Early in August, three young men in Pennsylvania admitted to killing a large turtle by duct-taping two M-80 firecrackers to its shell and lighting the fuses.
Police officers found a small crater with parts of the turtle scattered nearby.
The three turtle killers were charged with criminal conspiracy and prohibited offensive weapons – but not animal cruelty.
Under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, animal cruelty is limited to domesticated or zoo animals. The poor turtle was considered a wild animal, and therefore not protected under the code.
Efforts are currently being made to toughen Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws. In the meantime, the state's Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the turtle killing and may file additional charges.
Please sign and share this position urging the three turtle killers to be charged with animal cruelty.
I am writing to you because I was disturbed about the killing of a turtle with explosive devices.
Thank you for investigating this horrible incident.
Although the turtle was considered a "wild animal," I urge you to file animal cruelty charges against the three men who admitted to killing it in such a heinous way.
