DEMAND STIFF SENTENCES FOR REPEAT ANIMAL ABUSER

Punishement for animal abuse is far too lax, giving the message that it is not so serious and gives way to more and more abuse, even by offenders caught and punished. Also, crime against animals is often part of a larger range of criminal activity.  Please read recent case below.

DEMAND STIFF SENTENCING FOR THE 3 INDIVIDUALS HERE BELOW.

DEMAND STIFF SENTENCING FOR ANIMAL ABUSE IN YOUR COUNTY

A Long Island woman has been sent to jail after admitting to leaving a puppy untreated for several weeks. Prosecutors said her pit bull-mix, Snowball, had suffered a broken leg and that the injury had gone untreated and the fracture healed incorrectly. The injury caused “permanent disfigurement to the animal,” and veterinarians found it necessary to amputate Snowball’s leg, the DA’s office said.

Shawanna Hughes, 37, of Oyster Bay, was sentenced to serve 30 days behind bars and given three years of probation. Nassau County District Court Judge Rhonda Fischer also signed an order that will prohibit Hughes from owning animals for the next five years.

Hughes’ husband, Lee Hughes, was also arrested following the animal cruelty investigation. He pleaded guilty in February and is currently awaiting sentencing.

In addition to this case, Shawanna Hughes also faces a multitude of other criminal charges for unrelated matters, prosecutors said. She has pleaded not guilty to drug sale and drug possession charges after an arrest in January and also has another pending animal cruelty case to which she has pleaded not guilty. In that case, which is being prosecuted by the state attorney general’s office, Hughes, her husband and a veterinary assistant, Reginald Smith, are alleged to have improperly amputated the leg and ears of a pit bull puppy. Both cases are continuing.

Shawanna and Lee Hughes, former owners of the latter pup, are accused of utilizing a veterinary technician friend to cut off the puppy's ears; the cruel procedure is believed to have been completed with scissors.

Following the surgery, the couple is accused of putting socks and rubber bands on the puppy's rear legs to keep her from scratching; the act resulted in damage to the legs due to a lack of circulation.

The veterinary technician, Reginald Smith, 33, is then accused of being paid to cut the pup's leg off.

The three individuals surrendered to the authorities and all are facing numerous charges, including animal cruelty and conspiracy; the veterinary technician is also facing a charge for practicing veterinary medicine without a license.

Authorities said Hughes will spend an additional eight months at the Nassau County jail after being sentenced for allegedly violating probation. The probation followed a conviction for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, according to the DA’s office. 

NOT ENOUGH!!!