Dismissed? Dogs Shot Execution Style
This month's big news: Dismissal of all charges against former St. Bernard Parish Deputy Sheriff Mike Minton and Sergeant Clifford "Chip" Englande in the street shootings case. While the SBP school massacre case is still open, this sets a bad precedent for justice in post-Katrina crimes against animals.
Dr. Pia Salk, a clinical psychologist, co-founder
Animal Rescue New Orleans ~ "It takes a very sick individual to assert his power by abusing the defenseless. And it takes a diseased system to justify and permit this. As long as a culture deems particular beings to be of less worth, whether because of their gender, ethnicity or in this case species, it will then allow for violence against those beings. This is the root of all social injustice."
New Witness To SBP Dog Massacre Steps Forward
Eyewitness To Killings
Susan Michaels,
Pasado's Safe Haven ~ A man called Pasado's who was an eyewitness to St. Bernard Sheriff's officers shooting dogs and cats approximately on August 30-31. He and his wife remained in their house for 11 days in St. Bernard Parish with no food or water. All of their pets, 2 dogs and 3 cats, eventually perished.
He and his wife heard shots from boats in the floodwaters. He saw men "wearing St. Bernard Sheriff uniforms" whom he claims he can identify in a photo line-up. He and his wife hid from the men, for fear they'd shoot their animals.
The officers "picked off those dogs and cats who swam to rooftops for safety," the man said.
This man saw Susan Michaels' interview in the Times-Picayune, in which she spoke about dismissal of the street shootings case. He called to report what he'd witnessed. When asked why it took so long for him to come forward, his said:
"I just assumed with all the evidence, a conviction would be forthcoming." He was angry the men "got off without a single charge." This man will be interviewed in Baton Rouge.
New Development
Pasado's Safe Haven paid for school shooting necropsies and hired a private detective to hunt down two eyewitnesses key to charges in the school slaughter case. "We won't give up," says Susan Michaels, Pasado's Cofounder. "We're committed to seeing these cases through and ensuring that those responsible pay."