The petition
We, the undersigned, respectfully request the judgment in favor of the return of 60 dogs to Teresita Hughes as ordered by Judge Myra Scott McNary be overturned. Ms. Hughes callous disregard for the welfare of the animals is evidenced in the video of the seizure and by testimony of Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy Carolyn Wagner that the animals had insufficient air or exercise and their food was tainted with feces. Living in filthy and deplorable conditions, the dogs counted six to eight per cage and were forced to live in rooms with little ventilation where the stench of urine and feces made your eyes tear and your nose burn. Hughes admitted to not allowing the dogs out of their cages for “at least the past four months,” proof they had spent endless days walking only on wire-bottom cages. $100,000 in veterinary fees paid for by public donations to a rescue organization is testimony to the condition of the animals when they were seized.
To return the animals, now vetted courtesy of INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, with required weekly visits by the Humane Society, paid for by OUR TAXES, so that Ms. Hughes can continue to profit from her breeding business is a travesty of justice and a huge slap in the face to all of us who PAY OUR OWN BILLS.
We ask that Ms. Hughes be prosecuted to the full extent of the law in accordance with the following:
FLORIDA ANTI CRUELTY LAW Florida Statute 828.12 et seq.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS is defined as: “Overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner”. This is a 1st Degree Misdemeanor with a fine up to $5000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year. INTENTIONAL ANIMAL CRUELTY is defined as: “commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering.” This is a 3rd Degree Felony with a fine up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years. Intentional Cruelty with “knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injures, mutilates, or kills the animal” carries a minimum fine of $2500 and completion of a psychological or anger management treatment program.
We pray you will “do the right thing” for those who are totally at your mercy.
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