Posted on 03/18/2005 10:14:09 AM PST by Theodore R.
Pit bull starved to death; PETA gets involved
Jana Ryan Press-Herald Staff
SPRINGHILL, LA, – The case of a Springhill woman, accused of allowing her pit bulldog to starve to death while chained to its dog house, was passed Wednesday to April 6.
Felicia Cheatham, 27, 505 Fourth Street, was arrested Feb. 8, 2005 by Springhill Sgt. Rick Stewart and charged with cruelty to animals. She is currently out on bond.
Cruelty Case Worker Kristin DeJournett of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organization, issued a letter March 15 to Springhill Prosecuting Attorney Charles Jacobs. In the letter, DeJournett urges Jacobs to "vigorously prosecute" Cheatham.
In addition, DeJournett, speaking on behalf of PETA, voices her support of jail time and psychiatric intervention if Cheatham is convicted of the crime.
"As you may already know, mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider the blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering evidenced by all forms of cruelty to be a red flag," said the letter addressed to Jacobs. "In fact, the American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior, not the species of the victim, that matters.
"We ask that, upon conviction and in addition to a period of incarceration, Felicia Cheatham be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling and anger-management classes at her own expense - the safety of the community may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, we implore you to take every measure necessary to ensure that Cheatham be barred from all contact with animals and to immediately seize any animal or animals who remain in her charge."
Attempts Thursday by the Press-Herald to contact Jacobs for comment were unsuccessful.
DeJournett responded to Cheatham's arrest by saying, "People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to the people and animals with whom they come into contact. We hope Cheatham will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Cheatham's case was passed to April 6, as a witness in the case was not available to appear in court Wednesday. Cheatham is being represented by the Indigent Defender Board.
I'm sorry,but this woman did something cruel and should be punished.
Liberals love animals and hate people.
PING
Obviously, the pit-bull was deprived of toddlers and old ladies to eat...
It's a dog.
my first thought ... has PETA signed onto the Schiavo case ?
I'm no fan of PETA, but at least here they are doing something worthwhile for once, to wit, calling for punishment for someone who committed actual cruelty, as opposed to simply eating meat.
I think that this rare display of common sense deserves praise and encouragement.
As for your specious comparison to Terry Schiavo, I would respectfully submit that there is enough wrongdoing in this world that we can all focus on different aspects of it without attacking each other.
Speaking out against one act of evil does not mean someone is wrong for not speaking out against another act of evil too.
And that makes starving it to death OK?
Or are you saying that the fact that some very evil and/or misguided people are trying to starve a human makes it OK to starve an animal?
DeJournett responded to Cheatham's arrest by saying, "People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to the people and animals with whom they come into contact. We hope Cheatham will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Can anyone say Terri Schaivo? It's cruel to withhold food and water from a dog, but it's ok with human beings?
I guess I was sick the day we decided that two wrongs actually DO make a right.
Yep, a dog. Boy, nothing gets by you, does it?
Thats the problem.
They do so many stupid and dumb things, that when they do something right, no one supports them, and the knee jerk reaction is to oppose them.
I knew somone who actually worked for PETA, the best way to describe them, is folks who would rather get attention then get results.
Its one thing to be an extremist, its another to be an idiot extremist. That organization could implement alot more of its agenda if it had the common sense god gave a screwdriver, but thank the good lord, they don't.
I have a dog,I love dogs,I would never starve an animal to death.
If I can't afford to feed it I give it to someone who can.
"People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to the people and animals with whom they come into contact. We hope Cheatham will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Brings to mind something said by one of PETA's cofounders
“Arson, property destruction, burglary, and theft are ‘acceptable crimes’ when used for the animal cause,” says Alex Pacheco, co-founder and former chairman of PETA.
And somehow arson, property destruction, burglary, and theft does not "pose a serious risk" when done by them.
When PETA is involved I become suspicious of the facts of the case.
Was the dog mentally disabled? I guess it would be okay then.
...(low grr-o-w-w-w-wl), not funny! Besides everybody knows we pitbulls prefer perky Pennsylvanians and tasty llamas to tots and seniors!
The thing I find most interesting about this is that, as an organization, PETA wants to eliminate the Bully breed.
I am a (conservative) animal lover and it is a simple solution. Chain that (POS) woman up and starve her. All life has meaning and cruelty should receive just punishment for who ever is involved. Liberals have no regard for life unless it fits their agenda. I am not a fan of PETA ,but agree cruelty should never be rewarded. NSNR.
Then I realized that I was wrong and it ruined the whole article.
On a more serious note. The woman should get the same exact penalty as if she had let her car rust to pieces. None whatsoever. The dog was her property to do with as she pleased. She caused no injury to any other person
Actually, I'd let you, (or anyone else) eat the llama.
He's eeeevilllll....
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