Lucy - Unfairly executed December 20, 2007
Guénady
December 25, 2007
As we gather together to celebrate the love and joy of Christmas, in a family in Sunnyvale, California, a child is crying... And there is no solution to this child's pain, nothing to make it go away, no explanation that will make sense-- not even for many, many adults, let alone for a child...
The tragedy for him, and in a real sense for all of us who believe we live in a civilized, democratic society, began on July 30, when the family dog, Lucy, managed to escape the family garden and went on walkabout. She was aggressed by another, much smaller dog, and in defending herself, unfortunately the other dog died.
To this first tragedy was then added a second. The chief of police in Sunnyvale ordered Lucy to be euthanized. He did this despite the fact that other options were available, notably supplemental insurance and muzzling in public, or banishment from the city limits. And despite a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and pleas for a more reasonable response, the Sunnyvale courts, the city council, the mayor, and even the governor of California all refused to intervene and spare Lucy's life.
Why? Was it because Lucy was one of a breed that has been much (wrongly) maligned? Although Lucy was a pittbull, animal behaviorists, including the official one who reported to the court, testified that Lucy was a well-adjusted, affectionate dog. Was it because Lucy was defended not only by concerned citizens in Sunnyvale, but also by 'animal rights people' held in low esteem by the powers that be, who appear to have been determined that Lucy should pay the highest price for the crime of defending herself, however many calls for a more reasonable response to a first offense, with one of the less harsh punishments open to municipal authorities.
Lucy had no history of aggression. She was a loving dog to her family, including to the small child who cries, hopelessly, today.
Who can explain to this child why he has to cry? Why Lucy had to die?
There is something wrong here, and that makes it impossible to forget Lucy.
http://www.freewebs.com/freelucy/
The tragedy for him, and in a real sense for all of us who believe we live in a civilized, democratic society, began on July 30, when the family dog, Lucy, managed to escape the family garden and went on walkabout. She was aggressed by another, much smaller dog, and in defending herself, unfortunately the other dog died.
To this first tragedy was then added a second. The chief of police in Sunnyvale ordered Lucy to be euthanized. He did this despite the fact that other options were available, notably supplemental insurance and muzzling in public, or banishment from the city limits. And despite a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and pleas for a more reasonable response, the Sunnyvale courts, the city council, the mayor, and even the governor of California all refused to intervene and spare Lucy's life.
Why? Was it because Lucy was one of a breed that has been much (wrongly) maligned? Although Lucy was a pittbull, animal behaviorists, including the official one who reported to the court, testified that Lucy was a well-adjusted, affectionate dog. Was it because Lucy was defended not only by concerned citizens in Sunnyvale, but also by 'animal rights people' held in low esteem by the powers that be, who appear to have been determined that Lucy should pay the highest price for the crime of defending herself, however many calls for a more reasonable response to a first offense, with one of the less harsh punishments open to municipal authorities.
Lucy had no history of aggression. She was a loving dog to her family, including to the small child who cries, hopelessly, today.
Who can explain to this child why he has to cry? Why Lucy had to die?
There is something wrong here, and that makes it impossible to forget Lucy.
http://www.freewebs.com/freelucy/
Print
Email
