Petition seeks stronger anti-cruelty efforts
Baltimore’s animal lovers, angered over the death of a pit bull who was set on fire last week, are asking the city to start taking animal abuse more seriously — by creating a task force, making the animal control office part of the police department, and ensuring that animal cruelty cases are prosecuted to the fullest extent.
The group has started an online petition, and will present the signatures to the city.
The pit bull, given the name Phoenix when she was brought in to Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS), was found on fire in West Baltimore last Wednesday by a police officer who, as other witnesses looked on, put the fire out with her sweater.
The officer, Syreeta Teel, was honored in a City Hall ceremony today, receiving an award from BARCS, presented by Mayor Sheila Dixon.
A reward for information leading to the arrest of those who doused the dog with gasoline and set her on fire now stands at $24,500. The dog lived three days after she was found, but was euthanized after her kidneys shut down while trying to fight off infection caused by burns over 90 percent of her body.
The incident has prompted a petition drive sponsored by Recycled Love, a non–profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals from abuse, injury, neglect and abandonment. Click on “read more” to view the petition in its entirety.
Dear Mayor Dixon,
To have individuals set a living creature on fire (Phoenix, the pit bull) and stand by to witness this act is an outrage. This event has sent a disturbance throughout our city and its residents. It is proven that abusers of animals graduate to abusers of people. You also know the connection between animal abuse, dog fighting, gang activity, and illegal drug trade.
Animal abuse and cruelty have been ignored by this City for too long. Cruelty of animals is a criminal act and it can no longer be ignored. It is disturbing to live in a City which has now been recognized as one of the most violent cities in the country. The message has been delivered to all those involved in animal cruelty that it is an acceptable norm. We are demanding this message be changed. This is what must happen for change:
- The dog fighting task force must become an Animal Abuse Task Force;
- Citizens must serve on the Animal Abuse Task Force;
- Animal Control must be under the Police Department, not the Health Department;
- Animal control officers must be police officers; and
- The City must prosecute these animal abuse cases.
Thank you.
Posted by jwoestendiek June 5th, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animal cruelty, baltimore, barcs, city, city council, fire, gasoline, mayor, online petition, petition, phoenix, pit bull, recycled love, shiela dixon, syreeta teel
Comments
Comment from Jaime Panzer
Time June 8, 2009 at 12:54 pm
You would prosecute them if they did it to a person…dogs are family members, too!!!!
Comment from Rebcca Barber
Time June 11, 2009 at 12:46 pm
People who abuse animals as youngsters grow up to be violent criminals. Prosecute them as adults!
Comment from Kathie Frissyn
Time June 11, 2009 at 1:05 pm
This type of violence only escalates if the individuals are not stopped and punished.
Comment from Nancy
Time June 11, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Mayor Dixon is an animal lover, but don’t count on a conviction with Jessamy’s office.
Comment from Darlene Arden
Time June 11, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Please try the offenders as adults. They also need serious counseling to determine if they were childhood animal abusers. Research has shown that serial killers were childhood animal abusers. This is a serious crime and should be treated as such for the safety of society. Thank you.
Comment from Sue Janson
Time June 11, 2009 at 2:42 pm
At 17 years old, these boys are certainly old enough to know right from wrong and that torturing any living thing is wrong. I see two serial killers in the making. They need to be tried as adults most definitely.
Comment from Lisa Shenkle
Time June 11, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Animal abuse, while a crime in and of itself, is not a crime against one animal. It has been proven that children and adults who deliberately harm everything from insects (pulling wings off) to tormeting cats and dogs, are more likely to be serious offenders and sociopaths in adulthood. As stewards of the animals over which we have dominion, this is a crime against society and humanity. For the safety of our city, as an example to young people — and their parents — I encourage you to take this petition seriously.
Comment from Brenda Morey
Time June 11, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I am outraged that this could happen in America today! Procecute these people and sentence them to prison–for as long as possible.
Comment from carrie
Time June 15, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Please prosecute these murderous cowards and they shoud receive the amount of years each in jail that Pheonix would’ve lived. 15+ since her short life was taken at barely a year old. Please make this an example of what punishments will be exacted when an animal is abused and murdered. Animals were also created by God and their lives should be valued as much as people. Please be the voice for these innocent and voiceless creatures. Dont turn your back and ignore this issue. Thanks
Comment from lance
Time June 16, 2009 at 11:38 am
It is truly disheartening to see this happen to an animal. This happens all over the U.S. There needs to be a more pro-active approach to educating people that simply animal cruelty is not be tolerated any longer by anyone or any organization. They don’t have voices so it’s our duty to have one for them. Sad to say these two probably won’t have a harsh punishment. So let’s not lose site anyhow. Keep the issue on the table so people don’t forget. Thanks for letting me post 
Comment from kurt thesing
Time June 16, 2009 at 11:57 am
Someone needs to set a strong message against violence and cruelty. That someone is you Ms. Dixon. Try them as adults. They knew exactly what they were doing when they committed this horrific act of violence.
Comment from Samantha Kearns
Time June 16, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Will we be looking forward to seeing these violent criminals out on the streets again. Ready to commit another crime. The pups death was not enough. Do the right thing. No one in that city takes the Animal Control laws seriously, if they did this type on non-sense would happen.
Comment from Adrienne Loper
Time June 17, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Anyone who engages in this type of cruelty for fun needs to be tried as an adult and taken off the streets. How many other animals did they do this to?People who engage in this horrific behavior towards animals will do it to humans to. Taking them off the street will not only prevent other animals from being tortured and killed, but it will prevent humans from becoming their victims as well. This is a public safety issue. Do the right thing. Do the obvious thing. Try them as adults.
Comment from Melissa Engerman
Time June 8, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Please help put an end to such cruelty.