STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY NOW!
- par: Helen Mentzer
Cumberland County, PA Man Charged with Animal Cruelty.
Please sign this petition to urge the government to make the charges against animal cruelty more stiff. A fine and a light sentence is totally unconscionable! John Shafer deliberately starved his own father's dog. Merrick suffered a horrible and painful death. There was absolutely no reason this had to happen! People who cannot commit to providing the best life possible for their pet, simply do not deserve to own a pet. As caretakers of our pets, it is our responsibility to strive to improve their lives every day and treat them with love, respect and kindness. It's a priviledge to have a pet. Please do not let Merrick's hideous death go unnoticed with yet another simple fine. Shafer needs to be punished severely for this crime. Nothing else will be acceptable!
UPDATE! Shafer, 31, of State Road in Silver Spring Twp., was in court on 10/2/06, where he waived his preliminary hearing on two counts of cruelty to animals that stem from the death of his father's 9 year old yellow Labrador Retriever, Merrick. Shafer left District Judge Richard S. Dougherty's office with an application for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, an option for first time offenders in which their records are expunged if they successfully complete the program. So, in other words, he's more likely going to get off with providing community service. Are we surprised? Hell no! These offenders keep getting away with murder and the law lets them get away with it!!! Something has to be done about this. Talk about getting a slap on the wrist!!!
UPDATE! 1/25/07 A recent new article on 1/17/07 stated Shafer pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge on 1/16. The count carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and a $1,000 fine! Shafer is to be sentenced in February. A necropsy showe Merrick succumbed to starvation and dehydration. He had been without food or water for 3 weeks. Also, the tumor Merrick had was BENIGN and he would've survived with veterinary care! Merrick didn't have to die like this - it was such a senseless act! I hope Merrick is haunting Shafer, who I hope will get his dues when he's in prison. Let's pray his 2 years he spends in prison are absolutely full of torture and HELL!
UPDATE! 2/28/07 Man gets 3-23 months for cruelty to animals
Date: February 28, 2007
Page: B03 John L. Shafer said he had no explanation for why he left his 9-year-old yellow Lab, Merrick, to starve to death. Cumberland County Judge Skip Ebert gave Shafer, 31, of Silver Spring Twp., two chances to explain the abandonment yesterday before sentencing him to 3 to 23 months in county prison and fining him $500 on his cruelty to animals conviction. Ebert called the "long and unnecessary cruelty" to the dog unconscionable.
Senior Assistant Public Defender Arla Waller urged Ebert to give Shafer a probation sentence. Shafer must keep working so he can pay child support for his two children, she said. Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Smith called for jail time. Ebert ordered Shafer's admission to the prison work-release program. "I won't penalize his children for what he did to a helpless animal," the judge said.
SO, FOLKS. I GUESS THAT'S THE END OF THE MERRICK SAGA. THE LAST THING I HEARD WAS SHAFER WAS ON WORK DETAIL FOR 3 MOS. SURPRISED? I'M NOT!
MY FRIENDS AND I RAISED $2,500 IN MY OFFICE AND DONATED IT TO CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ANIMAL ALLIANCE -- IN MEMORY OF MERRICK.
A Cumberland County man is accused of starving his dog to death. The owner did not take "Merrick" to the Veterinarian because he didn't have the money. The dog had a tumor on his back the size of a football, which turned out to be benign! The owner kept Merrick in an apt. and completely ignored him for 3 weeks! No food, no water and probably no a/c! The dog was so unrecognizable from his body, the only way to tell it was a lab was from his head. From being so neglected, yellow jackets and flies burrowed tunnels and holes in his flesh! Merrick somehow managed to escape the apartment. A postman found him lying in the yard and called for help. Merrick died one day after being rescued.
Merrick, even though he was suffering so badly, managed to wag his tail when a neighbor tried to give him water. An animal control officer said this was the worse case of animal cruelty in this area she ever saw.
This man needs to serve time and be punished for what he did to Merrick. There are many charges pending against him. His hearing is scheduled for October 2nd. This is an absolute atrocity!
signersignerMerrick, even though he was suffering so badly, managed to wag his tail when a neighbor tried to give him water. An animal control officer said this was the worse case of animal cruelty in this area she ever saw.
This man needs to serve time and be punished for what he did to Merrick. There are many charges pending against him. His hearing is scheduled for October 2nd. This is an absolute atrocity!
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