We were sent a link last night about 17 poodle-mix dogs that were left kenneled in what might be a puppy mill during flooding in Brownsville, Texas. The owner(s) evacuated to save their own hide but left the dogs to drown. Fortunately, the dogs were rescued in time - they were up to their neck in water - but they spent at least 24 hours in the water and some were suffering from hypothermia. You can read the story here.
The dogs are currently at the local animal shelter but they will be returned to their owner. No charges will be filed because the Sheriff and District Attorney's office decided the animals are well cared for, being abandoned "unintentionally" is not a crime, etc.
However ....
We have received a copy of a press release regarding this case. Please notice the name and office of the person releasing it. More elected officials and law enforcement officers need to take animal neglect, cruelty and abandonment more seriously. Way too often, laws passed to protect animals are ignored and official refuse to prosecute. Puppy mill owners are undoubtedly celebrating the fact the law has said there is no reason to prosecute the humans who abandoned the animals.
Thank you for saying differently, Pat, and for standing up for the animals!
Press Release
September 23, 2010
Re: Inhumane treatment of animals and prosecution
Just read the Herald article where the Sheriff is not planning to file charges against the owners of the 17 dogs abandoned. If true, this says a lot about the sheriff and the DA's Office, which should cause all pet owners and pet advocates to withdraw their support. I urge all to call the Sheriff at 956-554-6700 or 440-8441 and the DA's office 544-0849 requesting the revisit his matter and prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law with the harshest punishment allowed. Under no circumstances can this case be ignored or dismissed. They both need to value animals. Leaving pets kenneled up in a flood to drown is a crime!!!!
How is it that the owners took off to escape the flood waters, but left all these dogs kenneled up to drown. Why not take them to a pet facility to keep them until it is safe to return. Were all these dogs vaccinated? Is this a puppy mill? Are they paying taxes on money earned from selling dogs? Do they have a permit to operate a puppy mill? These and other questions come to mind that the DA and the Sheriff's department should be investigating.
We do not want puppy mills in Cameron County. We do not tolerate inhumane treatment of pets. We ask that violators be prosecuted to the fullest and ask both the DA and Sheriff to revisit this matter asap.
Thank you,
Pat Ahumada
Brownsville Texas Mayor
Meet the Funny Farmers: (l-r) Marcus, Taylor, angel Cyndi, angel Rusty, Micah, angel Merci & angel Percy.
Oh this is just a sickening story - first that those evil jerks left them to die, and then to let the evil jerks have them back? It is just disgusting.
ReplyDeleteI do have to applaud the mayor of the town for standing up and doing what is right - it is too bad that the mayor doesn't have the power to stop them from getting the dogs back and to prosecute the evil jerks (I just can't call them people).
I think someone should put that humans head under water and we can all scratch the heck outta his butt, then will will leave him!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely DISGUSTING~!!! Those people should get fined out the a$$ and then left to drown.
ReplyDeleteOh poor doggies. :-(
ReplyDeleteI hope the petition works or at least publicises this awful story enough to bring some kind of proper investigation and to get these dogs to safety and not return them to the people who abandoned them.
My goodness I remember seeing a news item about this man who refused to abandon his several kitties as the waters rose around his house during the Katrina storms. He would only allow himself to be rescued if the rescuers also helped his cats (and he had loads) too.
Take care
x
Stories Like these Make me so Angry! I can't believe they are going to get the dogs back, so sad for the dogs.
ReplyDeleteHow could they be given the dogs back after what they did - perhaps the Mayors argument will get some people riled up to complain!
ReplyDeleteWoo know what we say to do...
ReplyDeleteHugz&Khysses,
Khyra
Those "people" should be prosecuted & thrown in jail!! They should never be allowed to own animals again...how sick.
ReplyDeleteWell done that mayor!!
ReplyDeletePeople can be so cruel, we is hearing a lot about it lately. So sad.
~lickies, Ludo
Oh my gosh. How horrible!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by and celebrating Maggie May Day with me!
♥ Maggie May
Those aren't "people"! This is just horrible!
ReplyDeleteOh Jan, this is just so awful. How could anyone be so cruel as to leave those dogs to suffer. It breaks my heart. They should NEVER be allowed to keep animals again, EVER! Thank goodness the dogs were rescued.
ReplyDeleteJan (Milo and Alfie's mom)
Appalling. So sad that the dogs are going back to the cretins who did this to them in the first place.
ReplyDeleteDear dear frend Jan,
ReplyDeleteDa momee sez we are havfun some trubblez here but nuttin' dats we can't handull wit da helps of frendz likes you.
Da dadee iz havfun a CAT scan Tuezday... a cat scan?? Hmmmm.. I coulda dun dat fur him.
Tank you fur alwayz postin' abouts d aimportant reskew work dat goez on fur us anymalz.
Love,
Dr Tweety
Doggone, this sounds like animal abuse to me. There should be a plan in place to get animals out of flooding and fire if you have them and have to leave. Sure hope the mayor will be able to get the stupid sheriff to prosecute. Poor doggies.
ReplyDeleteCasper
Thanks for visiting us. Those puppy mill people should be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted if they've broken laws. If not, then this is the time to make some new rules. Love your mayor!
ReplyDeleteAbsoloutely dreadful!
ReplyDeleteEven worse that they will be returned to the owner. gggrrrr
We hope a petition can do something.
Big nose Pokes
The Thugletsx
Oh my-I skimmed the post and couldn't go on reading. If I read on, I would cry my heart out and then get very angry.
ReplyDeleteThank you for getting the message out about animal neglect.