Sign the Petition
Target: Daniel Rubinstein, District Attorney of Mesa County, Colorado
Goal: Prosecute man accused of tying up, punching, and throwing helpless puppy.
When Colorado deputies responded to a call of potential animal abuse in Mesa County, they reported a disturbing sight: a tied-up four-month-old puppy with visible injuries to the legs and stomach. The man living at the residence, Cody Wardell, had been witnessed allegedly throwing the young dog from a porch with force. The eyewitness claimed that Wardell then restrained the pup and struck the animal multiple times. After authorities questioned him, Wardell reportedly admitted to the series of events.
The puppy’s injuries were apparently so severe that emergency surgery was needed to save both the dog’s leg and life. Unfortunately, Wardell was only charged with a misdemeanor. Under state law, most animal cruelty offenses only qualify for this charge on a first offense. A felony aggravated animal cruelty charge is available in the state, but prosecutors did not seek this more stringent punishment.
Sign the petition below to demand the county’s legal leaders take a second look at this troubling oversight.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear DA Rubenstein,
Under state law, a charge of aggravated animal cruelty can be brought if the reported victim was tortured, mutilated, or killed. In the case of Cody Wardell, a case for all three qualifications could be made. The small puppy in the case received life-threatening injuries from an alleged beating. This animal was reportedly restrained and pummeled repeatedly, which a rational person might consider torture. And the puppy’s leg was apparently maimed (or mutilated) to the point where only surgery could save it.
Despite all of these aggravating factors, the suspect only faces a misdemeanor charge. Do better. Reevaluate this case and consider applying charges that truly reflect the grave nature of the alleged offense.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Matheus Bertelli
This disgusting pos monster deserves the same treatment! He doesn’t deserve to be walking free. Throw him in jail for a very long time. He seriously hurt a baby dog!!
Throw this putrid evil fuck of a cliff.
Throw that psychologically disturbed sadistic piece of shit off a high rise so he can never hurt an animal again. This should be destroyed because it is not a human being with any sense of a living being!!!
Absolutely No Tolerance Towards Animal ABUSERS n Cruelty. An eye for an eye fits this crime n should be the punishment. Paws Matter
DO THE SAME WITH THAT MONSTER. NO MERCY.
This is a prime example of what is wrong with the justice systems, law enforcement, people in positions of state and counties they should never be in and especially judges
I will never understand how people can be so cold
Colorado is a stinking state not to have strong animal abuse law. This POS would be in jail here in FL. FLORIDA does not mess around. And we do not have a limp liberal governor like Colorado always has. Our governor won’t tolerate abuse or abandonment of animals. We have immediate jail and $100,000 bond here.
This sick COLORADO POS is typical there. Doing a barbaric crime n courts doing nothing.
Change the laws people that do this are abuser of people also. Needs to be sent to jail.
You DAs that don’t seek the harshest penalties for animal cruelty and abuse are just as guilty as the scumbags who commit heinous crimes against animals!! Animal abuse will continue unless you DAs get tough on these crimes! Animals have no voice and depend on YOU to fight for their justice!! Do better!!!!
i had a 3 lb yorkie that was my baby and i would hunt someone down and make their life a living hell if they hurt my baby like this and i would hopefully do this before the police got there because he or she would be begging for me to call the police, and then if you got off as easy as this sob did i would still make your life a living hell and i am sure there are a lot of people on here that would be right there with me. you are a sob and a fucking COWARD to hurt a poor small animal like this, karma can be a bitch and i hope you get what you deserve … soon