Community Should Fear for Its Safety, Say Experts
For Immediate Release:
February 16, 2012
Contact:
David
Perle 202-483-7382
Monroe, Mich. -- Today, PETA sent an urgent plea to Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney William Paul Nichols calling on his office to vigorously prosecute Gary Pinchoff of Frenchtown Township. Pinchoff faces felony charges stemming from a November incident in which he allegedly laced hot dogs with dozens of needles, which were swallowed by his neighbors' 8-year-old black Labrador retriever, Jinx. Twenty needles were found embedded in the dog's stomach and intestines after she vomited up 20 others. She was euthanized because of the severity of her injuries. "I miss her the most when I drop food on the floor and look down and realize she isn't there," 16-year-old Ryleigh Wann told news sources. Pinchoff is scheduled to face these charges in court tomorrow, February 17.
"The viciousness shown in putting out food laced with needles for an animal to swallow must not go unpunished," says PETA Director Martin Mersereau. "Area residents have reason to be concerned. According to leading mental health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all animals, including humans."
PETA is asking that Pinchoff, if convicted, be sentenced to a period of incarceration, prohibited from owning or harboring animals, and ordered to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling.
For more information, please visit PETA.org. To view PETA's anti-violence public service announcement featuring Inglourious Basterds star and Hostel director Eli Roth, please visit http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/Images/Main/Sections/MediaCenter/PrintAds/EliRothPETAPSA.pdf.
PETA's letter to Prosecuting Attorney William Paul Nichols follows.
February 16, 2012
The
Honorable William
Paul Nichols
Monroe County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
125 E. Second St.
Monroe, MI 48161
Dear Mr. Nichols:
PETA is an international animal protection organization with more than 3 million members and supporters globally. This letter concerns an egregious case of cruelty to animals that your office is handling involving Gary Pinchoff, 64, of Frenchtown Township. According to news sources, Pinchoff faces felony charges stemming from his alleged November attack on a neighbor's dog, Jinx. Reportedly, Pinchoff set out meat laced with dozens of needles, and Jinx had to be euthanized after vomiting 20 of them, with 20 additional needles found embedded in her stomach and intestines. We are horrified by reports that Pinchoff was offered a plea agreement merely requiring that he reimburse $530 for veterinary bills and that he pay $500 for Jinx's guardians to purchase another dog. Such an agreement not only would be wildly unjust but also would do a tremendous disservice to the community as a whole.
Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider animal abuse to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of animal abuse in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. The link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence is undeniable, and the safety of the community may depend upon a vigorous prosecution of this case. Please see the attached for more information.
On behalf of our thousands of members and supporters in Michigan, we respectfully ask that, if convicted, in addition to serving a period of incarceration, Pinchoff be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at his own expense. Repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, and given the vicious nature of this case, we ask that, if convicted, Pinchoff be prohibited from contact with animals (a common provision in such cases) for as long as possible.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kristin Simon
Senior Cruelty Caseworker
Cruelty Investigations
Department