Asia’s Story

Justice for Asia: Virginia Mother and Son Convicted of Cruelty to Animals

In April 2005, when PETA’s Community Animal Project (CAP) found Asia, a female pit bull, chained up in a barren yard without food or an adequate source of water, she looked like a skeleton with skin stretched over it. She appeared to be in pain and had trouble moving. The property owner gave us custody of Asia, so we rushed her to an emergency clinic where we had to carry her inside since she could barely walk. The veterinarian who examined her said that she should weigh 60 pounds, but she only weighed 31 pounds. The chain she had been on weighed 14 pounds—almost half of her body weight. The doctor gave Asia the lowest rating possible on a standard scale used to evaluate animals’ health and recommended that we begin feeding Asia small amounts of food right away, and watch her closely for 24 hours.

We gave Asia a comfortable room, along with water, food, blankets, and love, but by the next day we saw that she was unable to keep food down and had severe diarrhea, so we again took her to the veterinarian. After examining her, the doctor felt that even with aggressive treatment, Asia’s prognosis wouldn’t be good, and he recommended euthanasia to alleviate suffering. A post-mortem examination revealed that Asia had been suffering from three painful and deadly intestinal obstructions called “intussusceptions”—more than the veterinarian had ever seen in one animal.

Since that day in April, PETA staffers have been working tirelessly to seek justice for Asia, whose suffering was prolonged and severe. After months of hearings and continuances, on December 12, 2005, a Chesapeake, Virginia, judge found Benjamin and Julia Grandison guilty of cruelty to animals, and ordered them to pay fines and court costs totaling nearly $500. Benjamin Grandison also received a suspended jail sentence. And most importantly, both were prohibited from owning animals in the future.

The Grandisons’ sentence is a walk in the park compared to what Asia suffered, but it will spare other animals from suffering the same fate. You, too, can help. If you know of chained and neglected dogs like Asia, take action! January is “Unchain a Dog” Month—the perfect time to speak up and make a world of difference for dogs trapped at the end of a chain day after day.

For more ways to help chained dogs, please click here.

• Lobby for effective spay/neuter legislation in your
community.

• Spay your street! Offer to have your neighbors’ dogs and
cats sterilized at a clinic or a local low-cost spay/neuter
program (call 1-800-248-SPAY for details).

• If your local shelter doesn’t spay and neuter animals before adoption, work for a policy change.

• Purchase an animal-friendly license plate from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV donates a portion of the purchase price to low-cost spay-and-neuter services in your local area, and the plates are a great way to show how much you care.

Every animal purchased from a pet store or breeder means that a homeless animal will die. Get our literature on pet shops, puppy mills, and spaying and neutering, and educate others about the importance of adopting companions from animal shelters and rescue societies.

You can improve the lives of dogs and cats suffering from cruelty and neglect.

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