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Loading...Beaten and Burned: Demand Justice for Lacey
A 6 pound terrier mix named Lacey was discovered by Bakersfield police when they responded to a report of animal abuse at the home of 43-year-old Robert Gonzales.
Lacey had been hit in the face with a golf club, had her eyes sprayed with bleach and was left tied to a tree in Gonzales’ yard for four days before being discovered. Judging from the photos, Lacey is lucky to be alive.
She was taken to Coffee Road Animal Hospital where donations have been coming in to the Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelters Foundation from as far away as Australia to cover her care and surgery on her eyes and an ear that was burned. One of her eyes has ruptured, and it’s a possibility that she will go blind, but she is expected to recover otherwise and is reportedly very sweet.
“All she wants to do is curl up in your lap,” said Dr. Julie Mischke.
Gonzales was arrested for misdemeanor animal cruelty, and additional charges including possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a switchblade knife.
Gonzales said Lacey’s injuries occurred by accident on November 29, when she tipped over a bucket of bleach. He also said he had no money to take her to a vet until his unemployment check arrived and that he had a friend from a vet clinic flush her eyes out two days later.
It doesn’t look like anyone believes what happened to Lacey was an accident. District Attorney Ed Jagels said the abuse was severe enough to make him file felony charges instead.
“I think he needs to be put up, put in jail. I think he needs to, especially with what he did that to the dog. And I think of my grandchildren. I mean, anything could set him off,” said Sophia Sliter, Gonzales’ neighbor who’s daughter Kelee dated Gonzales and is the mother of his three young children.
Last year Kelee Sliter got a three-year restraining order against Gonzales for domestic violence after she reported that he “threatened to shoot her or kill her so many times, their then 3-year-old daughter was repeating the threat.”
On Friday, he pleaded not guilty to animal abuse and drug charges and is currently out on bail. He’s due back in court on December 29.
There’s No Excuse!
Please sign Justice4Paws’ petition asking the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the case and prosecute Gonzales to the fullest extent of the law.
Send a letter to District Attorney Ed Jagels thanking him for appreciating the severity of Lacey’s abuse and filing felony charges, in addition to asking for a strong sentencing.
Related Stories:
The Link: New Mexico Recognizes the Connection Between Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse
Animal Abuse Law Will Protect Kids Too
Protecting Pets Victimized by Domestic Violence
Read more: animal abuse, animal cruelty, animal welfare, domestic violence, gonzales, lacey, robert, violence
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man sollte wirklich wieder einen pranger einführen an den man gonzales und Kisha Curtis allen anderen voran stellen kann.
solche leute gehören bespuckt und geschlagen und das immer und immer wieder...
I should have voted no! He should serve time in HELL!
"misdemeanor animal cruelty"?? If Gonzales hit a human with a golf club, sprayed her eyes with bleach, and then left her tied to a tree for four days, would it be a misdemeanor??
Animals are life in their own right, and we must start treating them as such. We, as a society, can no longer tolerate animals being treated as property.
Poor Lacey. And somehow she will learn to love another human. Dogs always do. So much better than humans.
Serve time in prison? As opposed to what, being given a hero's welcome?
This is such a sad story. I have signed the petition.
Already signed... it hurts my heart to see what she suffered and I just pray that she gets the love and care she needs. Passing a law WITH SHARP TEETH for animal abuse and then making sure that these abusers are prosecuted to the full extent of the law is imperative if we are to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Yes, he should! And I've already signed...
Lock this guy up and throw away the key!
Both petitions signed.
Signed with pleasure
Thanks...already signed the petition and posted it to one of my groups.
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