| rescueneeds |
 Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:42 am
Post subject: |
 |
|
From: Kinship Circle
To: 14. KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF [Dual-List KC Members]
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:21 PM
Subject: ABC/ Comment On Dogs Killed, St. Bernard Parish
KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF
PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN
GULF COAST
1/24/08: ABC Blog Wants Comments On Case Closure In SBP Dog Killings
http://www.KinshipCircle.org
FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE:
In the last several days, you should have received urgent alerts related to the
dismissal of the St. Bernard Parish street shooting case:
[history & facts] 1/20/08: Breaking News - Case Dismissed In SBP Street Shootings?
[letter-writing alert] 1/23/08: Demand Justice In Dog Killings, St. Bernard Parish
If you want either of these alerts resent to you, request them at:
kinshipcircle@accessus.net
Another component to publicizing this miscarriage of justice is MEDIA.
Today, ABC26 (local ABC affiliate in New Orleans) contacted Kinship Circle
about an upcoming story. In the meantime, the ABC reporter asked that I
direct people to a related blog question at the TV station’s website. He is
looking for “good comments” to create buzz around the story.
Go the link below to leave comments. You may reference information from
Kinship Circle’s sample letter (sent 1/23/0 , but write in YOUR OWN WORDS.
And remember: There are two SEPARATE St. Bernard Parish animal shootings:
Sept. 2005: Street shootings videotaped by a Dallas photojournalist
Oct. 2005: Execution-style shooting of evacuees’ pets inside SBP schools
CASE THAT WAS RECENTLY DISMISSED: 1. Sept. 2005 street shootings
The SBP school shootings case is still open.
What do you think?
Did Attorney General Caldwell do the right thing?
POST A COMMENT:
http://weblogs.abc26.com/news/local/neworleans/2008/01/dog_shooting_case_dismissed_in.html
**After story airs, the reporter will read some of the blog entries.
Dog Shooting Case Dismissed In St. Bernard Parish
Louisiana's Attorney General Buddy Caldwell sent a letter to the St. Bernard
Parish Clerk of Court asking that the criminal case against sheriff deputies
Clifford Englande and Mike Minton be dismissed. They were accused of "animal
cruelty" in the shooting of dogs in the parish immediately following
Hurricane Katrina. The case was brought by former Attorney General Charles Foti.
According to the letter, the new AG determined the case lacked sufficient
evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defense Attorney Pat Fanning said, "There was a lot of heat from the animal
rights people, so Attorney General Foti decided to indict a couple of
deputies with almost no evidence. When it was reviewed in the calm of the
day by another Attorney General, he decided to to the right thing."
What do you think? Did Attorney General Caldwell do the right thing?
POST A COMMENT:
http://weblogs.abc26.com/news/local/neworleans/2008/01/dog_shooting_case_dismissed_in.html
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
Posted Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:59 am:
Subject: ALERT - LA - Fw: ACT/ Justice For Dogs Killed, St. Bernard Parish
Please forward widely. Participation is easy - contact info is below, along with a sample letter. Please rewrite the Subject in your own words when you send your message and delete the rest of Kinship Circle's info. --Thanks!
-----Original Message-----
From: Kinship Circle [mailto:kinshipcircle@accessus.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:47 PM
To: 11. KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF - LA Residents
Subject: ACT/ Justice For Dogs Killed, St. Bernard Parish
Importance: High
KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF
PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN
GULF COAST
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; 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,
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 |
|
Calendar
Profile
FAQ
Search
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Register
Calendar