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13.3K Views
9 years ago
Help Free Hank, the Pit Bull Who Is Slotted for Euthanasia as Punishment for a Crime He Didn’t Commit!
Hank the dog, a Pit Bull mix, has been wrongly accused of a crime, deemed a “dangerous” “animal – and scheduled to be euthanized. Shut off, he can now only see his human family through the chain-link door of his cage and, now that they found themselves in this awful scenario, both him and his guardians need urgent Support.
In April 2016, Hank had a different guardian and a different name. He had been raised around goats, lived with them peacefully, and loved them. Unfortunately, one day when he was on a neighbor’s property, playing with their pet goats, something unforeseeable happened – Hank’s mother entered the property and she charged, attacked, and killed the goats and injured a pony.
When it happened, Hank was in the vicinity of the act, but the dashboard cam video that captured the events proved that he had not been in any way involved in it. Additionally, witnesses testified that Hank had not participated and had no blood on him after the act. Moreover, a photo of Hank sitting in the police car just half an hour after the attack shows clearly that there was no blood on his muzzle.
Nevertheless, the initial finding in the case was of guilt – the dog’s guardian did not testify on his behalf, falsely assuming that he would be found innocent. Hank’s mother was taken to another state since she was guilty of the killing so that she would not be available to face whatever charges were coming.
Luckily, the person who owned the goats discovered the video some time later and determined that Hank was, in fact, innocent – he changed his statement, testified that he did not want the dog to be euthanized, and refused to press charges.
In spite of that, Lewis County District Court Judge Buzzard refused to consider the new evidence – and ruled that Hank, although clearly innocent, was a “dangerous” animal and had to be euthanized. At that time, Hank was already adopted by his new and current family – but when the prosecuting attorney Jonathan Meyer found out that the dog had not been killed, he took steps to have him apprehended and euthanized.
This is how Hank was taken away from his caretakers and their 9-year-old grandson on May 9, 2017. It was a shock for the family that had adopted the dog back in January without knowing his history – and they have fought steadfastly and tirelessly to prove their beloved dog’s innocence and get him released. They now visit him every day, but cannot play or properly pet him – but just see him from behind the bars, as Hank is kept in isolation at the shelter, is not exercised, and has no proper socialization.
The family has begged many times to have open visitation with their dog, but they were denied. Hank has now been in isolation for five months – for no reason whatsoever.
Click here to sign a petition for the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney to make open visitations with Hanks for his family possible and bring attention to the dog’s case!
Image source: Care2/Facebook
Hank was set free and is home with his human family. Yayyyyyy!!!!
Thils is appalling and must be stolpped
Sally,
In India this injustice could not have occurred. It will only be stopped in judeo.christian nations when dominion is replace by AHIMSA.
To kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a punishable of fence. IPC Sections 428 and 429.
If Hank had been killed, those who killed him would be criminals in India. Just something to consider.
Kate,
The fact still remains that there are no kill shelters in India…. It is against the law to kill a healthy or treatable dog.. In the USA healthy, young dogs, even puppies are killed for the crime of being homeless… It is not only sick dogs who are killed in judeo.christian nations.
On the plus side in India, where the ethic of ahimsa (non-violence to any living being) has permeated the public consciousness:
– the import, production & sale of foie gras are banned in every state of a nation of 1.2 billion.
– it is against the law to harm or kill a healthy dog for any reason. The New York Times recently noted that India is a sanctuary for dogs: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/world/asia/mumbai-blue-dogs.html?mcubz=3 There are no kill shelters in India.
– It is against the law to kill or harm any street animal:
To kill or maim any animal, including stray animals, is a punishable offence. IPC Sections 428 and 429. Animal Protection Act of india
– the capture, training and confinement of cetaceans is against the law in every state.
– it is against the law to capture or confine monkeys or to ship them abroad to be used in laboratories.
– It is against the law to import or sell cosmetics or household products that have been tested on animals.
– In the city of Palatina, Gujarat, India all slaughter houses have been shutdown. All slaughter is completely banned.
– There are more than 400,000 million people who do not eat any animal flesh.
– Tourist carriage horses are banned in Delhi & Mumbai
– There is no trophy hunting in India: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/taking-aim-at-trophy-hunters_us_59b8443fe4b06b71800c3531
– In the Gir forest and surrounding farmlands, unarmed farmers live in harmony with the lion population in a remarkable show of mutual co-ecistence. The lions are never killed, even if they take a farm animal:
\’In India man and lion have formed a unique bond and co-exist with each other, with benefits to both\’, \’Outsiders might consider this a predator problem, but not here in Gujarat\’ \’There is no retribution\’…. This theme was repeated so many times that I lost count.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/indias-wandering-lions-full-episode/14114/
It is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to have compassion for all living creatures. Article 51A(g).
This list is just a few of the benefits to animal in India that they are denied in judeo.christian nations.
Millions of dogs are killed in shelters every year in judeo.christian nations. Foie gras is legal in every state. There are no laws banning the capture, training and confinement of cetaceans (whales and dolphins). There are no laws prohibiting the use of animals for household or cosmetic products There are no metropolitan areas where slaughter has been banned. A small percent of the population is vegetarian or vegan. Wolves and other predator animals are constantly culled should they take cattle…. Trophy hunting is a thriving business…. Carriage horses are legal & and exploited in NYC. There are no provisions for animals in the constitutions of western nations…
If you think religion doesn\’t matter, consider the animal abuse that is tolerated and legal in judeo.christian nations… then consider the progress for animals India.