UPDATE ON RABBIT CRUELTY CASE-HELP NEEDED!

PETA.org ^ | 3/25/03 | Martin Mersereau

[libertylass]

Martin Mersereau, Senior Caseworker Domestic Animal Issues & Abuse Dept. Tel: 757-622-7382, ext. 1506 Fax: 757-628-0796 please visit http://helpinganimals.com/

From: Martin Mersereau [mailto:MartinM@peta.org] Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 11:00 AM Subject: Regarding Long Island rabbit cruelty case

Dear All,

Please forgive the impersonal reply, but all the emails I've received regarding this case precludes me from answering everyone individually. We're on top of this case, and are simply appalled. This family really shakes our faith in humanity. What a pack of vile devils! To make matters worse, as you probably know, NY's felony cruelty to animals provision will not apply here. In order for a felony cruelty to animals charge to apply, the victim must be a companion animal! Since the rabbits were kept as a food source, they cannot be defined as "companion animals."

However, we can still urge the prosecutor's office to charge the Loversos with felonies for animal fighting. As specified by Article 26 of New York's Agriculture and Markets laws (§ 351), it is a felony to "[cause] any animal to engage in animal fighting ... [f]or amusement," and to permit [such activity] ... to occur on premises under [one's] control." The Loversos reportedly did both.

The more letters the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office receives, the more likely they will either a) file these additional charges or b) submit the case before the Grand Jury for felony animal fighting indictments.

Attached is our letter to that office. Please forward this email widely and feel free to plagiarize the letter if necessary.

The Honorable Thomas Spota Suffolk County District Attorney Suffolk County District Attorney's Office Building #77 N County Complex Hauppauge, NY 11787 Fax: 631-853-5117 Copies of all letters should be sent to the assistant prosecutor assigned to this case: Jeff Langlan, Assistant District Attorney Suffolk County District Attorney's Office 400 Carleton Ave. Central Islip, NY 11722 Fax: 631-853-5844 Thank you for your concern and for your willingness to act! Sincerely, Martin Mersereau, Senior Caseworker

[libertylass]

As you may have read previously, the seriousness of the cruelty inflicted on seven rabbits by the father and son team in this family is especially horrific. I don't always like PETA's tactics, but this time they are needed to push for felony abuse charges against these animals.

If you are not interested in animal cruelty then please look to other posts, I don't care to hear animal cruelty jokes or justifications.

For those serious about convicting cruel people of these types of actions, then I ask that you send a letter to the above people.

Thanks much.....a rabbit owner and lover.

[knarf]

Before I'd click on a PETA link, I'd want you to lay out this 'crime'.

Briefly, it sounds like someone is raising rabbits for food and I ask ... what's wrong with that?

[LisaAnne]

http://www.humanesocietyny.org/legislation.shtml

[HiTech RedNeck]

So they got the rabbits to fight. How do rabbits fight? Kick and paw each other? Is this worth the fuss?

[stanz]

Count me in.

[LisaAnne]

ACTION ALERT
Animal Cruelty

Another horrific case of animal cruelty is before the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. This case involves a father and son who allegedly tortured their rabbits by purposely encouraging their dog to attack the rabbits, by kicking the rabbits, "karate chopping" the rabbits with their hands, and skinning a rabbit who was still alive.

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charged the two men, Matteo and Rosario Loverso, with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor. Because the rabbits were allegedly raised for food, they are not included within the scope of New York's "Buster Law" which makes acts of extreme cruelty to animals a felony.

However, it is important to note that New York's animal fighting law (section 351 of the Agriculture and Markets Law) states that persons engaged in animal fighting are guilty of a felony. Given that the dog was encouraged to attack the rabbits (It's on tape!), we are suggesting to the Suffolk County SPCA and the Suffolk County D.A.'s office to add the felony animal fighting charge.

[mr.pink]

I think they skinned them alive.

[mc10]

being a country boy...let me say that i too resent the needless waste of rabbits...i have enjoyed eating them since i was born and to waste one that i might enjoy eating is terrible

[Khepera]

Sounds like a good way to train a dog to hunt rabbits.

[hchutch]

This is pretty ugly.

FYI ping to Poohbah.

[Servant of the Nine]

Sounds like a good way to train a dog to hunt rabbits.

You obviously know nothing about training hunting dogs.
This is a certain way of ruining a dog for hunting.

So9

[Servant of the Nine]

being a country boy...let me say that i too resent the needless waste of rabbits...i have enjoyed eating them since i was born and to waste one that i might enjoy eating is terrible

Me too, but I want them killed quick so the adrenaline doesn't sour the taste.

So9

[L,TOWM]

Actually it is a lot worse than a typical animal fight. Yes they kick and scratch each other--the "loser" often has the Lupine "Shock" reaction and dies. It is a pitiful sight to see a creature literally die of fright. The sounds made by a shocked rabbit dying are some of the most horrible I have ever heard.

If the rabbits do enough damage to each other by being confined, both can easily die. Also, a rabbit is no match for a dog.

[dead]

Depends on the rabbit and the dog. I know some chihuahuas who wouldn't stand a chance.

[L,TOWM]

LOL, yeah, I've seen a couple of those also...

Especially if the rabbit in question is the (now extinct) Medievil British Carnivorous Rabbit.

Run Away! Run Away!

[WaveThatFlag]

Also, a rabbit is no match for a dog.

Unless the Rabbit his clearly marked the "rope limit" line. In which case, the dog is liable to get his tongue painted green.

[Uncle Miltie]

Torture is unnecessary when a quick bullet or knife will do the job.

In addition, the stress of the animal will cause chemical reactions that degrade the meat.

Tasty rabbits are killed and eaten swiftly, preferrably with a .223 and a nice Oregon Pinot Noir respectively.

[From The Deer Stand]

When I saw in the headline "Update on rabbit cruelty case" I though the old case resurfaced when Jimmy Carter beat the heck out of rabbit with a boat oar while he was fishing. If you're old enough you'll remember that the ex-prez, who nowadays spends his time trashing President Bush, thought the rabbit was going to "attack" him.

[mr.pink]

Torture is unnecessary when a quick bullet or knife will do the job.

Exactly.

Tasty rabbits are killed and eaten swiftly, preferrably with a .223 and a nice Oregon Pinot Noir respectively.

They sure are.

When I was a young teen, my grandfather told me and my brothers how "in the old country", bringing someone a gift of rabbits was considered a tribute. When we got home we immediately "did the right thing".

Grandma cooked them up nicely, Grandpa grinned from ear to ear.

[45Auto]

Sounds like these rabbits need to be prepared.