Tips On How To Report Internet Animal Abuse.

It is hard to believe that people are stupid enough to video themselves doing something illegal, but harming a living being, both human and animal, is ludicrous. There are ways you can report this abuse and remain anonymous. Why is it so important to report this type of crime? You may save an animal's life, and possibly, a humans life, if the abuser doesn't just abuse the animals. There is a huge correlation between the two. I had a guest column in the Herald Dispatch about it.

If you see animal cruelty on the Internet, contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center at:
http://www.ic3.gov/

Remember, this website handles ALL Internet crimes! Have detailed information to give them when you contact them. This makes their job easier and they can get the bad people quickly. You can also notify the Internet Service Provider, and they may pull the website. To determine who hosts the site, go to: http://www.domaintools.com/ and enter the website URL in the "Whois Lookup"search box and click search.. Scroll down until you find the numerical Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to that website.

Then go to: http://arin.net/ (American Registry for Internet Numbers), enter the IP address in the "Search WHOIS box and click search., you will then find the info about the ISP that hosts the website. If you do not get this, type: http://search.org/programs/hightech/isp .

Currently only a few federal laws address the issue directly. They are the Crush Act: Penalizes the acts of cruelty and sexual abuse of animals that is intended for interstate commerce. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act: Basically imposing federal charges on animal fighters. And, last but not least, Internet hunting: A pending federal bill called the Computer Assisted Remote Hunting Act. It seeks to prohibit knowingly making available a "computer-assisted remote hunt," (means using a computer or other device, equipment or software to control the aiming and discharge of a weapon to hunt)

Talk About A Frivolous Lawsuit.

This story takes the cake, as far as I am concerned. It seems that a group that wants to have all animal fighting legalized, has filed a Federal lawsuit in Columbus OH, to do just that. Last year, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) was updated to make animal fighting a felony.


It includes transporting animals across state lines and advertising fights. Former Ohio attorney general Jim Petro represents the Humane Society of the United States.

source: Herald Dispatch

Lethal Injection Most Humane.

A story caught my interest when I was watching one of the local news channels on 3/24/08. It was about animal shelters in the state of WV that use carbon monoxide poisoning (gas chamber) and firearms as a forms of euthanasia for cats and dogs. It seems so barbaric. Lethal injection should be the only way animals are euthanized.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says that lethal injection is the absolute most humane. 11 states currently consider use of gas chambers illegal. 18 specifically say it is legal and 20 states, this includes WV, don't even mention it. Below you will find the link to take you to the amendment regarding laws.

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2001_SESSIONS/RS/Bills/hb2555%20sub.htm

Humane Society of the United States:

http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/policies_and_guidelines/virginia_carbon_monoxide_euthanasia.html

Continuously Chaining A Dog Is Inhumane And Dangerous - Part 1.

1. What is meant by "chaining" or "tethering" dogs?
These terms refer to the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, usually in the owner's backyard, as a means of keeping the animal under control. These terms do not refer to the periods when an animal is walked on a leash.

2. Is there a problem with continuous chaining or tethering?
Yes, the practice is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animals and humans.

3. Why is tethering dogs inhumane?
Dogs are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and the dogs' constant yanking and straining to escape confinement. Dogs have even been found with collars embedded in their necks, the result of years of neglect at the end of a chain. In one case, a veterinarian had to euthanize a dog whose collar, an electrical cord, was so embedded in the animal's neck that it was difficult to see the plug.

4. Who says tethering dogs is inhumane?
In addition to The Humane Society of the United States and numerous animal experts, the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement in the July 2, 1996, Federal Register against tethering:

"Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement of dogs by a tether is inhumane. A tether significantly restricts a dog's movement. A tether can also become tangled around or hooked on the dog's shelter structure or other objects, further restricting the dog's movement and potentially causing injury."

5. How does tethering or chaining dogs pose a danger to humans?
Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory; when confronted with a perceived threat, they respond according to their fight-or-flight instinct. A chained dog, unable to take flight, often feels forced to fight, attacking any unfamiliar animal or person who unwittingly wanders into his or her territory.

Numerous attacks on people by tethered dogs have been documented. For example, a study published in the September 15, 2000, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 17 percent of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between 1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners' property at the time of the attack.

Tragically, the victims of such attacks are often children who are unaware of the chained dog's presence until it is too late. Furthermore, a tethered dog who finally does get loose from his chains may remain aggressive, and is likely to chase and attack unsuspecting passersby and pets.

6. Why is tethering dangerous to dogs?
In addition to the psychological damage wrought by continuous chaining, dogs forced to live on a chain make easy targets for other animals, humans, and biting insects. A chained animal may suffer harassment and teasing from insensitive humans, stinging bites from insects, and, in the worst cases, attacks by other animals. Chained dogs are also easy targets for thieves looking to steal animals for sale to research institutions or to be used as training fodder for organized animal fights. Finally, dogs' tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke or strangle the dogs to death.

7. Are these dogs dangerous to other animals?
In some instances, yes. Any other animal that comes into their area of confinement is in jeopardy. Cats, rabbits, smaller dogs and others may enter the area when the tethered dog is asleep and then be fiercely attacked when the dog awakens.

Warm Weather Brings Increase In Attacks on Children by Chained Dogs.

Chance says that "he is thankful that he was adopted into his family, or he might be tied out to a tree."

Mothers Against Dog Chaining warns against danger of chaining dogs, especially in springtime when attacks increase four-fold. Dogs that spend their lives on chains often become neurotic, aggressive and pathologically protective of the patch of dirt where they spend their lives. Frustrated and unsocialized, chained dogs pose a year-round danger to unsuspecting children who approach these dogs. However, children are especially vulnerable in the springtime, according to Mothers Against Dog Chaining, an initiative of non-profit Dogs Deserve Better.

The groups are dedicated to ending the suffering endured by chained dogs and to educating the public about the dangers chained dogs pose to America's children. Since 2003, when Mothers Against Dog Chaining began monitoring attacks nationwide that result in serious injury or death, it has traditionally seen an increase every spring when the warmer weather beckons more children outside and chained dogs can be especially frustrated after another lonely, agonizing winter.

In 2007, Mothers Against Dog Chaining logged 81 serious attacks on children by chained dogs. Thirty of these attacks - more than one-third of the entire year's attacks-occurred in April and May alone. Of the 81 attacks logged in 2007, 8 resulted in the death of a child. "Our records include only those attacks serious enough to make the newspapers, and include only those we are able to locate," explains Tammy Grimes, founder of Mothers Against Dog Chaining and Dogs Deserve Better.

"There are many more attacks that unfortunately go unmentioned and unreported. We encourage any parents of children who've been attacked by chained or penned dogs to get in touch with our organization so we can log their info and include their story."The fact pattern leading up to the death in July 2007 of Tiffany Pauley, a 5-year-old Atlanta girl with Down Syndrome, is typical of many of these attacks: a child wanders into a neighbor's yard and wants to pet the chained dog, but the angry, perpetually chained animal attacks when it feels its space is threatened.

The dog's caretakers then claim that there was nothing they could have done, unaware that the very method of confinement to which they subjected their dog led directly to the animal's aggression. "Children are dying because of the misguided belief in certain segments of our society that it is appropriate to chain a dog to a tree and leave it there to pace the same patch of dirt and excrement for years on end," says Miranda Riane, the mother of an 8-year-old boy who was seriously mauled by a chained dog in November 2007. "Myson did nothing but run past a dog that spent its life on a short chain. He paid the price for the owner having taken the negligent and "easy way out" with regard to caring for her dog.

"In part because of the public safety issues posed by perpetually chained dogs, a number of states, cities and counties have started passing laws addressing how long people can chain their dogs. California and Texas recently passed statewide laws that put specific time limits on chaining and a number of other states, including Pennsylvania and South Carolina, are currently considering similar legislation.

source: http://www.ddb.org/

Has Our Society Become "Shoot First, Ask Questions Later?"

In the Herald 's, Letter to the Editor, dated 3/17/08, a writer had a letter about the dog that was shot and maimed and had to be put down by the owners relative. The person was wondering why nothing more had been said about this incident. On the website, www.petabuse.com, I looked up the case. It seems they have no concrete suspects.

After researching more, I was looking at some of the comments that had been left about this article. Some are saying that the dog had bitten before and was running loose. On the case file, it said that the dog was unleashed or loose. Either way, if the dog was on the owners property, the shooter was in violation of trespass laws. If the dog was loose and not on the owners property, then the law states that the animal control could be called.

But, shooting the dog, if it had not attacked anyone, was definitely wrong. It seems that it is a he said, she said problem right now. Unfortunately, unless it is a case of animal abuse that the Prosecuting Attorney's office deems bad enough, they do not feel it is a "priority." This is so sad. If we, as a society, allow people to just shoot first and then ask questions later, we are on the brink of ruin. Like the letter writer stated, if you can just shoot a dog, on the basis it is too loud, are children next that laugh too loud when playing outside?

Why Does It Take So Long To Prosecute?

Today, a man in Kanawha county was found guilty of animal cruelty for putting razor blades in raw meat and feeding it to his neighbor's dogs. Luckily, the dogs survived. One had to have surgery, though. I am disturbed that this happened in '05, and he is just now being sentenced. His sentencing is in the first week of April. I am hoping that the judge will give him the maximum sentence, which is 3 yrs. In January of '07, a horrific abuse and cruelty case happened in Lincoln county, WV. Shawnita Cooper was arrested for some of the worst abuse and cruelty I have ever seen. Actually, she turned herself in. (That does not make her any better, as far as I am concerned) I have a post on this blog about it. As of the last time I spoke with the owner of Timbral Pet Services in Barboursville, WV, the case was still pending.

It has been continued over and over. Her lawyer is hoping to get it thrown out. Lawyers do this hoping that if enough time passes, witnesses will forget, evidence will disappear, etc...Tim Childers, owner of Timbral, and Cpl. Sally Hatton, of the WV State Police, were the ones that went out on this case. Tim told me it was on of the worst he had seen. Tim has been training dogs for over 25 yrs. and has been involved in rescue for the same amount of time. The police have photos and statements of this abuse. I have seen the pictures, and believe me, it is horrific. Luckily, the dogs that were rescued, went to great homes. The ones that didn't survive, died alone, cold and starving. The ones that did live, were living off the carcasses of the dead. Also, this woman had some horses. I believe one or two had to be put down.

Tim told me she has dogs tied up outside of her trailer now, but they are in her boyfriend's name. By doing this, she won't get in more trouble. And, evidently, she was operating a grooming shop out of her trailer, too. I was shocked when Tim told me that the day they were there, a man actually pulled up with his dog to be groomed. Cpt. Hatton told him to get in his car and leave, which he did. He (Tim) said that the inside of the house was horrid. Evidently she didn't clean up the hair where she groomed dogs. Tim said it was so deep that if he hadn't heard puppies crying, he never would have found a female Dachshund with pups.

But, as I said, the dogs that were lucky enough to survive, are all well. They found a Doberman that weighed only 40 pounds. This is 20 plus pounds underweight. If you want to check out abuse cases, go to http://www.petabuse.com/ and click on abuse cases database. They have a clickable map. Click on WV and it will give you all the cases in WV.

What A Felony Anti-Cruelty Law Should Do.

Apply to all animals.
Apply to first-time offenders.
Have large fines and lengthy prison time as penalties.
Have no exemptions.
Allow or require convicted abusers to get counseling at their own expense.
Prohibit abusers from possessing animals or living where animals are present.
Additionally, statutes should be combined with a strong commitment to enforce the law. Police, psychologists and even the FBI recognize the link between animal cruelty and acts of violence toward people. To better protect communities, all states should have strong penalties and should work to educate and increase community awareness of the significance of animal cruelty crimes. Every state has a law against animal cruelty. But what's surprising is the degree to which the states differ in their prohibition of cruelty. While some states have strong felony-level penalties, others still categorize egregious acts of intentional cruelty, such as setting an animal on fire or maliciously beating an animal, as misdemeanors or felonies with relatively weak penalties. As of June 2007, 43 states have enacted felony-level penalties for certain acts of animal cruelty, 29 of them in the last ten years. Some states have relatively effective laws that do not contain felony-level penalties, and not all states with felony-level provisions have otherwise strong laws. While the majority of states cover all animals, several restrict felony-level penalties to crimes against zoo or companion animals.