Target: Stephen A. Zappala Jr., District Attorney of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Goal: Impose the maximum criminal penalties, including prison time and a lifetime animal-ownership ban, on the men who allegedly bludgeoned nine cane corsos and allowed two dogs to die from untreated injuries.
A tip to police purportedly exposed a nightmare inside a Hazelwood residence: nine cane corso dogs—three adults and six eight-week-old puppies—were reportedly crammed into a kitchen reeking of urine and feces. Video evidence allegedly shows one suspect striking the animals with a long, pipe-like weapon. Officers say the puppies’ tails were mangled, bloody, and illegally docked, and that one puppy could not walk and later died. A pregnant adult suffered an enlarged heart, blindness in one eye, and had to be euthanized, according to veterinarians.
Investigators further claim another dog had previously died of heatstroke on the property, yet no remains were found. All surviving dogs needed emergency care for open wounds and infections said to result from crude, unsafe tail-docking. Altogether, the two residents now face more than 100 counts of aggravated cruelty, neglect, and related offenses.
Pennsylvania law allows for felony convictions, prison terms, heavy fines, and court-ordered prohibitions on animal ownership in severe cruelty cases. Anything less risks sending a message that such horrific abuse carries minimal consequences. The families who adopt these dogs and the broader community demand assurance that deliberate brutality will not be tolerated.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear District Attorney Zappala,
Police reports indicate nine cane corso dogs—six of them mere puppies—were discovered in squalid conditions on Blair Street. Video allegedly shows one resident beating the dogs with a metal-style rod, while veterinarians reportedly documented bloody, illegally docked tails, open wounds, and severe medical neglect. One puppy reportedly died soon after rescue, and an adult was euthanized due to irreversible health problems.
These facts, if proven, represent extreme and intentional cruelty. Pennsylvania’s statutes provide ample authority for felony prosecution, incarceration, substantial fines, and a lifetime prohibition on possessing animals. We urge your office to pursue every applicable charge against the defendants and to advocate for the stiffest sentence the court can impose.
Holding the accused fully accountable will bring a measure of justice to the injured and deceased dogs while deterring similar crimes in Allegheny County. Please demonstrate that deliberate violence toward animals carries serious, life-changing consequences.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: ruminatrix
