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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."

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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....