This alert is no longer active, but here for reference.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

In March, we asked you to help make cruelty to wild animals a felony in Mississippi after receiving disturbing footage of dogs attacking a downed deer that was posted to social media — but the individual responsible for causing this inexcusable harm has yet to be held accountable. Urge the prosecuting attorney to seek charges!

In November 2023, Peyton Penson shot a deer who got away, but later posted a recording of his two dogs attacking the injured animal with the caption, “Live action for wreck it ralf” and posted it to Facebook. In Defense of Animals' Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley has confirmed the dogs shown in the video belonged to Penson.

Shockingly, it's surprisingly common to find photos of torched raccoons, opossums, and other animals flash up on Snapchat and subsequently vanish before they can be properly documented in order to pursue animal cruelty charges. It is up to animal advocates to record and identify these videos to seek justice. Stanley contacted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks multiple times, calling many various offices that failed to follow through on pressing charges. Finally, she was successful in communicating with the Lauderdale County game warden in March.

She emailed the officer the video, photos from Penson's Facebook page, including any pertinent screenshots, and the contacts that would be essential for prosecuting Penson under § 97-41-1. Cruelty to living creatures.

Unfortunately, no one followed up with the results of the agency's investigation. On April 24, Stanley contacted the officer who then read aloud to her what the results of his agency's investigation amounted to. He added that since there was no sound on the video, there was no way to assess what may have been said. Thus, they chose to conclude that Penson did not intentionally allow his dogs to harm the deer.

Penson had claimed that the dogs were only recently trained and were still green, adding that he had wounded the deer with an arrow earlier and the deer escaped him. When he caught up with the deer, his dogs were attacking the deer, and he asserts that he humanely killed the deer.

If you can stand watching the video, you will see that there is no “reasonable doubt” that Penson was thoroughly enjoying the torment the deer was going through. Remember that he posted the video and his wording approved of the torment. That action proves beyond any doubt what Penson did.

Letter to decision maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Man Who Allowed Dogs to Attack a Downed Deer Must Be Prosecuted

I am writing to ask you to seek justice in the case of a downed deer, who was attacked by dogs belonging to Peyton Penson, who recorded the incident and posted it to Facebook in November 2023.
 
Penson had shot the deer, and had plenty of time to intervene and stop his dogs, but instead recorded the scene. In Defense of Animals’ Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley has the footage, supporting screenshots, and contact information for the witnesses who were able to take a secondary recording. She is available to support your case and can be reached at 662-809-4483 or Doll@idausa.org.

Animal torture is illegal, and I urge you to bring charges against Penson under § 97-41-1. Cruelty to living creatures, which states a person who intentionally or with criminal negligence tortures, torments, unjustifiably injures, or needlessly mutilates; or causes to be is guilty of a misdemeanor. The statute does not exempt wildlife.

I will be following this case to its fruition and hope to see justice served, which will hopefully send a strong message that this type of torturous harm to wild animals won’t be tolerated.

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