Target: Alan Wilson, Attorney General of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Goal: Pursue maximum applicable charges in this deadly animal-cruelty case and champion stronger statewide penalties, including ownership bans and mandatory counseling, for those who starve, abandon, or torture animals.
A gray-and-white pit bull was discovered inside a trash bag, severely malnourished—“skin and bones,” as described by responders—and later died despite emergency veterinary care and community support. This abandonment and starvation paint a harrowing picture of suffering that no animal should endure. Officials and advocates have publicly urged tougher laws, citing cases that involve intentional disposal of living animals and chronic neglect.
Across the region, animal-welfare groups report that cruelty and neglect are widespread, while current penalties fail to deter repeat offenses. In this case, authorities have requested information leading to an arrest, and a reward has reportedly been raised—yet lasting change requires a stronger legal framework and vigorous prosecution once a suspect is identified. Animals who are starved, beaten, or discarded like refuse cannot speak; the law must speak for them.
To protect vulnerable animals and the communities that care for them, prompt, visible action is needed. That includes seeking the highest charges supported by evidence, pressing for court-ordered psychological evaluation and treatment, imposing long-term or lifetime ownership bans upon conviction, and strengthening state penalties so those who inflict severe suffering face meaningful consequences. This petition urges immediate accountability in this case and lasting reforms that can save lives.
PETITION LETTER:
Attorney General Wilson,
A severely malnourished pit bull was found abandoned in a trash bag and later died despite intensive care. This case, which involves intentional disposal and starvation, has deeply shaken residents and underscored what many describe as persistent gaps in South Carolina’s animal-cruelty penalties.
We respectfully urge your office to support local investigators and, when a suspect is identified, to seek the most serious charges the evidence allows. We also ask you to publicly champion stronger statewide penalties for aggravated cruelty and abandonment—measures that include long-term or lifetime pet-ownership bans upon conviction, mandatory counseling or evaluation, restitution for rescue and veterinary costs, and enhanced sentences for repeat or egregious offenses. Such reforms can help ensure that those who starve, beat, or discard animals face consequences that truly deter future harm.
This brutal case ended with a preventable death. Please help make it a turning point. By prioritizing aggressive prosecution and advocating for tougher laws, your office can honor this dog’s short life and protect countless others from similar suffering.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Elina Volkova
