a question

[peet]

Yesterday I received this e-mail.
The story broke my heart and I signed the petition.
But I hope someone can explain the following to me:
Someone is arrested for this and charged with animal torture. Maximum will be 10 years.
Overhere the judge would decide on how much he would get.
The public can't influence in any way.
How is that different overthere?


Dear Animal Advocate,

We kindly request that you sign our petition to help convict a Dallas, Texas man to the maximum allowable prison sentence of ten years for brutally torturing and killing an innocent puppy called Mercy.

Details of this horrendous crime and a link to the petition are printed below. The petition will be forwarded to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

We would like to get as many signatures as possible from all around the world to convince the authorities to sentence the vicious animal killer to the maximum prison sentence.

Please sign the petition and forward this to everyone you know.

Do it for Mercy.

Thank you!

-------------------------------

Mercy, the name given to the 10 month-old puppy by Operation Kindness volunteers was rescued Friday, April 14 by a Dallas man as she was huddled in a wooded area behind an apartment complex in North Dallas.

Mercy had been badly injured and was bleeding. Her injuries include being kicked and stabbed multiple times and left to die. The vet thinks she also has chemical burns and she may have been dragged behind a car.

Veterinarians later determined Mercy had been doused with gasoline and then lit on fire.

Mercy was given a plasma transfusion, and showed some improvement Saturday, but her condition started to deteriorate Sunday afternoon and her little heart -- weakened by burns to over 60% over her body -- stopped beating.

Mercy died Sunday evening, April 23rd at about 9:30 p.m. at the veterinary clinic where she was being treated.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and is being charged with animal torture for stabbing Mercy, dousing her with gasoline and setting her on fire. Animal torture carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison (as opposed to animal cruelty which only carries a 2 year maximum).

We are hopeful for swift justice and that he will get the maximum ten years. Please sign this petition and forward to others. It will be sent to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SIGN THE PETITION...

www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/536739879?ltl=1146511742

YOU MIGHT ALSO TRY THIS LINK...



www.operationkindness.org/AnimalSponsor/ForMercy.htm

[hounddog]

I can maybe help explain a little bit. The judge here will make the determination on what sentence he gets if convicted. Most crimes have sentencing guidelines that allows the judge to give leniency if this offender shows sorrow and/or is a first time offender. In that case he could give less than the ten years. If he is a repeat criminal and shows no sorrow and there is a lot of citizens petitioning him to show no mercy, then he may decide to give the full ten years.

What a terrible act of cruelty. GRRR

[jettcricket]

Oh....that is so heartbreaking. What motivates a person to be so cruel and heartless? They have be sick...no one in their right mind could do such a thing. Poor little puppy....RIP Mercy - no one will hurt you ever again.

Petition signed.

[patricia]

So sad. What really gets me upset is that a lot of children enjoy and think its funny to torture and kill animals for fun. Again, many grow up to murder their friends, family and strangers. I know alot of children in Baltimore City will set kittens and cats on fire and beat dogs and puppies with sticks and throw stones at them, and cut off their tails, both cats and dogs, it makes me sick, what is wrong with people. What a sad world we live in.

[dad2paisley]

It makes me sad to hear this. #hissyfit#