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BREAKING NEWS: A Chance for Stu
Jul 14, 2009
Focus: Animal Welfare
Action Request: Various
Location: United States
KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY / PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST

7/13/09- UPDATE: A Chance For Stu!
FULL STORY: Board of Animal Services moves to amend L.A. Code to free Stu!
http://laanimalservicesboardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/board-of-animal-services-commissioners.html



Dear Kinship Circle Supporters:
We’ve followed Stu's saga since 2005. Today, the fate of this wrongfully
impounded, non-dangerous dog hinged upon the Los Angeles Board of Animal
Services Commissioners (7/13/09) meeting.

If Stu hadn't made it on today's agenda, his euthanasia date would have
remained 7/23/09 -- as circulated in our last alert: 7/5/09: Stu Dies July
23. Stop Them. Single-custody dog cases are not ordinarily the type issues
covered in KC alerts. Stu is different. His case is so glaringly unjust.

On 6/18/09 we asked you to flood Los Angeles offices with pleas for Stu's
Life. You did. On 7/5/09 we urged you flood 'em again in order to repeal
Stu's 7/23/09 execution date -- despite testimony from acclaimed animal
experts that Stu poses no threat to humans. You did.

Bottom line: As of today, there is no euthanasia date for Stu. Politics run
thick so we can’t claim victory yet. But, things look good for Stu!

“We Win! I Think... Much mention was made of full email boxes and messages
from people all over the world!" Jeff de la Rosa


EDITED FOR LENGTH
Jeff de la Rosa, stu.911@gmail.com -- 7/13/09: The Board convened at about
10:30 and immediately began discussion of Item 3A regarding Stu... The Board
took Public Comment from a large group of concerned citizens, some who
traveled from as far as southern Orange County to support Stu. The Board
requested that no action to "euthanize" Stu be taken at this time. At 11:05
the Board withdrew to consult with Assistant City Attorney Laurie
Rittenberg, the supervising attorney on Stu's court cases.

The Board did not return until past 12:30 p.m. at which time, Commissioner
Riordan introduced a motion that the Board make recommendations to L.A. City
Council to amend the Los Angeles Municipal Code section covering "dangerous"
Dogs... Commissioner Riordan stressed that the amendment be retroactive to
cover Stu's case...and it passed 4-0...

WHAT THIS MEANS: At a subsequent public meeting (presumably July 27, 2009),
the Board will actually make a recommendation to City Council to amend the
code in order to give the Board the power to reverse a general manager's
decision AFTER the appeal had been finalized. I take this to mean that the
Board, once empowered by the code change, intends to remove the "dangerous"
designation from Stu which would allow the Board to send him home under
reasonable terms and conditions for his care and control.

I'm a little frazzled by the whole thing because it doesn't seem real. I'm
encouraged, but I will believe it when I see it. This could take months or
weeks or the Council could refuse to the amend the code...

NOTE: If any of you have called the Department and have comments about
conversations you have had regarding the case that you'd like to share with
Kate Woodviolet (Kate wrote the 2 Examiner.com pieces that launched this
newest surge public support), please contact her woodviolet9@hotmail.com

##############

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JEFF DE LA ROSA: stu.911@gmail.com

=============================================================
A DOG'S LIFE, TIED UP IN RED TAPE
=============================================================

7/13/09, Board of Animal Services Commissioners moves to amend L.A. Code to free Stu!
http://laanimalservicesboardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/board-of-animal-services-commissioners.html

PART #1: Playing political games with a dog's life
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1779-LA-Pet-Rescue-Examiner~y2009m6d17-Playing-political-games-with-a-dogs-life

PART #2: Appeals Court rules against Stu - could allow Animal Services to kill senior dog
http://www.examiner.com/x-1779-LA-Pet-Rescue-Examiner~y2009m6d23-Appeals-Court-rules-against-Stu--could-allow-Animal-Services-to-kill-senior-dog

6/18/09: Undue Justice - Stu On Death Row, 4 Years And Counting
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter_new.asp?LetterID=1842&seriesfirst=true



ACTION CAMPAIGNS * EDUCATION * ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
http://www.KinshipCircle.org * http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

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* Type UNSUBSCRIBE in your subject line and hit send

Subscribe Now - For Breaking News & Action:
Kinship Circle Primary: subscribe@kinshipcircle.org
    Action campaigns on animal cruelty issues worldwide
Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network: disasteraid@kinshipcircle.org
    Animal rescue coordination/news in disasters + companion animal alerts

*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original
source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of
the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is
intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it
in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment
or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.
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Posted: Jul 14, 2009 4:25am
Support H.B. 39
Jun 29, 2009
Focus: Animal Welfare
Action Request: Various
Location: United States

I know it seems endless, but the animals need your help. Please email and/or make these calls right away!!

Action alert coming from Bill Smith at Main Line Animal Rescue.  (The guy who got Oprah to do the puppy mill show).

From: MainLineRescue@aol.com 
PLEASE SEND THIS OUT TO EVERYONE YOU HAVE EVER MET.  SUPPORT H.B. 39.

It takes an Amish farmer less than 5 minutes to "debark" one of his  breeding dogs by hammering a steel rod down her throat - and breaking
her jaw and shattering her back teeth.  It takes 5 minutes for that same farmer/commercial breeder to cut off one of his dog's tail - in  a
filthy, dark barn without anesthesia.  And it takes about the same amount of time for his thirteen year old son to tie the dog down and cut the puppies from her belly.  Five minutes more to crop her ears using a pair of rusted hedge shears - the dog squirming and crying out in unbelievable pain.

So why is it taking Senator Stewart Greenleaf more than a week to decide that this is wrong?  When we called his office last week to ask why his Committee is sitting on H.B. 39, we were told by his aide that Senator Greenleaf is "reviewing" the bill.  What's to review? Everyone on Capitol Hill knows about this bill.  It is the companion bill to H.B. 2525 that passed into law last fall.  When asked, repeatedly, if Senator Greenleaf would support H.B. 39, his aide would not commit.  This is surprising to us considering Senator Greenleaf not only toured Pennsylvania' s puppy mills with a reporter from the Inquirer in 1995, seeing firsthand the conditions these animals face, but he also coined the expression "Puppy Mill Capital of the East Coast" and expressed an urgent need for change.  Well, Senator Greenleaf, here's your chance to bring about change and help these  dogs!

 H.B. 39 would make it illegal for anyone other than a licensed  veterinarian to perform these procedures, or if it is already illegal for anyone but a licensed vet to perform the procedure, it will toughen the penalties.  Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote the bill out of their committee so it can finally go to the floor of the Senate for a vote. The bill passed the House unanimously, and passed the Senate Agricultural Committee unanimously two weeks ago (thank you members of  the Ag Committee!).  This bill is a crucial step toward protecting
the dogs of Pennsylvania.

Takes only a minute to send this one email. Please email (or call) the legislators below and ask them to support H.B. 39 and move it to the Senate floor.  Important to note, Senator Greenleaf represents Montgomery County.  MLAR covers Montgomery County and many of us live in Montgomery County (I know I do) so let your voices be heard!

 Bill Smith, Main Line Animal Rescue

You can email each legislator individually or copy and paste this mass listing of legislators into your “TO:” email line and write them all the same message; i.e. “SUPPORT H.B. 39 AND MOVE IT TO THE SENATE FLOOR”

 

sgreenleaf@pasen.gov;mwhite@pasen.gov;jscarnati@pasen.gov;pbrowne@pasen.gov;jearl@pasen.gov;jgordner@pasen.gov;jorie@pasen.gov;

jpiccola@pasen.gov;jrafferty@pasen.gov;boscola@pasenate.com;costa@pasenate.com;fontana@pasenate.com;stack@pasenate.com

Or email each representative individually at:

 Stewart Greenleaf  sgreenleaf@pasen.gov


 717-787-6599 or call: 215-657-7700

Mary Jo White  mwhite@pasen.gov


Joseph Scarnati  jscarnati@pasen.gov


Patrick Browne  pbrowne@pasen.gov


Jane Earl  jearl@pasen.gov


John Gordner  jgordner@pasen.gov


Jane Clare Orie  jorie@pasen.gov


Jeffrey Piccola  jpiccola@pasen.gov


John Rafferty  jrafferty@pasen.gov   (represents parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks Counties)

Lisa Boscola  boscola@pasenate.com 

Jay Costa  costa@pasenate.com

Wayne Fontana  fontana@pasenate.com

Michael Stack  stack@pasenate.com

PA Action Alert - SUPPORT HB 39!  - Please send this out to everyone you have ever met!  Please cross-post widely!

 
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Posted: Jun 29, 2009 7:59am
No Protection for Pet Food if Bill is Passed
Apr 6, 2009
Focus: Animal Welfare
Action Request: Various
Location: United States
The Food Safety Modernization Act, currently being considered by Congress as the answer to the many food safety concerns in the U.S., blatantly gives pet food manufacturers carte blanche opportunity to dump risky garbage into your pet’s food bowl without accountability. If this bill is approved, pet food can easily and legally get far worse than it is today.

It is crystal clear the existing FDA needs an overhaul. Just as clear, the existing FDA has shown no genuine concern for the safety of pet food; the FDA has allowed pet food to be the dumping ground for useless waste of human food processing for many years despite Federal laws that should prohibit it. Over recent years, Congress has made a few half hearted attempts to improve the safety of pet food, especially after the deadly 2007 recall; seemingly just to quiet their pet owning constituents. However, the truth continues to clearly show Congress has no intentions to initiate responsible legislation demanding the safety of pet foods and the FDA has no intention of enforcing existing laws that would improve pet food safety.

To provide you with a little history, in November 2008, pet owners from across the U.S. wrote their Representatives in Congress politely demanding the FDA enforce existing Federal laws. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act laws clearly defines food to include pet food and clearly defines adulterated foods (thus prohibited by Federal law) to be foods containing sick, diseased, or euthanized animals; many of the most popular pet foods sold in the U.S. could contain ingredients, determined by the FDA, known to include sick, diseased, and/or euthanized animals. The FDA website itself states that although some pet foods appear to be in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, they will not enforce the laws with pet food.

Every single member of Congress who received a letter from their pet loving constituent, ignored the point. Not one Representative addressed the FDA’s violation of Federal laws. Some spoke of ‘hope’ to improve the FDA with H.R. 875 Food Safety Modernization Act. http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/pages/We-are-Changing-Pet-Food.html

The ‘hope’ that Congress is trying to pass off as the answer to U.S. Consumers prayers, completely ignores pet food safety.

From www.govtrack.us, the text of H.R. 875 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875) states the purpose of the Act is to establish a Food Safety Administration which will “regulate food safety and labeling to strengthen the protection of the public health”; and “ ensure that food establishments fulfill their responsibility to process, store, hold, and transport food in a manner that protects the public health of all people in the United States.”

If you notice, there is a complete absence of animal feed safety in the ‘Purpose of the Act’ section. The only mention is &lsquoublic health’.

Under Section 3 Definitions, Animal food gains a small mention. The term ‘food’ is defined as “a product intended to be used for food or drink for a human or an animal and components thereof.” However, in the same section providing a definition of a food contaminant, “The term ‘contaminant’ includes a bacterium, chemical, natural toxin or manufactured toxicant, virus, parasite, prion, physical hazard, or other human pathogen that when found on or in food can cause human illness, injury, or death.” Again, there is NO mention of a pet food or animal food contaminant; only a contaminant that can cause human illness, injury or death.

If no definition of a pet food contaminant is provided in the bill, legally there will be no contaminants of pet food. Thus, there could be NO future legal means for pet owners to hold a pet food manufacturer responsible for a contaminated pet food killing or injuring their pet. Without legal resources to hold a pet food manufacturer responsible for a contaminated pet food, the absolute worst can and probably will happen.

Section 3 Definitions drives the point home one more time with the definition of Hazardous Contamination; “The term ‘hazardous contamination’ refers to the presence of a contaminant in food at levels that pose a risk of human illness, injury, or death or are capable of reaching levels that pose such risk during the shelf life of the product.” No mention of a contaminant in an animal food that poses a risk to animal illness, injury, or death. Again, without a legal definition of a contaminant or hazardous contamination of a pet food, pet owners will be left defenseless.

For those in Congress (or elsewhere) who perhaps might feel dog food or cat food isn’t as important as human food, consider this…
• Sixty three percent of homes in the U.S. own a pet. http://americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp.  Sixty three percent of all voters, own a pet.
• The American Pet Product Manufacturers Assn projects U.S. pet owners will spend over $45 billion dollars on their pets in 2009. Based on a conservative 6% sales tax, pet owners will pay over $2.7 billion dollars in sales tax on their 2009 pet purchases. $2.7 billion dollars in revenue in one year provided to state government and our Representatives in Congress don’t bother to demand pet food is safe.

• Simply from a revenue producing perspective, in 2006 the US received over $5 billion dollars in alcohol tax
 
revenue, $36 billion in fuel tax revenue, and almost $15 billion dollars in tobacco tax revenue. In 2009, conservative projections are that pet owners will provide $2.7 billion dollars in tax revenue. We pet owners are in the ballpark with many other high revenue consideration products, yet we get the bottom of the bowl when it comes to protection of our pets.  http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/listdocs.cfm?topic3id=92&topic2id=90

H.R. 875 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 is no safety modernization for pet food. H.R. 875 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 is the same old story and worse; forgetting the concerns of our pets yet looking out for the interests of industries that earn billions in profits re-selling waste. If H.R. 875 is passed as it is currently written, it appears caring pet owners will be completely without resources to hold a pet food manufacturer accountable for their actions. This is not something to let others be concerned about and act on; every single caring pet lover needs to take immediate action.

Please write your Representative in Congress and ask them to go back to the drawing board with H.R. 875. Ask them to include direct and specific language that will assure the safety of pet food. Remind them that even if they cannot manage to consider a pet as important as a human when designing legislation, to please consider that $2.7 billion dollars a year in tax revenue deserves their proper attention. Also, remind them pet owners are 63% of the population strong; remind them that although our pets cannot vote, their owners can.

Below is a list of the Sponsor and Co-Sponsors of H.R. 875.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]
Cosponsors [as of 2009-03-07]
Rep. Timothy Ryan [D-OH]
Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA]
Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]
Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]
Rep. André Carson [D-IN]
Rep. Joe Courtney [D-CT]
Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]
Rep. Mark Schauer [D-MI]
Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]
Rep. John Tierney [D-MA]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D-MN]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]
Rep. John Hall [D-NY]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]
Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]
Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Del. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL]
Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL]
Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]
Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]
Rep. Kathy Castor [D-FL]
Rep. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
Rep. Betty Sutton [D-OH]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA]
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D-TX]
Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO]
Rep. Shelley Berkley [D-NV]
Rep. Linda Sánchez [D-CA]
Rep. James McDermott [D-WA]
Rep. Christopher Murphy [D-CT]
Rep. Sanford Bishop [D-GA]
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D-AZ]
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]

Below is my personal letter sent to Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida. Feel free to use the same letter, edit it to your own liking, and or use your own letter to your Representative.

Representative Kathy Castor,

I am aware that you have co-sponsored H.R. 875 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. I have read the bill, and as a caring pet owner, it was apparent to me the bill completely neglects issues regarding safe pet foods.

I wrote you in November 2008 regarding the FDA allowing pet food manufacturers in the U.S. to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act laws. Your response did not address the content of my email. I am hopeful you will not ignore me again.

Although H.R. 875 defines food as “a product intended to be used for food or drink for a human or an animal and components thereof” – there is no mention of or definition of an animal/pet food contaminant. The bill you co-sponsor only mentions a contaminant that can cause human illness, injury or death. Without a clear and concise definition of an animal food/pet food contaminant, that would cause animal/pet illness, injury or death, H.R. 875 would leave pet owners (by the way, we make up 63% of the population) defenseless.

I am requesting a response from your office if you will or will not work to include direct language in H.R. 875 that will assure pet owners pet food will be protected under the law. If you choose to support the bill as it currently reads, which leaves pet owners defenseless, it will be duly noted and shared with every pet owner I know.

By the way, it is estimated that sales of pet products in 2009 will provide the U.S. with sales tax revenue in excess of $2.7 billion dollars this year. If you cannot validate spending some effort to improve pet food safety simply as the right thing to do, consider it as a protection of valuable State assets.

I will be waiting for your response to my question…are you still in support of H.R. 875 as it currently reads? Or will you work to include direct language in H.R. 875 that assures pet food safety?


Please take a few moments and tell your Representative you do not support H.R. 875 as it is currently written.  If this bill passes, all of our pets could be in danger.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Posted: Apr 6, 2009 6:28am
Announcing TruthaboutPetFood Radio
Jan 21, 2009
To supporters of this website:  If you have a blog or website, please post the following press release on your site.  This radio show will be a great means for all pet owners to learn more about pet food and learn more how to keep your pet safe. 

For Immediate Release

TruthaboutPetFood.com joins BlogTalkRadio
Taking your questions directly to Pet Food Decision Makers!

Tampa, FL January 21, 2009 TruthaboutPetFood.com is proud to announce the ‘truth’ will be going to BlogTalkRadio; the very first Internet radio show devoted to pet food. Now, pet owners from all over the world can hear directly from pet food decision makers, ask questions, and learn insider information about pet food and the pet food industry.

TruthaboutPetFood.com publisher, Susan Thixton, is thrilled at her new edition; the TruthaboutPetFood BlogTalkRadio Show. “Pet owners who want to learn more about their pet’s food are now going to have that opportunity; this will be directly from the Top Dogs of pet food”, states Thixton. Beginning January 27, 2009, Thixton plans to interview on live Internet Radio top officials from pet food companies and related industries, plus provide pet owners the opportunity to call in and speak directly to these pet food decision makers.

Thixton’s BlogTalkRadio TruthaboutPetFood Show will be live each Tuesday at 11 AM ET starting 1/27/09. Pet owners can listen live from TruthaboutPetFood.com or BlogTalkRadio and call into the show from their computer or via telephone. Her first show will be discussing one of the hottest topics in pet food, imported ingredients. Two former FDA officials will be the first guests of the TruthaboutPetFood Show; Carl Nielson, a 28 year veteran of the FDA, the last six

years as Director of FDA’s Division of Import Operations; and Stephen Spinak, retired FDA expert of processing and packaging. Thixton says “These two gentleman can share so much with pet owners about the FDA; information that we probably can’t learn anywhere else. I can’t wait to speak with them.”

Future scheduled shows will be interviewing Honest Kitchen Pet Food founder and President Lucy Postins and Nature’s Logic Pet Food Managing Partner Scott Freeman. For more information, to listen to live shows, and listen to archived shows visit http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/pages/TruthaboutPetFood-Radio.html

About TruthaboutPetFood.com: TruthaboutPetFood.com provides a world of pet owners an understanding of pet food regulations and ingredients. The website publishes alerts, recalls, and a variety of pet food/treat educational articles, and publishes Petsumer Report; a pet food review publication with close to 1000 different dog foods, cat foods, and pet treats currently reviewed. Forty-plus reviews are added each month providing subscribers with valuable information the pet food label cannot or does not provide.

About BlogTalkRadio: BlogTalkRadio is a free, web-based platform which allows any user with a phone and a computer to host a live, interactive Internet broadcast. Hosts call into the service by phone, managing callers on the web-based host dashboard. Shows stream live directly from the host’s BlogTalkRadio web page with archives available for all past shows. BlogTalkRadio has been featured on ABC News, The Washington Post, Portfolio, Talkers Magazine, and TheStreet.com. The citizen broadcasting network can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com.

Press Contact:
Susan Thixton
Susan@TruthaboutPetFood.com
(813) 871-5237
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Posted: Jan 21, 2009 8:58am
Dog Killings in St. Bernard Parish
Jan 23, 2008
Focus: Animal Welfare
Action Request: Various
Location: United States
1/23/08: Demand Justice In Dog Killings, St. Bernard Parish
http://www.KinshipCircle.org


PHOTO: A reporter asks: "So how many dogs [have you shot]?"
"Enough," former St. Bernard Parish deputy sheriff Mike Minton replies, as
he looks away and laughs... SEE VIDEO:
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photography/2005/katrina_video/straydogs.html


EMAIL kinshipcircle@accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

===========================================================
FULL CONTACT INFORMATION. Email blocks + sample letter follow
===========================================================

The Honorable James D. "Buddy" Caldwell, Attorney General
Louisiana Attorney General's Office    
    PHYSICAL: 1885 North 3rd St. * Baton Rouge, LA 70802
    MAILING: P.O. Box 94005 * Baton Rouge, LA 70804
    ph: 225-326-6100; email: caldwellj@ag.state.la.us
   *NOTE: Email above is a "guesstimate," based upon how other dept. emails are
    configured. So far, it has not bounced in a test...

Dana J. Cummings
Director of Criminal Division, Louisiana Attorney General's Office    
    ph: 225-326-6200; fax: 225-326-6297
    email: cummingsd@ag.state.la.us, CriminalInfo@ag.state.la.us  

Ms. Linda Southhall, Assistant To The Attorney General
   fax: 225-326-6797; email: southhalll@ag.state.la.us

Administrative Services Division:
   225-326-6705; fax: 225-326-6793; AdminInfo@ag.state.la.us
Executive Division, John W. Sinquefield, First Assis. Attorney General:
    225-326-6705; fax: 225-342-8703; Executive@ag.state.la.us
Investigation Division:
    225-326-6100, 800-488-2770; fax: 225-326-6197; InvestigationInfo@ag.state.la.us
Litigation Division:
    225-326-6300, 225-326-6705; fax: 225-326-6490; LitInfo@ag.state.la.us
Public Protection Division:
    225-326-6438; fax: 225-326-6497; ublicProtectionInfo@ag.state.la.us" target="_blank">PublicProtectionInfo@ag.state.la.us

SOURCE: http://www.ag.state.la.us/Article.aspx?articleID=28&catID=12

COPY YOUR LETTER TO:
The Honorable Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana
    Office of the Governor   
    P.O. Box 94004 * Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004
    ph: 225-342-7015; fax: 225-342-7099
    web mail: http://www.managekeelson.com/websites/la2.gov/index.cfm?md=form&tmp=home&cfmid=297
    possible emails for Governor Jindal: constituent@la.gov, info@bobbyjindal.com
    website: http://www.gov.state.la.us/

Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner of Agriculture
   Executive (2nd Floor) * P.O. Box 631 * Baton Rouge, LA  70821-0631
    225-922-1234; fax: 225-922-1253; info@ldaf.state.la.us

===========================================================
EMAIL BLOCK: All emails found for this alert.
===========================================================

caldwellj@ag.state.la.us, cummingsd@ag.state.la.us,
CriminalInfo@ag.state.la.us, southhalll@ag.state.la.us,
AdminInfo@ag.state.la.us, Executive@ag.state.la.us,
InvestigationInfo@ag.state.la.us, LitInfo@ag.state.la.us,
ublicProtectionInfo@ag.state.la.us" target="_blank">PublicProtectionInfo@ag.state.la.us, constituent@la.gov,
info@bobbyjindal.com, info@ldaf.state.la.us

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During
campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Emails
obtained from government websites may be incorrect.

===========================================================
SAMPLE LETTER --  This letter is prepared to inform you about the issue.
Try to shorten and personalize your letter before sending.
===========================================================

Honorable Officials Of Louisiana:

I am dismayed charges have been dropped against former St. Bernard Parish
Deputy Sheriff Mike Minton and Sergeant Clifford "Chip" Englande. These men,
who allegedly shot dogs roaming St. Bernard Parish streets after Hurricane
Katrina, pose a risk to other animals and humans.

I implore the Attorney General's Office to recognize the gravity of animal
cruelty crimes and establish a better precedent for prosecuting them.

In September 2005, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist David Leeson and
his Dallas Morning News colleague canvassed empty streets in St. Bernard
Parish. As they began filming, gunshots were heard. Leeson turned his camera
to a small black dog with a bullet wound staggering after a truck inscribed
with SBSO (St. Bernard Parish Sheriff) on its sides. As the reporters drove
away, they encountered another brown dog writhing and dying in the road.

They recorded a vehicle occupied by two armed men, one believed to be
Minton. Englande reportedly drove the truck. During a taped interview,
Minton later admitted shooting dogs. "So how many dogs?" one reporter asked.
"Enough," Minton said.

The dogs documented on Leeson's video were like thousands more displaced by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita -- hungry, disoriented and afraid. I ask you to
reconsider their violent death and reopen this case before it expires under
the statute of limitations. If new evidence emerges, please prosecute Minton
and Englande for aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony in Louisiana.

I also call upon the Attorney General's Office to intensify its criminal
investigation of pets executed inside three St. Bernard Parish schools in
October 2005. Evacuees were ordered to leave their companion animals behind
with St. Bernard Parish law enforcers. Many scratched notes on school walls:
"There is a very nice dog in here. Please do not shoot her..."

Despite pleas for mercy, some 33 dogs (and cats) were shot at close range in
the body, limbs, and neck. Bullet wounds to the body cavity, rather than the
head, cause prolonged and agonizing death. Cruelty investigators found shell
casings consistent with the type police officers use.

I urge you to seek the conviction of anyone involved in this massacre. If
convicted, offenders ought to incur maximum incarceration and fines for
felony animal abuse. Law enforcers associated with this crime should be
removed from active duty and directed to undergo psychological counseling.
Certainly, they should be barred from possessing or working with animals.

People who abuse animals rarely stop there. In fact, men prosecuted for
animal cruelty are five times as likely to be arrested for other violent
crimes, according to Prof. Frank Ascione of Utah State University. Animal
cruelty is a key trait in the American Psychiatric Association's criterion
for conduct disorders. The FBI red flags animal abuse when profiling
homicidal criminals and their potential for recurring violence.

The deliberate slaughter of companion animals is merciless and illegal.
Moreover, it serves as a yardstick to measure probability of a repeat
offense. I look forward to any case updates you can provide.

Thank you,

===========================================================
SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THIS LETTER CAMPAIGN
===========================================================

VIDEO / Dallas News photojournalist David Leeson
    http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photography/2005/katrina_video/straydogs.html

Mark Steinway, cruelty investigator and formerly of Pasado’s Safe Haven
    marksteinway@gmail.com

Mimi Hunley, Asst. State Attorney General of Louisiana
    Presided over the criminal division and initiated charges in St. Bernard
    Parish street and school shootings



FOR ANIMALS - BEAR WITNESS. SPEAK. DEMAND. ACT.
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Posted: Jan 23, 2008 6:48pm
Portrait of an animal killer?
Feb 28, 2006
Focus: Animal Welfare
Action Request: Various
Location: United States
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/CRUELTY%20NEWS/Cruelty_News.htm

New Orleans Dog & Cat Shootings UPDATE

Who shot the St. Bernard dogs and cats? Getting photos of the Sheriff’s Deputies that were employed by or utilized by the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office in the wake of Hurricane Katrina would help the surviving families at least eliminate possible suspects. Mimi Hunley, Assistant Attorney General Criminal Division, Louisana State Attorney General's Office has told Pasado's directly "...For reasons I can not reveal I was unable to procure photos to show any of the evacuees..."

We had hoped that the Attorney General would be empowered to secure a photo line-up of these officers. But since this appears not to be the case, Pasado's Safe Haven has filed a request for public records seeking photos of all 300 + St. Bernard Parish Deputy Sheriffs, from the St. Bernard Sheriff, Jack Stevens. We are using a state law that is similar to the Federal Freedom of Information Act, to allow us to secure the records and photos.


How will Sheriff Stevens respond?
We are unsure of how this request will be received, but Louisiana State Revised Statutes 44:31 stipulates that the burden of proving a record exempt from this state-level law falls on the custodian of the records. (RS 44:31 is modeled after the federal Freedom of Information Act.)

Pictures Tell It All


 
 

Former St. Bernard Sergeant Mike Minton, pictured above, was videotaped shooting dogs in the streets of New Orleans during the days following Katrina. We don’t have such footage of the killers who shot 33 dogs and cats in St. Bernard Parish Schools, so we’ll keep pushing for the release of any public records that can bring these individuals to justice. The entire video can be viewed here. (Warning: graphic and disturbing images)

Speak directly to Sheriff Stevens

We're kindly asking for you to write to the St. Bernard Parish sheriff and let him know that the country is watching his reaction to our request for records and photos. Please click here to e-mail your comments to Sheriff Stevens.

Talking Points:
• Family members have been more than patient with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana State Attorney General Office and now want answers to their questions.
• Providing a thorough photo-line up of St. Bernard Parish Deputy Sheriffs will help the families to identify possible suspects in the St. Bernard Parish School pet-shooting case
• A timely and positive response to the Pasado’s Safe Haven request for public records should be granted
• Every effort should be made to help the families and investigators and Louisiana State agencies should be compelled to provide a measure of transparency to the facts related in this case
• Please be polite and respectful
SUBMIT HERE.

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Posted: Feb 28, 2006 6:05am

 
 
 
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Laura L.
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