Dear Friends,
SHARK is beginning a new series of YouTube video interviews with notable Pennsylvania animal cruelty experts asking a simple question: Are Pennsylvania's Infamous Live Pigeon Shoots Legal?
In our first video, we hear from Karel Minor, Executive Director of the Berks County Humane Society. Minor speaks about PA law and explains exactly why pigeon shoots are and always have been illegal.
Watch the video here:
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Are Pennsylvania's Infamous Live Pigeon Shoots Legal?
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Karel also wrote an excellent blog on this issue further clarifying the illegality of live pigeon shoots. While previously SHARK and Karel Minor have disagreed on our respective organization's methods on addressing the illegal pigeons shoots, we always agreed on their illegality per Pennsylvania Humane Law 5511.
As Karel states:"...we are starting to find ourselves on the same side of the messaging and the message. And that should terrify pigeon shooters, their political and law enforcement protectors, and the apologists of archaic displays of cruelty. When Mr. Moderate (me) and Mr. Not-So-Moderate (Steve) shake hands on something, watch out."
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DA Heckler Once Again Denies Legal Representation to Prosecute Cruelty Charges Against Philadelphia Gun Club (PGC)
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After SHARK documented PGC's latest pigeon shoots, Pennsylvania Humane Police Officer Johnna Seeton filed five summary citations of animal cruelty against them. As with the previous charges filed against PGC, Officer Seeton's request to have legal representation to prosecute the case was again denied by District Attorney David Heckler with no explanation for his denial.
In Officer Seeton's 13 years as a Humane Police Officer, she has never been denied the right to have legal representation (at no cost to taxpayers) to prosecute cruelty charges except with Heckler who has twice refused her request. However, the PGC will be allowed an attorney to act on their behalf creating an unjust prosecution situation for Humane Police Officer Seeton. "...in Bensalem Twp., where the PGC is located, pigeon shooting is illegal. In May 2002, the township determined that "live pigeon shoots do, in fact, violate the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Statue . . . as well as Township Ordinance No. 71," and issued a cease and desist order."
Although Pennsylvania legislators, police, and officers of the court may publically say how much they detest animal cruelty, by their failure to prosecute cruelty charges against pigeon shoots, they have shown their cowardice to do what is right.
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Cruelty to Animals Leads to Cruelty to Humans
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The recent story of a porn actor from Canada who allegedly killed someone and mailed their body parts adds to the ever-growing evidence that violence committed against animals leads to violence against people. "An online video showing a man that looks like Magnotta shows him committing violent acts against kittens. The video contains at least one photo made available by Montreal police Wedesday that identified the man as Magnotta. For nearly two years, the name has been notorious among animal-rights activists looking for a man who tortured and killed cats and posted videos of it online." |
Suspected Violent Sex Offender Hanging Out at Ohio Rodeo
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From WHIO TV:
"A man considered to be a violent sexual predator was arrested Monday in Miamisburg.
Joseph Andrew Eckels, 23, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in an apartment at 625 Cherrywood Drive.
U.S. Marshal Bill Taylor said the arrest was made after surveillance was conducted based on a tip from an informant. Information included a tip that Eckels was hanging out at the Yellow Rose bar and Waynesville Rodeo.
He has been wanted since August of 2011 for charges of sex with a juvenile and for desertion from the U.S. Army, a felony 5 charge, officials said."
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Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and Your SHARK Team
"Kindness and compassion towards all living beings is a mark of a civilized society. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are all cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves." - Cesar Chavez, civil rights and labor leader, founder of the United Farm Workers
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