Help an Animal // Human Abuse—Cruelty to Animals
What You Can Do
When Animal Cruelty Occurs in Your City, Show Your Community That It’s Unacceptable and a Danger to Us All
1. Make your voice heard by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Multiply your efforts by throwing a letter-writing party. Provide snacks, paper, pens, envelopes, and stamps, and recruit volunteers to write letters. 2. Call and write to the prosecutor handling the case to explain your concerns and outline the undeniable link between cruelty to animals and other forms of violence and the need for psychological evaluation and counseling for the perpetrators. Be sure to ask the prosecutor to see to it that animals currently in the perpetrator’s custody are seized (or, at the very least, monitored by a local humane officer) and to include prohibition from owning or harboring animals in the future as part of his or her request for sentencing or plea agreement. In addition, if possible, attend the case’s hearings to show your support for the animals.
Need help finding the prosecutor’s contact information?
In some counties and/or states, prosecutors may be referred to as “district attorneys,” “commonwealth attorneys,” “prosecuting attorneys,” “state’s attorneys” (in Florida, for example), or another title. You can usually obtain a prosecutor’s name, telephone number, and address by looking in the “Blue Pages” section of your phone book, calling Information, the clerk of courts, or your county manager’s office. You can also try searching online at www.prosecutor.info.
How do you know which prosecutor is handling the case?
Often, there are several prosecutors working in a single district, including assistant prosecutors. Call the office to find out the name and title of the attorney assigned to the case. The local clerk of courts may also know. When you call, be prepared with as much information as possible, such as the defendant’s name, the charge(s) against him or her, a case number, etc.
If you can’t get the prosecutor’s name or one has not yet been assigned to the case, address your letter to the chief prosecutor in that office; simply ask for the name of the “elected official.” Remember—the chief prosecutor’s name and contact information is public record; it is your right as a concerned citizen to contact him or her.
Which hearings should I plan to attend, and how do I find out when they will take place?
Most cases involve several hearings, including the arraignment (or preliminary hearing), in which the defendant appears in court to answer “guilty,” “not guilty,” or “no contest” to the charges, the trial, at which the prosecution presents the case against the defendant in court, usually before a judge and/or a jury, and the sentencing hearing.
The information might be in the newspaper, so look there first. If not, call the clerk of courts. Again, before you call, know the defendant’s name, the case number, if possible, and the prosecutor’s name. Often, hearing dates can also be found online by searching your city’s Web site.
If you’re having trouble getting information …
Be persistent. This information is public. Calling your local humane society might also save you lots of time and energy. The humane society should have the information that you’re looking for and will probably be happy to share it with you, particularly if it is involved in the case. If the case has received media attention, another idea is to call or e-mail local reporters to find out the latest.
3. Hold a demonstration, rally, or picket.
4. Order PETA’s public service announcements (PSA’s) and urge local TV and public radio stations to air them:
“Violence Toward Animals” PSA, narrated by Mike Farrell
“Animal Cruelty” PSA, narrated by Bill Maher
Watch the PSA’s on PETA TV.
5. Set up displays or table with literature.
6. Write letters to legislators to demand stronger animal protection laws. Too few citizens express their political opinions to those who can do something about it—legislators. Constituent input really does make a difference. Find out who your federal and state representatives are. Click here for more information.
You can improve the lives of dogs and cats suffering from cruelty and neglect.
Forward this to friends.
As a child, serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy—ultimately convicted of two killings but suspected of murdering more than 40 women—witnessed his father’s violence toward animals, and he himself subsequently tortured animals.
David Berkowitz (a.k.a. “Son of Sam”), who pleaded guilty to 13 murder and attempted murder charges, shot a neighbor’s Labrador retriever.
Brenda Spencer, who opened fire at a California school, killing two children and injuring nine others, had repeatedly abused cats and dogs, often setting their tails on fire.
Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer impaled the heads of dogs and cats on sticks.