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WILD ANIMAL SET ON FIRE
We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:
Target: Kevin Miller, Honorable, Prosecuter, City of Hawkley
Sponsor: Noreen Dickson, PETS ARE US RESCUE
Please ensure that the 3 people whom set a wild animal (turtle) on fire repeatedly get the maximum sentencing if not more. The video in it self shows their lack of feeling for this poor defenseless animal, as they laugh gleefully each time they light it on fire.
1. Incarcerate the defendants for 90 days, the maximum period allowed by law.
2. Order them to undergo psychiatric evaluations and subsequent counseling.
3. Bar them from all future contact with animals in Minnesota, as is allowed by state law.
4. If the turtle is still alive make them pay for the medical care and all expenses incurred. A video of a turtle being burned alive that was posted on the Internet has led to a criminal investigation of three people from Hawley, Minn.
The city attorney has charged an 18-year-old with misdemeanor animal cruelty and the Clay County attorney is considering charges against two juveniles. Clay County Attorney Ken Kohler says there was a major outcry when people saw the video of someone pouring gasoline on the turtle and igniting it. He says the incident came to prosecutors' attention because of the video, and he says the U.S. Humane Society played a part in the investigation. Kohler says it's not clear when the turtle was burned. Stopping the Cycle of Abuse Schools, parents, communities, and courts that shrug off cruelty to animals as a “minor” crime are ignoring a time bomb. Instead, courts should aggressively penalize animal abusers, examine families for other signs of violence, and order perpetrators to undergo psychological evaluations and counseling. Communities must recognize that abuse to any living individual is unacceptable and endangers everyone.
In March 2006, Maine Governor John Baldacci signed a law—the first of its kind in the United States—that permits judges to include animal companions in court-issued protection orders against domestic abusers. Those who harm animals in violation of a court order can face fines and jail time.(20)
and take action at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/635254072
Hi Friends,
I have just read and signed the petition: "WILD ANIMAL SET ON FIRE"
Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. Please sign here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/635254072
Thanks!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/635254072
Teenager gets jail for turtle burning
By Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Tuesday, September 19, 2006
· advertisement ·
A Hawley, Minn., teen will spend time in jail for his role in burning a snapping turtle.
Joel Charles Ross, 18, was sentenced Monday in Clay County District Court to a combination of up to 10 days in jail, community service and fines.
He pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty for an incident that captured the attention of online viewers and animal rights activists around the world.
In late May, Ross and two juveniles videotaped themselves dousing a snapping turtle with gasoline and lighting it on fire twice.
They were discovered after someone sent Hawley police an e-mail with a link to the video.
RELATED CONTENT
Ross family letter: Slander from turtle cult reveals strange theology
Talk: Was it fair for a teenager to get jail time for burning a turtle?
WDAY: Jail time in animal cruelty case
“This was something that just got way out of control, said Dennis Fisher, Ross’s attorney.
Fisher asked Judge Michael Kirk to impose fines and community service but not jail time, saying Ross and his family had suffered enough.
Ross told Kirk he feels bad for his actions and knows they were wrong. He said his family has been affected, including a brother serving in Iraq.
“He’s upset and probably thinks a lot less of me right now,” Ross said.
Ross said he had planned to sign up for the National Guard to do military police work. “Now I can’t, because of this,” he said.
Kirk said he wanted to see more empathy from Ross toward the animal. He sentenced Kirk to 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended for two years and a $1,000 fine with $500 suspended for two years.
Ross is to serve five days in jail next month during a break from high school. If he completes 50 hours of community service by Dec. 15, he won’t have to serve the remaining five days over the holiday break.
He may also do community service to reduce $400 from his fine.
Ross was also sentenced to six months of supervised probation and ordered to take part in a restorative justice program.
Hawley city prosecutor Kevin Miller said he was comfortable with the sentence.
“It wasn’t too much different than what we had asked for,” Miller said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Andrea Domaskin at (701) 241-5556
RELATED CONTENT | |
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Ross family letter: Slander from turtle cult reveals strange theology |
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Talk: Was it fair for a teenager to get jail time for burning a turtle? |
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WDAY: Jail time in animal cruelty case |
I have just read and signed the petition: "STOP THE SALE OF ILLEGAL BABY TURTLES"
Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We are trying to reach 0 signatures - please sign here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/751034705
Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and family to sign as well.
Thank you!
Noreen
http://www.thePetitionSite.com
[
send green star] Very important information regarding the sale of turtles. This is a very important law since many people will go out and remove the baby water turtles from the wild. They are going around the law by giving you the turtle and selling the set up
http://www.tortoise.org/general/4inch.html
In an attempt to curtail the incidence of turtle-associated Salmonella infection in children, federal regulations restricting the sale of turtles and their eggs became law in 1975. There is strong evidence that these regulations were effective in reducing the incidence of Salmonella in the US in the late 1970's. Unfortunately, although the regulations were meant as public health measures they have had impacts on both turtle keeping and on turtle conservation. The regulations limit the ability of hobbyists to buy and sell hatchlings, and, because of the expense of raising the animals, they promote the sale of wild-caught rather than captive-bred animals in commercial trade within the US.
The turtle farms that used to produce the millions of hatchling sliders for the dime-store trade now ship their hatchlings overseas (the regulations exclude the export trade) where most of them die within a couple of months. Unfortunately, released survivors of this trade have lead to red-eared slider populations becoming established on every continent except for Antarctica. These feral turtles have displaced the native species in some areas.
Whatever the merits of the regulations, the law is the law, and we have to respect this. Over the last year I have been contacted several times with regard to the legality of sales of undersized turtles. In these dealings it became obvious to me that although there are widespread misconceptions about them, few people seem to have actually read the regulations. For example:
Contrary to popular belief, although they may have been inspired by consequences of the trade in hatchling red-eared sliders, the regulations cover all chelonians with a carapace less than 4 inches in length. This includes tortoises and box turtles, not just water turtles. The only exceptions are the sea turtles. These are covered by different laws. In keeping with their public health orientation, the regulations basically cover the mass marketing of turtles to the general public. Because the regulations specifically exclude sales not in connection with a business, most private party sales of surplus stock by hobbyists are unaffected by this law.
The complete regulations are reprinted below from:
21 CFR Ch. 1 (4-1-91 Edition) pages 550-552.
