Action Alert: Demand Justice for Cat Beaten to Death by City Employees

Location: Springfield, MO (US)
This action alert expires on Dec 20, 2006!

Two employees of Springfield, Missouri's City Utilities (CU) agency apparently recently found a cat trapped in a garbage receptacle at one of their employer's service centers. By the time they left the scene, the cat had been stoned to death and left in the dumpster, buried under a trash bag. The animal's skull was crushed in the attack, according to news sources.

It appears that neither of the suspects has been held legally accountable for their alleged attack. Please help us change that.

On November 27, CU announced that the accused had been suspended from work and ordered to perform animal-welfare related community service; one was demoted and the other denied any chance of promotion for a year. A CU spokesperson apparently deemed the matter a mere "personnel situation."

This is clearly a criminal situation. Their alleged act merits each suspect being charged with the Class A misdemeanor offense of animal abuse, given that Missouri Revised Statutes Section 578.012.1 stipulates that one is guilty of that offense "when a person: (1) Intentionally or purposely kills an animal" and given that Section 578.005(3) defines animal as "every living vertebrate except a human being."

When the Springfield Animal Control department was contacted regarding criminal charges, the agency knew of no criminal investigation into the suspects' actions or related pending criminal charges against them.

Please respectfully remind the officials below that those who abuse animals rarely do so only once and almost never stop there. Politely explain that the safety of Greene County and its animals may well be at stake, and that their employer's workplace penalties can in no way replace the penalties state law reserves for these suspects if they are convicted of crime they are accused of.

Ask that each of these offices take all necessary action - including criminal prosecution - to ensure that this defenseless cat was the workers' last victim.

Update: E-fax disabled on Dec 5, 2006. It appears as though they have unplugged their fax machine. Please consider taking the time to send a letter via e-mail or postal mail.

For more information on this case, click here.

Contacts

The Honorable Darrell L. Moore
Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Greene County
1010 Boonville Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802
417-868-4061
417-868-4160 (fax)
Email: [email protected]

CC: Ron Boyer, Supervisor
Springfield Animal Control Program
4002 North Farmer
Springfield, MO 65802
417-833-3592

CC: Chief Lynn Rowe
Springfield Police Department
321 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, MO 65802
417-864-1810
417-864-1713 (fax)
Email: [email protected]

Wait! Remember to...

• Begin your letter by briefly explaining who you are and where you are writing from
• Include a brief summary of the crime or issue you're writing about
• You don't need to write a book! Keep it short, but make sure you present your position clearly
• Please be polite but firm. - impolite or irrational letters will only hurt our cause.
• Proof-read and spellcheck your letter.
• Include your real name and mailing address. A random selection of names may be contacted to verify signatures. (Hence, if names/addresses cannot be contacted, they will only hurt our cause.)
• For more great tips on writing letters, visit Tips for Effective Letter Writing
• If you wish to copy and paste portions of this page for use in your letter, PLEASE be sure to add your own original thoughts. Hundreds of the same letter will lessen the impact!