OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (Oct. 26, 2022) — In Defense of Animals, Citizens for Ocean Springs’ “Justice for Carl,” and Mississippi Citizens Against Animal Cruelty applaud the conviction of the woman who killed Ocean Springs’ beloved community rooster, Carl 2.0, with a group of friends.

Today, Kendra Shaffer was convicted in Ocean Springs Municipal Court of killing Carl 2.0. Sentencing, however, has been delayed.

On April 22, 2022, a security camera at Ryder’s Jewelers, across from Twisted Anchor Tattoo Gallery, videoed a group of people capturing Carl 2.0 around 3 a.m. Separate footage taken in Biloxi, Miss., documented Schaffer dumping Carl 2.0’s body in a parking lot less than fifteen minutes later. Carl 2.0’s remains were not recovered.

Shaffer was identified as the suspect and was issued a misdemeanor arrest citation for animal cruelty. She was also fired from the Jones County Juvenile Detention Center. Though Shaffer was not on video killing Carl 2.0, she was ruled responsible for his death.

The prosecutor instructed the judge that he wanted to speak with witnesses and get a feel from the community prior to sentencing, which is expected to be strong.

Carl 2.0 was famous in Ocean Springs for visiting local businesses and interacting with friends and visitors. Tourists sought him out for photos. His tragic death has caught the attention of compassionate people and the media across the nation, and locals rallied after his death. The Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home donated a customized coffin with photos and an inscription, “Legends Never Die.”

“What happened to Carl is unacceptable, and why I co-authored Buddy’s Law to hopefully stop animal cruelty once and for all,” said Sen. Bruce Wiggins.

In March, In Defense of Animals and Mississippi Citizens Against Animal Cruelty presented Sen. Wiggins and fourteen other senators with an award for their leadership in protecting Mississippi’s animals from vile and senseless cruelty.

“In Defense of Animals is pleased Shaffer has been found guilty, but we will continue to work toward updating the Mississippi State statute to give other animals the same protection from aggravated cruelty that is afforded to dogs and cats. Killing dogs or cats is a felony, but other species still suffer the same fear and pain from acts of abuse and deserve the same consideration,” said Doll Stanley, In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals senior campaigner who attended the trial.

For 29 years, In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign has actively worked with law enforcement, court officials and citizens of Mississippi to prevent and prosecute animal cruelty under existing statutes and ordinances and to pass laws that civilized societies should afford their most vulnerable members.

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Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin County, California, with over 250,000 supporters and a 39-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as its hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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