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]

I'm not asking anyone to contact PETA, get involved with PETA, or support PETA. I'm asking folks to send a letter to those that are in control of the outcome!! I am not a PETA spokeswoman, a PETA activist or anything else. Just either send a letter or don't.

[libertylass]

Thanks to all of you that have some decency here. A few have gotten off on some kind of PETA tangent that is really off the mark.

[MississippiMan]

Most welcome, PAC. I'm involved in an ongoing battle to help the unfortunate animals in my own area, and I never cease to be amazed at the things people can do, and at the apathy so many show toward it.

Another weird thing is how many people assume that because we fight to help animals, we're automatically wacko extremists, when nothing could be more untrue. I love a good steak. Although I don't hunt anymore myself, I have zero problem with hunting. And I think PETA is a gang of psychos.

I also understand what you mean: hard not to push some things to the back burner when our fellow citizens are fighting and dying on our behalf.

MM

[FreePaul]

Is this something that you witnessed or are you relating something told to you? Before I got upset about this I'd have to have a lot more information than I've seen here. Maybe the District Attorney's office feels the same way.

[libertylass]

Hi FreePaul: There has been articles about this case in the news. I will try to find it for you and forward it on.

[libertylass]

Here is the url to the original e-mail that I had received from a woman who had started a petition. The petition was to force the maximum sentence for this father and son abusers.

There is a link to an article about the case also.

http://www.petitiononline.com/hare1213/petition.html

[sport]

mark for later reading

[libertylass]

Here is one of the articles from Newsday:


Newsday, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003 (page A33)

Father and Son Charged With Animal Cruelty
By Samuel Bruchey

It was supposed to be a souvenir home video of a family celebration, titled "Our Vacation," filmed by the Loversos of Bay Shore when relatives were in town from Italy.

But some of the images captured as the family prepared a meal -- rabbits beaten, skinned alive, even attacked by a pet dog -- led to the arrest of Matteo Loverso, 49, and his son, Rosario, 23, officials from the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said.

"It was enough to turn the stomachs of some very seasoned detectives," said Roy Gross, chief of the SPCA. "These were some very graphic images."

Police learned about the alleged abuse after receiving a copy of the videotape last month. Neither the father nor son, nor their relatives, could be reached to comment yesterday.

Investigators believe the video was shot last month. It showed a large gathering of relatives laughing and enjoying themselves inside the Loverso home at 115 Connecticut Ave., as the rabbits were being prepared to be cooked, Gross said.

One after another, live large brown rabbits were pulled from boxes by the father and son, Gross said. Some of the rabbits were held by their hind legs and given karate chops by the Loversos. "It was as if one was showing the other how to do it," Gross said.

One rabbit, which presumably had been knocked unconscious, was held upside down and skinned. While it was skinned, the rabbit regained consciousness, Gross said. "Instead of killing it, they continued skinning it while the rabbit is screaming in pain," Gross said.

Another rabbit was dropped on the floor by Rosario, Gross said, and allowed to be attacked by the family's miniature Doberman pinscher, "Cujo." According to Gross, "You could hear people saying 'Go ahead Cujo, go get it.'"

When the rabbit was pulled away from the dog, it had bite marks on its neck. Gross said. It was then held up, while the dog repeatedly jumped to bite it.

Matteo Loverso and Rosario Loverso each were charged with one count of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail.
The district attorney's office is reviewing the videotape. Additional charges are being considered, Gross said.

"There's no law against raising animals and killing them for food," he said. "We are not looking to prosecute anyone for doing that. It was the way this was done. It wasn't humane."

### END OF NEWS ARTICLE ###

Newsday welcomes letters to the editor. They should not exceed 250 words. You must include your full name, address, and day and night phone numbers. Email: letters@newsday.com

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The Loverso home video clearly shows one of the men siccing the family dog -- a miniature pinscher -- on a rabbit and encouraging the dog to attack the rabbit. Section 351 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets law prohibits any person from causing a fight between any animals
for amusement. Any such person who causes any animal to engage in animal fighting is guilty of a FELONY punishable by imprisonment for a period of up to four years, or by a fine of up to 25,000, or by both.

The audio on the Loverso home video clearly indicates other persons (unseen, off-camera) encouraging the family dog to attack a rabbit.
Section 351 (above) prohibits any person from owning, possessing or keeping any animal under circumstances evincing an intent that such animal engage in animal fighting. Such persons are guilty of a MISDEMEANOR punishable by imprisonment for a period of up to one year, or by a fine of up to $15,000, or by both.

We need to bombard the Suffolk County D.A. with
letters...emails...faxes...phone calls, requesting that maximum charges be filed against each individual involved in this horrific case. (Anyone can do so. You do not need to live in the jurisdiction.)

Contact Information:
Thomas J. Spota, District Attorney
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office
Building #77 N County Complex
Hauppauge, NY 11787
Phone: 631-853-4161
Fax: 631-853-5117

If you need more, please ask... I'll be more than glad to help.... also, check out the CBS Channel 2 website....

Lorraine & the fur bumps....

[LouD]

preferrably with a .223

Nahh - takes all the fun out of it. Try a .22 Mag Colt Single Action Army stoked with shotshells. Now that's a challenging hunt. Although, for controlling the bunny population in my suburban back yard, I rely on a Sheridan .20 air rifle.

[ChemistCat]

Excuse me, isn't this what you said? "I don't always like PETA's tactics, but this time they are needed to push for felony abuse charges against these animals."

Sounds like you're pushing PETA to me.

[libertylass]

Listen. I don't always agree with the NRA either, but they have their purposes and can be very strong in their fights. Get off your high-horse and either help or don't. I'm not pushing PETA on you or anybody else. I pushing for people to send a letter or make a phone call. Lose the attitude.

[ChemistCat]

I think you're the one with the attitude. I offered to help. You sure have a funny way of asking for help, assuming that people are going to come in and make fun of this situation. Some FReepers can be jerks but by and large they're better than that, and there's a reason why stores don't frisk everybody.

[From The Deer Stand]

Sorry, don't have a link but I can remember it well as a professional fishing buddy of mine, who had fished with Carter, heard the tale firsthand from him. I do remember reading about it in the press. Will do some research.

[diamond6]

THIS INFURIATES ME. I OWNED RABBITS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AS A KID. SO I FEEL EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS TREATED BADLY.

HOWEVER, WHY DON'T YOU USE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY AND FIGHT FOR THE UNBORN WHO ARE BEING TREATED FAR WORSE THAN THESE ANIMALS.

THIS STUFF JUST DRIVES ME CRAZY!

[From The Deer Stand]

Research done... here's the site:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_019.html

[Poohbah]

Sick, sick, sick.

That kid is eventually going to "graduate" to people.

Several of the kids I grew up with in a nice, middle-class suburban community are now in prison for various violent crimes.

They all started out with maiming and torturing animals.