PETA Wants Juveniles Prosecuted for Allegedly Beating Cat to Death

Youths May Pose Danger to People, Too, Warns Group

Montgomery County, NY (PRWEB) January 25, 2004 --This morning, PETA fired off a letter to Montgomery County District Attorney James E. Conboy, urging him to vigorously prosecute Derek Hazzard, 16, and Allen Florian, 17, both of Montgomery County. The teenagers were arrested last Wednesday and face charges stemming from their alleged attack on a cat. They reportedly beat the animal with broom sticks, a two-by-four, and a sledgehammer before dumping her¯wrapped in a plastic bag¯in a field. News sources state that she later died from her injuries.

PETA warns that criminal-profile studies show that such acts should never be dismissed as "boys being boys," as many who are violent toward animals grow up to commit violent crimes against people. Robert Ressler, founder of the FBIs behavioral sciences unit, has described serial killers and other psychopathic torturers of people as "the kids who never learned its wrong to poke out a puppys eyes."

A 1999 study of suspects charged with cruelty to animals-ranging from severe animal neglect to intentional killing-found that 78 percent of them had also been charged with offenses involving violence, or the threat of violence, toward people.

"Given the strong connection between cruelty to animals and other forms of violence, it is imperative, for everyones sake, that this case be taken seriously," says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Daniel Paden.

PETA is also sending its brand-new anti-violence public service announcement, hosted by actor Dennis Franz, who plays Andy Sipowicz on the hit drama NYPD Blue, to TV stations serving the Montgomery County area.

For more information, please visit http://HelpingAnimals.com.

PETAs letter to District Attorney James E. Conboy is available upon request.