.
“It says a lot about our society when people are still getting entertainment out of two animals ripping each other apart,” said Laura Bevan, the Humane Society’s southeast regional director.

> Discuss this entry

Here’s yet another example of how people who abuse animals often are equally callous toward their own species.

A child abuse investigation in Mississippi last week uncovered a large puppy mill operation with more than 180 dogs – many of them small breeds popular with celebutants, such as Yorkies and pugs. Some of the animals were so matted or disfigured, rescue workers could not determine what breed they were.

Authorities initially were called on suspicion that Janet and Ramone Barretto were severely neglecting their nine youngsters. Eight of the children were taken into protective custody; the Barretto’s 2-year-old daughter later died.

As if the death of a child isn't bad enough: the photos taken by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which took the Barretto's animals, are utterly heartbreaking. They should be required viewing for anyone buying a dog from a pet store or from a broker over the Internet that can't (or won't) tell them where their dogs come from. The puppies may be cute, but look at the agony their parents must endure.

This poor Shih Tzu at the Barreto's farm, her fur so matted that she can barely see, still was trying to nurse her new baby when rescue workers put them both into a carrier to take them to a veterinarian.

You can follow the progress of these survivors on at the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society’s Web site. Click here.

Here is the story from the "Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal."

GIRL DIES, PUPPY MILL DISCOVERED
5/20/2008
By Emily Le Coz
Daily Journal

NEW ALBANY - A case of extreme child neglect here Sunday night led to one death, two felony counts and the discovery of a mass puppy breeding operation that has animal officials stunned.

Union County Sheriff's deputies raided the home of Janet and Ramone Barreto, 824 County Road 87 near New Albany, after receiving a tip from doctors that the couple might have abused their adopted daughter.

Once at the home, law-enforcement agents also found more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several ducks in various conditions. The animals' numbers are expected to increase, because some of them continue to give birth.

Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said the Barreto's 2-year-old daughter was brought from a local hospital to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis for an unspecified reason. Doctors there suspected child neglect and tipped off Wilhite on Sunday night, when he obtained a warrant and raided the property.

The 2-year-old died Monday morning, but a cause of death was not yet available.

All but one of the couple's nine children now are in protective custody, Wilhite said, although he did not give the whereabouts of the remaining child.

The animals are being taken care of by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was called by the sheriff's department Sunday night.

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Christine Abrams, the Central Florida woman accused of leaving her white German shepherd Ella locked in a crate without food or water after she moved out of her house, was in court last week on animal cruelty charges. Her attorney say Abrams, 29, hopes for a plea deal so she can avoid jail time.

Abrams and Ella

Ella died in her crate, a bag of dog food nearby, after Abrams never returned for her, saying her new roommate did not like pets. Neighbors saw the dead dog through the window about two months after Abrams had left and called police.

Amazingly, Abrams is charged with two misdemeanors -- not felonies. Petitions have come from as far away as India and Australia, demanding the harshest penalty possible. Click here to join the petition drive.

A Web site, Voices for Ella, can be found here.
T-shirts and buttons promoting the prevention of animal cruelty are being sold, although I am not sure exactly who this benefits.

Here is the latest Orlando Sentinel story on Abram's case:

Brevard dog-abuse case stirs reaction worldwide
Animal lovers worldwide push for harsh penalty in Brevard

Laurin Sellers | Sentinel Staff Writer
May 23, 2008
COCOA - Nobody knows how long it took Ella to die.

What is known is that the 2-year-old white German shepherd died while waiting for her owner to come home, locked in a crate without food and water for weeks. And that has enraged animal lovers worldwide.

Since Christine Abrams' arrest March 13 on an animal-cruelty charge, thousands of people from as far away as India and Australia have signed petitions and sent letters to Brevard-Seminole State Attorney Norm Wolfinger, demanding the harshest penalty possible.

Some have suggested that Abrams should suffer the same plight as her pet: Two months in a cage. Two months without food or water.

Dressed in all black and dabbing her eyes, Abrams, 29, sat silent in a Viera courtroom Thursday. Her attorney told a judge he intends to propose a plea deal to keep his client out of jail.

Another court hearing was scheduled for June 17.

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Palm Beach County animal control officers yesterday removed 59 dogs, five parrots and a horse from the property of a man living west of Boca Raton. (Click here for the story). The animals were crammed into cages so small they could not properly stand up, and some were covered with wounds and bite marks.

James Marinakis claimed he was a breeder – someone who was trying to create a super breed of dog called a Centurion.
It also turns out he has been cited before for animal cruelty, and has a history with county animal officers that goes back 10 years.

So... is this guy anything that resembles a breeder? Is he running a puppy mill? Or is he an animal "hoarder?"
And what exactly does the county, and the state, require in order for someone to call him or herself a breeder?

I’m sure some responsible breeders and knowledgeable types out there can answer these questions for me.

Also: A poster to the news story mentioned a great Web site that I use, too: Pet-Abuse.com. Click here to see if anyone your neighborhood might be in their database, or see what's going on with important abuse court cases.

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The 2008 Florida legislative session is over. And it's still legal in our state to sexually assault animals.

So that’s why an unnamed Palm Beach Gardens man, suspected of sexually abusing his two German shepherds, may walk away if it turns out he’s guilty of the crime. Because there is no crime. Florida is one of 20 states with no laws addressing this kind of behavior. That leaves prosecutors and police stuck with trying to prove animal cruelty – a much tougher standard, where it must be shown abuse happened deliberately and over time. Not to mention the two potential victims can’t speak out against the man who, quite simply, may have raped them.

In the meantime, however, police were able to arrest a Royal Palm man today (Friday) for keeping five dogs in wretched conditions. The animals were crammed into cages filled with waste, with no food and water. At least these dogs received some justice. Click here for the story.

County animal care workers have gained temporary custody of the German shepherds that may have been assaulted, while the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation. Click here if you want to read the Thursday Sun-Sentinel story on this case.

Sen. Nan Rich tried to change all this, though. And for that, everyone who believes animals deserve our respect and protection should send her a thank-you note.

The legislator, who represents parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, introduced a bill this past session, SB 0744. It would have made it a felony for people to have sex with animals, aiding another person in having sex with animals, or knowingly permitting such an act.

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The Humane Society of the United States has released a video that blows the snazzy front doors off Pets of Bel Air, a tony "pet boutique" catering to spoiled celebutants from the Paris Hilton mold. Turns out most of these pups destined for the laps of luxury are the “products” (which is exactly how the people who raise and sell these animals see them) of puppy mills. The video cuts between the store, which is crammed with designer pet totes and doggy duds, to the Midwestern kennels, where dogs with bleeding feet and sores are crammed into wire cages. There, they spend their miserable lives pumping out litter after litter.

Puppies born under these conditions, not surprisingly, are more likely to have congenital illnesses or skeletal deformities. The Bel Air employees, while denying the operation is supplied by mills, also talk about how they never are allowed to tell customers when a potential pet might be seriously sick. “If anything, we just say he has the sniffles,” giggles one. “It’s cuter.”

There are similar pet stores in South Florida, which has a celebutant culture of its own. If you patronize them, you’re part of problem. Stop it. It’s a dog — a living, breathing creature -- not an accessory.

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We were talking earlier about if homeowners facing foreclosure were guilty of animal cruelty if they left their pets behind...

A woman living near Orlando this week entered a not guilty plea to animal cruelty charges for leaving her 2-year-old German shepherd, Ella, locked in a crate after she moved out of the house. Christine Dawn Abrams, 29, told investigators she knew the dog eventually would starve to death. Ella was found dead in her crate, two months after Abrams had gone, by neighbors who saw the dog when they peeked in the window.

Abrams faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
But she was NOT facing foreclosure. She moved after her water had been turned off.

Click here to see the original story posted in Animal Crazy, the pet blog at the Orlando Sentinel.

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Sami and Danni, these two sweet-faced Spaniel-mix sisters, were found alone in the back yard by a real estate agent checking on a Boca Raton home going into foreclosure. Their family had left the name and number of the dogs' veternarian and a note: They had to leave, they said, but could not bring their pets with them. The dogs, taken in by the Tri-County Humane Society in Boca, were healthy and in good shape. But they are 7 years old, cutting their chances for adoption.

I wrote about Sami and Danni in this story that ran last Sunday, on companion animals becoming the silent victims of foreclosures. Although the trend is hard to track, the people running South Florida's shelters fear its on the rise.

"Wow, sad article in Sunday's paper....," wrote Bruce in an e-mail to me. "Absolutely pitiful. Just wondering ... doesn't the Police Dept have any authority to cite or arrest these losers who abandon animals ? Surely this constitutes some form of animal cruelty?"

The answer is: Not necessarily.
There is no Florida law directly addressing animal abandonment.

Owners who leave their pets without water or shelter can be charged with animal cruelty, a misdemeanor that can be upgraded to a felony in extreme cases. But in Broward County, animal control or police officers who discover an animal alone but with shelter and water, and not in distress, post a 24-hour notice on the door. If the officer still finds no one at home when checking back a day later, the animal is taken to the county shelter and the owners notified.

Owners then have five days to claim their pets, and will be charged for boarding and other fees. But no criminal charges are filed.

So -- what are your thoughts on people facing foreclosure who leave behind their animals? Do you know someone who has been in this situation? Is abandonment cruelty if the pets are well-cared for and safe?

It's hard for me to imagine ever leaving my cats behind -- but then, I never have lost my home.

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SSS! reader TJF sent us an update on Gretchen, the German shepherd that had been adopted from an animal shelter by South Carolina Senator Kent Williams last year. Williams returned the dog, which was pregnant, to the shelter earlier this year. Her puppies were fostered or adopted.

A rescuer apparently took Gretchen herself as a foster dog, but was bitten due to the dog's stress and confusion. The article sent by TJF said the dog was malnourished and apparently had not been vaccinated (not to mention not spayed).
Click here for the complete story.

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Hard to miss the “black dog syndrome” story yesterday, about how it is more difficult for abandoned large, black dogs to find forever homes. It was all over cable television news, national newspapers – and, of course, here on Sit, Stay, Speak!

But SSS! reader TJ told us about a site that has been dealing with black dog discrimination long before the syndrome piece broke. Black Pearl Dogs features inspirational stories about rescues, great pics and good information (like how to take properly exposed photos of your black dog.) Here’s a photo of Big Bobarino, a Black Pearl Dog that was found near death in southern Colorado, locked in a metal box in an alley.

TJ says she put her tribute to her own pup, a near black dog syndrome victim, on the site:
“She was the best, but again, she was a shy, abused and frightened ‘discard’ black lab mix, with big brown imploring eyes, cowering in the back of her cage, on death row when we adopted her, at age two,” TJ wrote us. “Her time was running out and no one had even gone near her run for the two weeks she had been there.” She lived with TJ for 12 years until she passed away last summer.

Do you have a “black dog syndrome” story? Stay and speak!

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Look for my pooch Bella on Jan. 15.

The Wildlife Care Center has found a great way for pet owners to honor their companions and support less fortunate animals. The Wildlife Care Center rescues and rehabilitates wildlife and certain domestic, exotic and farm animals.

The center is creating the Pets and More 2009 calendar with an animal photo on each day. Your pet or pets can have a day for $20. So far, about 85 days are spoken for, says Amy Loebl, director of volunteer services for the Wildlife Care Center.

So far, it looks like Bella will be the star of her birthday. As dates fill up, make sure to offer a second or third choice.

This is the first year the Care Center has pulled together the calendar. It's been a hit with those in the know. One volunteer has submitted pictures of 14 pets, Loebl says, some for relatives as far away as California. Businesses can post a card-sized ad for $100, and the calendar cover will be auctioned off April 18 at a VIP reception for the annual Walk for Wildlife.

"We're just having a blast with it," says Loebl. The deadline for pictures is May 31.

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Late at night last December, a group of teenagers grabbed an aluminum baseball bat, hopped in a car and headed out for the sole purpose of attacking a pet goose belonging to a family living west of Lake Worth.

Police said Lily, the goose, apparently was in the yard when they pulled up. Two boys took turns hitting her in the head with the bat, according to police reports, then drove the dying bird a few blocks away, throwing her out of the car and beating her until she died.

The woman who found Lily's body told the family their pet's neck was broken, her eye hanging out of her head. The only motive that police could uncover was that Lily once had pecked at a truck belonging to one of her killers.

Three of the teens this week were charged with felony cruelty to animals.

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