Community Should Fear for Its Safety, Say Experts
For Immediate Release:
November 28, 2012
Contact:
David
Perle 202-483-7382
Dallas, Texas -- Today, PETA sent an urgent plea to Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins calling on him to vigorously prosecute Alexander Good of Grapevine. Good faces charges stemming from an August 2011 incident, in which he allegedly fatally beat his then-girlfriend's Chihuahua–Jack Russell terrier mix, Jack. The woman reportedly testified that Jack started showing fear of Good over time before the incident, which left Jack lying limp under a bed and breathing heavily before dying of his internal injuries. News sources state that Good has given three separate explanations for Jack's severe injuries. Good's trial resumes in court tomorrow, November 29.
"The viciousness of abusing an animal must notgo 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 the defendant, 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's website HelpingAnimals.com. To view PETA's anti-violence public service announcement featuring Inglourious Basterds star and Hosteldirector Eli Roth, please visit http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=eli_roth_violence_link_psa_peta.
PETA's letter to Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins follows.
November 28, 2012
The
Honorable Craig
Watkins
Dallas
County District Attorney's Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB 19
Dallas, TX 75207
Dear Mr. Watkins:
PETA is an international animal protection organization with more than 3 million members and supporters globally. This letter concerns a case of cruelty to animals that your office is handling involving Alexander Good, 27, of Grapevine. According to news sources, Good faces felony charges stemming from an August 2011 incident during which he allegedly killed his then-girlfriend's Chihuahua-mix dog, Jack. Reportedly, after Good was left alone with the animal, Jack was found lying injured and unresponsive under the bed; the dog later died from his injuries. Good has apparently given multiple stories for the dog's condition, and we understand that there is some indication that the dog was subject to systemic abuse at Good's hands. The defendant is scheduled to appear in court on these charges tomorrow.
As you likely know, 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.
On behalf of our thousands of members and supporters in Texas, we respectfully ask that, if convicted and in addition to serving a period of incarceration, Good be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at his own expense. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, we ask that, if convicted, Good be prohibited from owning animals (a common provision in such cases) for as long as possible.
Thank you for your consideration and for the difficult work that you do.
Sincerely,
Kristin Simon
Senior Cruelty Caseworker
Cruelty Investigations
Department