Bring Justice to the killers of Stanley Park's 'Ozzie the Duck'

On November 11, 2011, while most people in the country were celebrating Veteran's Day by honoring our nation's soldiers, past and present, four youths of Westfield, Massachusetts spent their day off from school at Stanley Park killing an animal.

Named by the park's employees 'Ozzie', the Muscovy Duck had flown into the park on his own years before and decided to stay. Stanley Park offers a safe haven for many animals, most notably ducks, swans, and geese. On any bright and beautiful day, you'll find these creatures swimming about and being fed bread by the many visitors that pass through. But on that fateful November Friday, four teenagers decided to corner Ozzie on the beautiful covered bridge so that at least one of them could stomp the animal to its death. A woman jogger witnessed the attack and tried to stop it, but was too late. She was able to provide a description of the youths to police. The town and surrounding areas have all expressed their sadness, anger and desperation for justice; many local businesses and even radio stations have donated/promised money toward rewarding those giving information leading to the arrest of the offenders, and the park received a donation of a memorial stone for Ozzie (photo link: http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/310539_276733192371935_275672092478045_867041_1410089035_n.jpg)

Today, November 15, 2011, it was reported that one of the suspects had been caught and is going to be put through the juvenile court system as he is only fifteen-years old. Whether or not others have been implicated or brought in for questioning is not known, but we, the undersigned, are incensed when it comes to this crime. According to this website, http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter272/Section77, under section 77, regarding animal cruelty, the law states that the offender "...shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or by a fine of not more than $2,500, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

In signing this petition, we are pleading to the Hampden Juvenile Court of Holyoke, Massachusetts to ensure that the youths responsible for Ozzie's murder be put before the laws and are ordered to carry out the sentence which they deserve to serve. There can be no slaps on the wrists, no pittance of community service and nothing more. These four youths took away an iconic feature of our park in the most disgusting, abhorrent way possible. Children who knew the animal have posted their condolences on the inside of the covered bridge where Ozzie was killed. So many citizens are saddened and dismayed, even intruded-upon. Westfield is a town of caring people, many of whom have many life events linked to Stanley Park, from weddings to birthday parties, or just the many days spent watching the animals in peace. We want to send the message out to those considering committing this awful deed that we do not take this crime lightly, and future attacks on the parks' wildlife are rethought when they see the sentences served before to past offenders. What Stanley Park and the people of Westfield need is to have the courts take this matter very seriously and hand down a judgment that will ring clear: hurting, maiming and/or killing an innocent animal in a beloved town park gets you the maximum sentence provided by law.

We understand that the offenders are young, but that's when the most trouble starts: in one's youth. Stamp out this monstrous behavior by giving harsh but reasonable, lawful punishment and counseling to those involved in the killing of our innocent friend, Ozzie.

Sincerly,

The Undersigned