Humane Society of the United States Adds to the Reward for Information in Tennessee Animal Cruelty Case

10/22/2003

From: Jennifer Brown, 630-357-7015 or csro@hsus.org, Karen L. Allanach, 301-548-7778 or kallanach@hsus.org, both of the Humane Society of the United States

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Oct. 22 -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for throwing four dogs off a Tennessee overpass in Berry Hill, Tenn. Monday morning. Two dogs, one of them pregnant, died while the other two are recovering at Metro Animal Control Services in Nashville.

According to news reports, the incident happened on the Interstate 65 north overpass, where someone dropped the dogs, one by one, off the overpass to Franklin Pike below. The survivors, a male German shepherd and a male hound dog are recovering from multiple injuries. Disc jockeys Billy Breeze and Marco in the Morning of Nashville radio station 102.5 FM started a reward fund to catch the perpetrators. Community donations plus The HSUS donation have brought the current total to $6,500.

"Someone put these helpless dogs through tremendous horror and pain," said Phillip R. Snyder, director of The Humane Society of the United States Central States Regional Office, which serves five states including Tennessee. "The apathy and violence involved in carrying out this act is an indicator that this person, if not caught, could continue to be dangerous to animals and likely people as well."

According to news reports, police are looking for a particular woman to speak to, but she has not been named a suspect. The woman is described as 5-foot-2 with long, dark hair who drives silver or gray late 70's or early 80's Lincoln. The car is described as having a luggage carrier on top and front-end damage on the driver's side. It is reported that police said the woman had two or three persons in the car with her who may have been children.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Berry Hill Police at 615- 297-4701. The identity of callers will be protected.

In Tennessee, aggravated cruelty to animals is punishable on first offense as a misdemeanor punishable by no less than six months in jail without the possibility of probation or reduced sentence until six months is served. Also, the court may order psychological counseling, and the convicted offender may have to surrender his/her custody of any owned animals and may be prohibited from owning animals in the future.

In an effort to prevent additional violence toward others in the home, Tennessee law allows for notification of the convicted offender reported to child services and other protective agencies if the convicted offender is the caretaker of children or elderly persons in his or her home.

On second offense, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony offense punishable by no less than nine months in jail. Legislation was introduced in the 2003 state legislative session to strengthen the current animal cruelty law, by making aggravated cruelty a felony the first time an act is committed. Senate bill 374, introduced by Senator Stephen Cohen (D-30) passed the senate. The House version of this bill (H.B. 1474) sponsored by Rep. Rob Briley (D-52), should be brought up for vote in the 2004 session. These bills make acts of such egregious cruelty, as in this case, a felony on first offense. For more on these bills, go to http://www.hsus.org/ace/19048.

The First Strike(r) program, part of The HSUS' Animals In Crisis program, educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence. The HSUS provides resources about the connection and what people can do to combat animal cruelty, such as starting a Neighborhood Watch for Animals. The HSUS also offers rewards in cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. Go on-line to http://www.hsus.org/firststrike for more information.

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork.

The HSUS is headquartered in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices. The HSUS Central States Regional Office serves Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Illinois and Wisconsin. Visit The HSUS on the Web at http://www.hsus.org.