3 Endangered Deer Were Hogtied and Trapped in a Car so Jerks Could ‘Take Photos’ – Demand Justice!

The senseless acts of cruelty people inflict on animals are always disturbing and appalling, but there is an additional degree of shock when the animals being abused are classified as endangered species.

According to a petition on Care2, three endangered Key Deer were discovered hog-tied and trapped in the back of the car of 18-year-old Eric Damas Acosta during a routine traffic stop. Two doe were in the backseat and a buck was in the trunk. Evidence of a violent struggle were present, as the officers reported wounds and scratches on the animals and blood soaked into the car upholstery. The suspect’s excuse for this? He said he wanted to take pictures with the deer!

Key Deer are native to the Florida Keys area, and there are only an estimated 600 left in the wild. The petition reports that both men in the car were charged with three felony counts of wounding a protected species, three misdemeanor counts of taking deer out of season, three counts of animal cruelty, and three counts of illegal possession of Key deer. They could face up to five years of jail time and a $5,000 fine each.

Although they have been charged, they have not been convicted yet, so please take a moment to sign this petition voicing your opinion that justice be served for these deer.

These deer were lucky to be found and released back in the wild before they suffered even longer, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife will be monitoring them to ensure they recover from their injuries. However, unfortunately, cases of animal cruelty often go overlooked, unreported, or under-punished in society; but you can help become part of the solution.  If you ever witness an animal being abused, please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate authorities. Here are some animal cruelty reporting hotlines to keep in your phone in case of an emergency. And please remember to share this with your network to spread awareness on why animal protection laws are so important for all of society.

Image Source: Marc Averette / Wikimedia Commons