Target: Jaymi Sterling, State’s Attorney of St. Mary’s County, Maryland
Goal: Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the individual who allegedly allowed a dog to deteriorate to a state of extreme emaciation while ignoring veterinary advice.
A dog named Bumper was allegedly allowed to waste away to a state of severe emaciation — a condition authorities associate with prolonged malnutrition — while his owner reportedly did nothing to intervene, even after being told by a medical professional that the animal urgently needed veterinary care. A woman has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty after animal control officers responding to a cruelty complaint reportedly discovered Bumper in a devastatingly weakened condition. Officers also allegedly found a second dog crated without access to fresh water. The accused has purportedly acknowledged being aware of Bumper’s deteriorating condition for approximately one month before authorities intervened.
According to police documents, when the accused was questioned about the dog’s physical state, she allegedly admitted that she had been advised at a mobile vaccination clinic to seek further veterinary evaluation for Bumper — and that she reportedly chose not to follow through, citing financial reasons. The decision to allegedly withhold that care, as Bumper’s body reportedly wasted away, represents a deeply troubling failure of the basic duty of care every pet owner owes to a dependent animal. Bumper seemingly had no means of seeking help or relief from the suffering he was enduring.
Animals placed in human care are entirely dependent on their owners for food, water, and medical attention — and when that care is withheld, the consequences can be devastating and irreversible. Maryland law provides for criminal penalties in exactly these circumstances, including potential jail time and fines for each count of animal cruelty. The St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office must pursue this case vigorously to ensure that Bumper’s alleged suffering does not go unanswered and that a clear message is sent: allegedly neglecting an animal’s basic needs, especially after being warned by a medical professional, will be met with the full force of the law. Sign this petition to demand accountability.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear State’s Attorney Sterling,
We are writing to urge your office to prosecute this animal cruelty case with the full vigor the law allows. A woman has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty after animal control officers allegedly discovered a dog named Bumper in a state of extreme emaciation — a condition consistent with what authorities describe as prolonged malnutrition. A second dog was reportedly found crated without access to fresh water. These are not minor oversights; they allegedly represent a sustained and conscious failure to provide for the most basic needs of vulnerable animals.
Perhaps most disturbing is what the accused reportedly acknowledged to investigators: that she had been advised by a mobile vaccination clinic approximately one month before authorities arrived that Bumper needed further veterinary evaluation — and that she allegedly failed to act on that advice. During that month, Bumper reportedly continued to deteriorate without intervention. This alleged choice to prioritize other concerns over the life and well-being of a suffering animal is precisely the kind of conduct Maryland’s animal cruelty statutes are designed to address and punish.
We respectfully but firmly demand that your office pursue the maximum penalties available under Maryland law for each count of animal cruelty with which the defendant has been charged. Bumper could not call for help or advocate for himself — it is now the justice system’s responsibility to speak for him. Please ensure this case is prosecuted with the seriousness it demands.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Untitled
