12,000 CALL ON GRENADA COUNTY SHERIFF TO BRING SICK ANIMAL ABUSER TO JUSTICE

Stricter Enforcement of Animal Protection Laws Urgently Needed in Grenada County
Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483
Images (WARNING – GRAPHIC):

http://bit.ly/ChainedStarvedGrenada

http://bit.ly/RoseGrenada

Grenada, MS (November 9, 2016) – In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization that operates Hope Animal Sanctuary in Grenada, Mississippi, and Justice for Animals Campaign of Winona, Mississippi, is calling on the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department to act on tips and evidence in two severe animal cruelty cases reported in 2016 that appear to have been intentionally sidelined. 12,000 people are now calling on Sheriff Jess Alton Strider Jr. to deal justice for a dog found chained, starved and decomposing in the blazing heat.
“Thousands of people in Grenada County, across Mississippi, and around the world are shocked and outraged at what is happening in our county, and wondering why it is being allowed to continue,” said Doll Stanley, who directs In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals campaign. Stanley continued, “Today’s animal abusers are tomorrow’s psychopaths. So long as the perpetrators of these sickening crimes remain at large, they are a danger to our entire community. We call on Sheriff Strider to do everything in his power to bring these two animal cruelty cases to justice.”
In July, In Defense of Animals called on the Grenada Sheriff’s Department for assistance as the decaying and heavily chained body of a dog was discovered at 477 South Archie Jackson Road, Grenada. The resident had vacated the residence about a week before, leaving the prolonged and painful neglect to unfold in his absence. Neighbors Clay Davis and Jeff Newsome raised the alarm and gave details of the dog abandonment to Deputy Tim Gholston. Deputy Gholston filed an incident report on July 2, and Stanley followed up with an affidavit alleging that the resident had abandoned his dog to starvation and dehydration in the sweltering heat of July.
When neighbors and In Defense of Animals made inquiries as to what has happened with the case, they found that Grenada Sheriff’s Department had pulled the affidavit from the Grenada County Justice Court, reportedly for investigation. Three months later, neither the witnesses nor Stanley have been contacted by anyone from the Sheriff’s Department regarding the case.
In February, the Sheriff’s Department was passed a tip off a suspect claiming to be the person who sickeningly killed a Grenada County family dog. The suspect allegedly bragged about the psychopathic crime at school and at a party, even showing off photos of Rose, the victim discovered shot, bound with cord, stuffed into a bag and dumped on an abandoned “love seat” by Hwy 7.
Rose’s guardian, Jessica Maness, and the father of the alleged witness to the suspect’s display of the crime were told Investigator Dale Yates would handle the case. Neither Maness, nor the father of the alleged witness to the confession have heard anything more of the case.
Over 12,000 In Defense of Animals supporters have now written to Sheriff Strider demanding justice.
“It is puzzling to Grenadians who dearly care for their companion animals, and to those of us involved in protecting Mississippi’s animals, why two cruelty cases with solid evidence have not been investigated by the Grenada Sheriff’s Department,” stated In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals campaign Director, Doll Stanley. Stanley continued, “In the 24 years I’ve worked cruelty cases in Mississippi, there have been many Grenada Sheriff’s Department deputies who promptly and professionally respond, and seek justice due such egregious crimes. It is disappointing that current cases in which Sheriff Jesse Alton Strider Jr. is directly involved appear to be intentionally disregarded. We urge the Sheriff to seek justice for the victims of these unthinkably sadistic crimes.”
In Defense of Animals is calling on the Grenada Sheriff’s Department to reopen these two cases and to take them for the serious crimes they are, against a civilized society that prides itself on protecting the weak and innocent.
Stanley notes, “Our legislators have passed legislation and established crimes and penalties for the clear reason that Mississippians deserve protection of themselves, their animals, and their property. One of the chief reasons given by legislators for not increasing the meager penalties for aggravated animal cruelty is that current laws are not properly enforced or adjudicated.”

 
### NOTES ###
Alert to Sheriff Jesse Alton Strider Jr. concerning Grenada County dog who was chained and left to die http://bit.ly/ChainedDogLeftToDie
Grenada County family dog shot, bound and dumped on side of highway

http://www.idausa.org/another-tragic-dog-shooting-mississippi/

 
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In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is actively working with officials in communities, building a groundswell of support for establishing and amending city and county ordinances as part of its campaign to show state lawmakers that Mississippians will not tolerate animal cruelty.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare and habitats through education, campaigns and hands on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048