Target: Thomas Bakkedahl, State Attorney of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of St. Lucie County, Florida
Goal: Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the individual charged with six counts of animal cruelty after five dead dogs were allegedly found sealed in bins in front of a residence.
When animal control officers arrived at a residence with police for a welfare check, what they reportedly found outside was among the most disturbing scenes imaginable: five bins lined up in front of the home, each containing a dead dog. Inside the property, investigators allegedly discovered nine cats and two dogs living in conditions consistent with neglect while a third dog in the backyard was suffering from an injury. The accused, a 23-year-old woman, was arrested and charged with six counts of animal cruelty based on the condition of the home and the evidence at the scene. A second individual allegedly attempted to conceal the injured backyard dog from police and was arrested and charged with obstructing the investigation.
Florida’s animal cruelty statutes exist for precisely these circumstances, and the State Attorney’s Office must pursue all six counts with the maximum force of the law. Sign this petition to demand full prosecution and the strongest possible sentencing for those allegedly responsible for this horrifying scene.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney Bakkedahl,
We are writing to urge your office to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the individual charged with six counts of animal cruelty following the discovery of five dead dogs allegedly sealed in bins outside a Fort Pierce residence, with nine cats and three additional live dogs purportedly found inside in conditions suggesting ongoing neglect. According to police, the accused was arrested based on the condition of the home and the evidence at the scene. A second individual was allegedly caught attempting to remove an injured dog from the backyard to conceal it from officers.
We respectfully but firmly demand that your office pursue conviction and the maximum available sentencing on all six counts of animal cruelty. The animals who allegedly perished in those bins had no voice — it is now the justice system’s responsibility to speak for them, and for the survivors who allegedly lived alongside them in neglect.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Anna Oates
