Target: Todd Thompson, County Attorney, Leavenworth County, Kansas
Goal: Urge a strong sentencing recommendation—including maximum penalties, long-term animal-ownership bans, restitution, and mandated counseling—for the defendants reportedly responsible for a skeletal, flea-infested poodle found suffering in a roadway.
Authorities reportedly found a two-year-old poodle in the middle of a country road, described as severely malnourished, infested with fleas, and matted to the skin. According to case reports, two Good Samaritans captured the dog and rushed the animal for urgent veterinary care. A microchip scan purportedly linked the dog to two owners, each of whom later pleaded no contest and was found guilty of animal cruelty. Sentencing for both defendants is set for September 19.
Court records describe a level of neglect that left the dog emaciated and crawling with parasites, with painful mats tugging at the skin. Such conditions take time to develop and can cause profound suffering: untreated flea loads can lead to anemia and infection; long-term malnourishment can weaken organs and immunity; and dense matting can embed filth and urine against the skin, causing sores and constant pain. These reported facts paint a devastating portrait of prolonged suffering that demands a serious response.
A conviction without meaningful consequences can signal that extreme neglect carries minimal risk. Robust sentencing recommendations from the County Attorney’s Office—seeking the maximum lawful penalties, extensive probation conditions with surprise compliance checks, restitution for veterinary costs, a lengthy (ideally lifetime) ban on owning or residing with animals, and mandatory education and counseling—are vital to protect animals and deter future cruelty. Accordingly, this petition urges the County Attorney to press for the strongest lawful outcome in this case.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear County Attorney Thompson,
A two-year-old poodle was discovered in the middle of a road, described as severely malnourished, flea-infested, and matted. As reported, a microchip scan linked the animal to two owners who each pleaded no contest and were found guilty of animal cruelty, with sentencing scheduled for September 19.
The dog’s alleged condition—skeletal, crawling with parasites, and trapped beneath painful mats—suggests extended suffering and a profound breach of basic care. Such neglect causes intense, preventable pain and can lead to long-term medical harm. A clear, strong sentencing recommendation from your office is critical to reflect this seriousness and to deter similar conduct.
We respectfully urge you to advocate for the maximum lawful penalties, substantial restitution for veterinary expenses, a long-term or lifetime prohibition on animal ownership and residence with animals, unannounced compliance checks during any probation, and mandatory counseling and education addressing animal care and empathy. These measures, if imposed, would protect vulnerable animals and reinforce that severe neglect has serious consequences.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Harpagornis
