In November 2003, veteran Valley, Alabama, law enforcement officers reportedly made what they called one of the most gruesome discoveries of their careers—11 dead dogs and 11 severely neglected survivors amid piles of trash on Jerome Shockley's property.
The survivors were apparently locked inside 1-square-foot "dog boxes" and deprived of food and water. Thankfully, all were rescued; some had to be euthanized in light of their condition.
Officials presented 11 felony cruelty-to-animals charges to a grand jury, which in turn indicted Shockley on that number of misdemeanor charges. On March 7, Shockley owned up to a fraction of his apparent utter disregard for 22 animals, pleading guilty to a single count of cruelty to animals before Judge Tom Young.
As a result, Shockley faced six months in prison. But he apparently won't spend a day behind bars. Instead, Judge Young suspended the jail term and fined the animal abuser $837—about $38 for each dog he was accused of killing or severely neglecting.
And yes, you guessed it: Shockley is free to go out and acquire as many dogs and other animals as he pleases.
Please sign this Petition letting The Honorable Tom F. Young Jr. and other Alabama Officials and Representitives know that Animal Cruelty is a serious crime and Laws are needed to enforce penalties such as meaningful periods of incarceration, psychiatric intervention, and bans on abusers' ownership of animals.
