Target: Cynthia Zimmer, District Attorney of Kern County, California
Goal: File all applicable felony charges and pursue maximum penalties against the individual who abandoned a grievously injured dog in a dumpster, leading to her death.
A surveillance video released by Kern County Animal Services shows a person placing a bleeding, helpless dog—later nicknamed Rusty Rose—into a dumpster behind a local restaurant. The animal languished in excruciating pain through the night and succumbed to her injuries the next morning. The graphic footage has sparked widespread outrage, yet no arrests have been announced two months after the incident.
Witnesses recount that the pup was so severely wounded she could barely move, making the decision to discard her like garbage even more shocking. Community members have held vigils and protests, emphasizing that abandoning an animal in such a vulnerable state is a blatant violation of California’s felony-level anti-cruelty statutes. Despite public pressure, the person seen on camera has not been identified or charged.
Swift legal action is urgently needed. Anything less risks encouraging further violence toward animals. Sign below to demand authorities thoroughly investigate this case, file all relevant felony counts, and seek the harshest sentencing to send a strong message that Kern County will not tolerate extreme acts of cruelty.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear District Attorney Zimmer,
A widely circulated video released by Kern County Animal Services depicts an individual dumping a severely injured dog into a dumpster behind Rusty’s Pizza on Niles Street. The animal, later called Rusty Rose by rescuers, endured hours of agony before dying. Two months have passed, and advocates state that no suspect has been arrested or charged in connection with this heinous act.
California law classifies intentional abandonment and aggravated cruelty as felonies when they cause needless suffering or death. Allowing the perpetrator to evade justice undermines public trust and places other animals at risk. Community members have organized protests and memorials, demonstrating the depth of local concern and the desire for decisive legal action.
We respectfully urge your office to prioritize this investigation, bring felony charges under California Penal Code §597 and related statutes, and request the maximum penalties upon conviction— including incarceration, substantial fines, and a prohibition on future animal ownership. A strong prosecutorial response will honor Rusty Rose’s memory and deter similar acts of cruelty in Kern County.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Andrey
