Protect Pets From Rage-Filled Beatings and Stabbings

Target: Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Goal: Require reporting of animal cruelty and psychiatric evaluations for convicted abusers.

Two disturbing cases in Pennsylvania demonstrate how animals are often vulnerable targets for angry humans. The first, out of Bucks County, unfolded when a man reportedly confessed to beating his two pet beagle mix dogs for several hours. More horrifically still, the man also apparently admitted to stabbing his pets until they died. The suspect, George Gooch Ash, blamed his alleged crimes on having a bad experience during a nursing home visit earlier in the day. He has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty and could face several years in prison.

The second incident took place in Harrisburg, where a suspect has also been charged with aggravated animal cruelty. This man allegedly beat a neighbor’s pet dog so badly that the animal’s spine was broken and her skull cracked. Tragically, the dog – Roxy – had to be euthanized.

In at least one of these cases, the suspect is undergoing psychiatric treatment. Some states mandate psychiatric evaluations for abusers and further mandate therapists or other social service providers to report suspected instances of animal cruelty. Pennsylvania is not one of these states.

Sign the petition below to urge an amendment to cruelty laws that could prevent more needless acts of violence against at-risk animals.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Representative McClinton,

Pennsylvania has some of the strongest and most detailed animal cruelty statutes in the nation. Yet a key oversight is allowing too many cases to slip through the cracks. Within the state, no one – from mental health therapists to veterinary professionals – is obligated to report instances of animal cruelty.

Mandatory reporting laws have long been used to protect vulnerable children. And in the states where robust animal cruelty mandatory reporting laws do exist, the statutes provide a key layer of prevention. If such a statute were in place in Pennsylvania, the lives of Shyla and Blakes – two beagle mixes allegedly beaten and stabbed to death by their owner – might have been saved. And if such a statute were added to existing laws, countless animals could be saved in the future. Furthermore, making court-ordered psychiatric evaluations for animal abusers mandatory rather than discretionary could serve as another legal shield for at-risk living beings.

Please close gaps that are hurting Pennsylvania’s status as a strong combatant of animal cruelty.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Ramon Karolan


5 Comments

  1. George Gooch Ash should be euthanized. Not one year in jail. He just murdered an innocent animal. And If he does get out. I bet you he will do the same thing to another innocent animal.

  2. Lesley Rodgers says:

    People like these two murdering maniacs can never be cured by therapy, they are inherently evil brutes and will always harm and kill innocent animals or people who cannot fight back. These two brutes should be exterminated. They will always be a danger and need to be got rid of permanently. I would be happy to do it if I could. We need people to step in to physically protect animals being harmed like this, instead of just looking on and taking videos on phones! These brutes are evil cowards who take their rage out on innocents who cannot protect themselves.

  3. Psychiatric treatment my ass! These people can’t be fixed. They need to be put to sleep, period.

    • Cecily Colloby says:

      I SO agree, Mo. Just get rid of them. That will stop them repeat offending and may just deter other possible animal abusers.

  4. Cecily Colloby says:

    My thoughts exactly, Mo.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

460 Signatures

  • Jen Bradford
  • Flora Psarianos
  • Donna Pfeffer
  • Kristen Bossert
  • Diane Racz
  • Joyce Rivera
  • Robin Craft
  • Robin Craft
  • Diane Petrillo
  • shirley swan
1 of 46123...46
Skip to toolbar