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UPDATE!
As expected, Mossberger's attorney has
filed a request for a continuance, which means that his pre-trial date
has been pushed out. No new date has been released yet, but we'll
be following the progress of this proceeding and will update you with
details and they become known.
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TRIAL DATE SET
Chewie (pictured left) supporters were in attendance
at Mark Mossberger's (also pictured left) arraignment on Tuesday, May
30th and watched the 20-year old on the video monitor as he entered a
plea of not guilty to a 1st degree animal cruelty charge, a felony in
Washington State. Mossberger was arrested last Friday when he did not
appear before the court for his original arraignment date. He cooled his
heels in the Thurston County jail over the Memorial Day weekend thanks
to the diligent work of the Thurston County Sheriff's officers. |
Judge Hicks scheduled a pre-trial hearing for July 20, 2006
[rescheduled] and a
trial date for the week of August 21, 2006. Debra Eurich, Thurston
County Deputy Prosecutor, recommended that Mossberger be released on his
personal recognizance and reside with his parents. As a condition of his
release, Mossberger cannot have any contact with animals. Eurich is
recommending a one year jail sentence if Mossberger is convicted and she
has assured us that the Prosecutor’s office is doing everything in its
power to bring about a positive outcome.
Charges against the driver of the trailer and his passenger have not
been filed to date. There is no Washington State statute that could be
used to bring these people to justice for abandoning Chewie and leaving
him to die. However, there is a Thurston County ordinance that could be
used. 9.10.052, Cruelty to animals states that “No person shall do the
following to any animal: beat, cruelly ill-treat, torment, overwork,
deliberately injure, deny humane care, abuse, inhumanely kill…” which is
a misdemeanor and therefore subject to a lesser sentence than a felony.
Eurich stated that the investigation is ongoing.
The outpouring of support for Chewie has been remarkable and the people
of Thurston County in particular have made it clear that this type of
crime will not go unpunished. This community has a long-standing
commitment to the welfare of animals and we're proud to partner with
them on this case. Together we can bring about real change for the
animals and for the community. Stay tuned as we’ll be following this
case closely as it proceeds through the courts. |
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The Coward...
Couldn't Show His Face...
Left,
Pasado's Safe Haven and Concern
for Animals in Thurston County team up at the courthouse to show
support for the conviction of Chewie's killer. |
We learned a lot Wednesday in court, and felt nauseous as the proceedings
took place.Mark Daniel Mossberger ignored numerous notices to appear before a Thurston County judge today to
face charges of First Degree Animal Cruelty. But not for what we had
originally heard.
Mossberger was
the man who, according to court records, allegedly tied the dog to a wheel well of a boat trailer, intending for the
vehicle's driver to eventually leave, and drag the dog to his death.
While we are pleased with the work of Debra Eurich, the Thurston County
Deputy Prosecutor, we are angered that the couple who were in the car, and
discovered Chewie, left this poor animal to suffer for NINE HOURS, until
a passerby came along and rushed the dog to a vet, where he was
euthanized.
A bench warrant was issued for
Mossberger's arrest. When he does finally appear in court to enter
a plea, we'll be there too.
Glaring voids in our cruelty laws
Pasado's Safe Haven has successfully passed three animal cruelty laws in
three years in our home state of Washington - a national record. But
none of the cruelty laws on the books answers the void when Chewie was
found by the driver and passenger of the car, who left him to suffer in
agony.
Animal abandonment laws in Washington
State only refer to those animals left at vet offices or boarding
kennels (good lobbying on the part of business) but doesn't really
address owner abandonment.
Nor is there a "Good Samaritan" law
when it comes to animals. If someone comes across an injured animal, no
law forces them to seek help for the animal.
We will consider how the law failed
Chewie in reviewing our work during the next upcoming legislative
session.
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What You Can Do To Help:
We can use your help in sending a message of support for a vigorous
prosecution and penalties to fit this outrageous crime of cruelty. Please
submit your
comments using the talking points below:
Talking Points:
• Any party to this crime of intentional cruelty should be charged and
convicted of First Degree Animal Cruelty and sentenced to the maximum
penalty allowed by law.
• Leaving Chewie to endure a slow and agonizing death alone is a
violation of human decency and indicative of a disturbed individual. A
mandatory mental health evaluation and psychiatric treatment should be
part of any sentencing handed down.
• Cruelty inflicted on defenseless animals needs to stop! The courts
have an opportunity to send this message by punishing the perpetrators
with a penalty commensurate with the crime.
• Don't allow the defense to plea down to a lesser charge. These
people deserve a felony charge and their sentence should reflect the
heinousness of their crimes.
• Please be polite and professional.Submit
here if you'd like us to
forward your message or send your message directly to Edward Holm, the
Thurston County Prosecutor here.
Keep checking back to follow the progress of this case
[Editor's note: see
above for update]. For those in
the Washington state who would like to be added to our email alert
list regarding attending court hearing and other ways to help, please
email here and provide
your home address so that we can determine your Washington state
legislative district. We often work on animal cruelty cases or
animal-related legislation outside of Washington state so for those of
you outside of Washington that would like to be added to our
other State specific alert lists, email
here with the same
information. Together, we make an awesome team defending the animals.
Thanks to all of you who have already contacted us with offers of
assistance. Your voice on behalf of Chewie will be heard, we promise!
Read more about this story
here. And please revisit this webpage to find out the latest.
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He was forsaken…
History of case:
News of another cruelty case has incensed the Seattle-area community and
beyond. A golden retriever or lab-German Shepherd mix named Chewie was
tied to the back of a boat trailer and dragged for miles. When the
mangled dog was finally cut loose from the trailer, he was abandoned by
the side of the road. Chewie was left to suffer in agony for 9 hours
before Art/Tony Hedgers found him close to death. Said Hedgers, “"Even as
hurt as it was, it would lick your hand It was friendly. It would wag
its tail when you spoke to it. I know he didn't deserve it."
Sometime later Chewie was euthanized, released from his misery, in an
area animal hospital.
The two individuals responsible for this horrible crime were attending a
Cinco de Mayo party in Millersylvania State Park. It was there that
someone tied Chewie to the back of the trailer. The pair left the party
in the early hours last Sunday morning and headed toward the Maytown
Tavern. Chewie, with his skin peeled back exposed muscle and bone, was
left to die in the parking lot. There was a trail of blood on the road
between the two locations. |
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Above, the road along which Chewie was dragged. |
It’s
unclear who at the park tied Chewie, or why, and the driver and
passenger of the vehicle have stated that they did not know Chewie was
there. However, “The dog weighed about 50 pounds and should have been
noticeable”, said Susanne Beauregard, Lacey Animal Services director.
No charges have been filed as of this report, but Pasado’s has been in
touch with the Thurston County prosecutor’s office and they have assured
us that “Thurston County will not tolerate such horrible treatment of
animals.” We are hopeful that animal cruelty charges will be filed soon
and that prosecutors will seek the most severe penalty allowed by law.
We also believe that anyone who can divorce themselves from the pain and
suffering of a dying animal surely needs psychiatric attention.
To this end, we will do
everything that we can to lobby for both. |
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