This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

Earlier this spring, thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters signed our alert seeking justice for two beloved German shepherds who were killed and skinned in Connecticut. Now we need your help to admonish the judge for suspending their killer's prison term, letting her know that animal abuse cases matter and should be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

On November 18, 2022, the Caviola family's dogs Cimo and Lieben escaped from their yard through a damaged fence. The family searched frantically for weeks, only to learn later that they had been killed on an adjacent property shortly after escaping — and only then because a good Samaritan came forward after seeing images that were shared of their remains.

The Environmental Conservation Police investigated the case and arrested Mike Konschak in February 2023. He claimed that he “thought they were coyotes” despite German shepherds looking nothing like coyotes, and it should be noted that he was also hunting illegally on property he had forged permission to be on, and that he shot the first dog with a crossbow with a scope from about 20 yards away, and that the second dog ran away. Then he said the second dog came after him when he approached the dog he had shot, so he shot him as well.

Konschak was charged with forgery, tampering with evidence, interfering with a law enforcement officer, and violating hunting regulations. He pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty and one count of interfering with an officer.

While more than 15,000 In Defense of Animals supporters signed our alert urging maximum penalties, his sentencing this October was incredibly disappointing, and also a little surprising considering that the judge previously denied his request for accelerated rehabilitation.

He only received a suspended 728-day prison sentence, so he didn't get any jail time. During this 3-year probationary period, he can't possess firearms, or any weapon that shoots projectiles, and is banned from acquiring animals. He also has to pay $9,700 in restitution, including a $2,000 donation to a local animal welfare organization, and isn't allowed to have unsupervised visits with animals who are not already part of his family.

The Caviola family is incredibly disappointed in this sentencing and will have to live with the heartbreak and trauma of losing their family members Cimo and Lieben in such an unimaginably horrifying way while knowing their indifferent killer got away with only a slap on the wrist.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.