Owner found not guilty. We demand justice for Max, the German Shepherd who was tortured to death
- by: Cindy Zimmermann
- recipient: Cheektowaga, New York Mayor, IFAW, PETA, SPCA, www.tocny.org/Officials/SupervisorMaryFHoltz.aspx, jrogowski@tocny.org, jkaminski@tocny.org, awozniak@tocny.org, DBenczkowski@tocny.org, TMeyers@tocny.org, www.tocny.org, ppiotrowski@tocny.org
Max, the senior German Shepherd was beaten and then shot by his owner and died a slow and agonizing death. The jury ruled his owner was found NOT QUILTY for killing his dog! We the undersigned demand Michael Tortorici not to be allowed to be in possession of any animals for the rest of his life, but we believe the law states 3 years. If possible, he SHOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF OWNING ANOTHER ANIMAL! Please read the following: According to Monday's publication of Buffalo News, a jury has found a Cheektowaga, New York, man who beat and shot his German shepherd, not guilty of aggravated animal cruelty
Michael Tortorici, 58, was arrested after the November 3, 2013 incident which claimed the life of his senior German shepherd named "Max." Tortorici is said to have kicked, punched and beat the dog with a two-by-four piece of lumber before shooting him in the stomach with a shotgun.
The Erie County jury heard from Tortorici's defense attorney, who argued that the dog had behaved in a threatening manner, before determining that the accused man was not guilty.
A necropsy on Max's body revealed that the dog had sustained severe head wounds from the beating, including a broken eye socket; the gunshot wound to Max's stomach did not immediately kill him and an SPCA investigator determined that the dog suffered before dying.
Petition letter:
Max, the 10 year old senior German Shepherd, was beaten, tortured and then shot. Max did not die right a way as he layed suffering before he died. We the undersigned demand Michael Tortorici not to be allowed to be in possession of any animals for 3 years.
Tortorici, 58, was charged with beating the 10-year-old dog, named Max, with a wooden stool and a two-by-four before taking him into the basement and shooting him with a shotgun.
The prosecution said he had several opportunities to call authorities to come and remove the dog when it was no longer a threat to him instead of shooting it in the abdomen, subjecting the animal to excruciating pain and death.
Prosecutors said Tortorici’s grandson was in the bedroom with Max when the defendant told the dog to leave. The dog started barking, and Tortorici waved his arm at the dog and the dog bit Tortorici’s arm.
Tortorici beat the dog until the animal let go, prosecutors said. He then hit Max with a bar stool but let go when the dog resisted. He next grabbed a two-by-four and hit the dog with that, but Max refused to leave.
The dog eventually left, following the grandson, who walked out of the room, prosecutors said.
After his daughter-in-law picked up the boy and Tortorici refused his wife’s suggestion he get medical treatment, Tortorici looked for ammunition for his shotgun, loaded it and dragged the dog back into the home from outside, prosecutors said.
He took Max to the basement where prosecutors said he shot it in an alcohol-fueled rage.
His wife then called her son, who was stopped by Officer LaBelle as he rushed to the home. After the son told LaBelle what had happened, the officer followed him to the home where he found the dead animal and questioned Tortorici, who was later arrested.
Max, the 10 year old senior German Shepherd, was beaten, tortured and then shot. Max did not die right a way as he layed suffering before he died. We the undersigned demand Michael Tortorici not to be allowed to be in possession of any animals for THE REST OF HIS LIFE, as he does not deserve to ever have another animal, however if the law states 3 years, then please enforce it.
Tortorici, 58, was charged with beating the 10-year-old dog, named Max, with a wooden stool and a two-by-four before taking him into the basement and shooting him with a shotgun.
The prosecution said he had several opportunities to call authorities to come and remove the dog when it was no longer a threat to him instead of shooting it in the abdomen, subjecting the animal to excruciating pain and death.
Prosecutors said Tortorici’s grandson was in the bedroom with Max when the defendant told the dog to leave. The dog started barking, and Tortorici waved his arm at the dog and the dog bit Tortorici’s arm.
Tortorici beat the dog until the animal let go, prosecutors said. He then hit Max with a bar stool but let go when the dog resisted. He next grabbed a two-by-four and hit the dog with that, but Max refused to leave.
The dog eventually left, following the grandson, who walked out of the room, prosecutors said.
After his daughter-in-law picked up the boy and Tortorici refused his wife’s suggestion he get medical treatment, Tortorici looked for ammunition for his shotgun, loaded it and dragged the dog back into the home from outside, prosecutors said.
He took Max to the basement where prosecutors said he shot it in an alcohol-fueled rage.
His wife then called her son, who was stopped by Officer LaBelle as he rushed to the home. After the son told LaBelle what had happened, the officer followed him to the home where he found the dead animal and questioned Tortorici, who was later arrested.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.