OK. I admit it. I am a cynic. No, make that a dyed-in-the-wool cynic. And I’m proud of it. Not that it should come as a shock or anything. I was a reporter for more than 20 years.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
So imagine my surprise when I came across an article with the following headline: “Fugitive pens letter to law enforcement agencies a week after his capture.”
At first I thought the story might have been left over from April Fools’ Day and someone accidentally re-posted it. Then I thought it was a hoax. Then I actually read it.
Yep, it’s for real, alright. Seriously.
Here’s what happened. Apparently this guy in Texas wasn’t happy about getting pulled over by the police. So he decided to get out of the car and run… and with that, a routine traffic stop turned into a royal cluster-bleep.
The good news is that the good guys — and their dogs — did catch him. Eventually. From what I read, the chase lasted an hour before he was finally taken into custody.
“What I witnessed that night by all the law enforcement personnel was a level of professionalism and team work and respect that I’ve never seen before,” Gregory Wylie said in his letter, which FOX 12 News posted along with the story.
Wylie also admits that he ran because he was “not man enough to face the consequence of my action which led up to the point in my life.”
Well, I don’t know about you. But I, for one, applaud Wylie for having the courage to admit that. It takes guts to admit your shortcomings and it takes a certain amount of intestinal fortitude to apologize.
Still, I can’t help but question his motives. Was he really sorry for what he did? Or did he just want to score points with the judge?
In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
We’ve all seen the heartbreaking pictures and news footage of pets rescued from house fires or natural disasters. And we’ve all seen the heartwarming images of firefighters, paramedics and EMTs rendering First Aid to those hurt and scared cats and dogs.
What you may not know is that in most states, the pet owners can — and do — sue the first responders if their pets die. That’s because the laws in those states prohibit anyone except for licensed veterinarians from treating sick and injured animals.
That’s about to change in Ohio. According to published reports, a law that takes effect there later this summer allows firefighters, paramedics and EMTs to treat injured pets without fear of legal retaliation.
The new law also applies to the treatment of police dogs and companion animals.
“It’s another layer of protection for the good guys,” Cory Smith, director of public policy for companion animals at The Humane Society of the United States, told the Associated Press.
While lawmakers in Ohio –and elsewhere — take steps to protect the first responders who choose to treat injured pets as well as people, another group wants to make sure they are well equipped to do so.
According to an article on iheartdogs.com, the group — Project Breathe — provides fire departments and other first responders with oxygen masks designed specifically for pets. To date, the non-profit organization has donated almost 14,000 masks to U.S. and Canadian fire departments. Training is also provided.
Use of the masks has reportedly saved more than 100 pets.
Sadly, that number is dwarfed by other statistics, however. Some estimates indicate that half a million pets are affected by house fires each year, and 40,000 die.
For information about how to keep your pet safe, visit:
“Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my! Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my! Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my!” — Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz
In my last post, I urged you not to get an exotic pet. But even though it’s a really, really bad idea, there are still places where you can legally have one in the United States.
Map depicting where ownership of “dangerous wild animals” is allowed, partially banned and totally banned. Courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States.
As of January 2015, all but five states either partially or entirely banned “the keeping of wild dangerous animals as pets;” or required permits for some species. That means if you live in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Wisconsin or Nevada, where there were no restrictions a year ago, there’s no telling what kinds of pets your neighbors might have.
That being stated, not all exotic pets are created equal. Some are more rare than others; and some pose greater risks to people. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) defines “dangerous species” as:
big cats (including but not limited to lions and tigers)
bears
primates (including but not limited to chimpanzees and marmosets)
snakes/reptiles (including but not limited to large pythons and boa constrictors)
For Those Who Walk On The Wild Side, It Is All About Ego
But for some inexplicable reason, these are the animals that some people simply must have.
On its website, the HSUS cites statistics indicating that there are thousands of captive tigers in the U.S.A., but less than 500 are kept in officially sanctioned and regulated zoos. Americans also have approximately 15,000 primates, according to the organization. The HSUS does not provide statistics pertaining to the number of captive bears, large snakes or reptiles however.
Perhaps the people who “own” these animals think they are so special that they can tame wild animals. Perhaps they think that if the animals were born in captivity, they are “tame.”
Or perhaps it’s just about the human ego.
In any case, it’s a recipe for disaster.
According to an article on Born Free USA, people who “own” exotic animals “often attempt to change the nature of the animal rather than the nature of the care provided.” To do so they resort to behavior unique to human beings: cruelty. As a result, their “pets” are subjected to “confinement in small barren enclosures, chaining, beating ‘into submission,’ or even painful mutilations, such as declawing and tooth removal.”
Once they finally figure out that keeping a wild animal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, exotic pet owners often turn to zoos or sanctuaries for help. If that fails, the animals are usually ditched and left to fend for themselves, or euthanized by authorities.
And then there are the cases where instinct takes over or the animals fight back.
The HSUS alone says it has identified more than 1,700 dangerous incidents pitting exotic animals against people since 1990. These involved “big cats, bears, primates, elephants, large constrictor snakes, and other exotic animals that resulted in scores of deaths and hundreds of injuries.”
Nicole Paquette, HSUS vice president of wildlife protection, says the best way to reduce the risk of future tragedies is to ensure that stricter state and federal laws are in place. Specifically, the HSUS supports laws that prevent people from interacting with and acquiring “dangerous captive wildlife” or “dangerous wild animals.”
“Our position is that these are wild animals who can’t be domesticated and should not be in our homes or backyards,” Paquette said
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
For the second time in less than a month, authorities confiscated hundreds of animals from a Tri State Area home. But this time the house was on Long Island. And this time the animals weren’t dogs. This time, the animals reportedly rescued from horrid conditions were turtles and birds.
As reported by WABC-TV in New York, the Nassau County SPCA seized the animals after personnel from its law enforcement division executed a search warrant at the Bellmore home yesterday.
On a steamy hot New York morning, authorities found some of the animals didn’t have enough water and others were malnourished. They were also deprived of fresh air and lived in dirty water, according to an account provided by an agency spokesman.
One of the animals — an alligator snapping turtle found living in the basement — belongs to a species capable of hurting people.
“That turtle could take your hand off,” Nassau County SPCA spokesman Gary Rogers told Eyewitness News.
You can learn all about alligator snapping turtles on nationalgeographic.com. But here are a few basics:
You won’t find a bigger freshwater species in North America.
They like to live in rivers, lakes and canals in the southeastern part of the United States.
They can live for 50 to 100 years.
An adult male’s shell can be more than 2 feet long.
An adult male can weigh more than 170 pounds.
Females are much smaller.
They can stay under water for a long time.
They have no natural predators other than us.
Now perhaps you see why they don’t make great pets. And personally I really wouldn’t want to keep one in my basement. Would you?
Never mind. That was a rhetorical question. But if you do want one, there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge. You can read about them on rightpet.com.
At the end of the day, what kind of pet you get is up to you. All I ask is the following:
that you do not further the exotic pet trade
that you do your research before you get any sort of pet
that you engage in responsible pet ownership
If you do all of that, you probably won’t end up on the evening news.
In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
Here’s a surprise. Politicians across the country — including both presumptive presidential nominees — have spent the better part of this week exploiting a national tragedy in order to advance their own agendas.
I don’t know about you, but frankly I find that sickening. I’m not kidding. It makes me want to puke.
On the other hand, there are plenty of people whose selflessness and generosity in the aftermath of the Pulse Orlando nightclub shooting is almost enough to restore my faith in humanity.
Judy Charuhas is one of them.
Helping The Pulse Orlando Shooting Victims’ Pets
According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, Charuhas is in charge of a “local lost pets group.” In the wake of the mass shooting that reportedly left 49 dead and more than 50 injured early Sunday morning, she launched an effort to help the victims’ pets.
The Sentinel article details how she began by posting a message on the Winter Park Lost Pets page on Facebook. In it, she informed followers that the organization is “compiling a list of rescuers/services/people willing to hold/foster/adopt pets for victims and survivors of the Pulse Orlando shooting,” and encouraged people interested in helping to comment.
Not surprisingly, tons of people responded.
“I’ve got a huge list of resources,” Charuhas told the Sentinel. “We’re basically vetting them out and making sure these people can do what they say they can do. If anyone is willing to step forward, I’ll add them to my list.”
If you live in the Orlando area and you are interested in helping, click the link to the story above to find out how you can contact Charuhas directly. You can also visit the Winter Park Lost Pets page on Facebook for more information.
Friends and relatives of the shooting victims are also encouraged to contact local authorities, animal welfare and rescue groups about any pets in need.
Something Else To Think About
Whether it is the result of a natural disaster, a catastrophic accident or an horrific act of violence like the one that happened at Pulse Orlando, a tremendous loss of life is something that shakes us to the very core of our being. When it is sudden and unexpected, it is a stark reminder of both our vulnerability and our mortality. Anyway you look at it, it is something most of us would rather not think about, much less confront.
Nevertheless, most of us do make provisions for our loved ones in the event that something happens to us. We get life insurance policies. We make wills.
On the other hand, making provisions to ensure that our pets are cared for if we are critically injured or killed is something that may not cross our minds. That doesn’t mean that it’s something we shouldn’t think about, or that there’s nothing we can do. You can learn more about the issue here.
As you can see, there are plenty of options. So whatever you do, please plan ahead. We owe it to ourselves — and our pets.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
I know it’s only Monday, but it’s been a hell of a week.
By now you know that a Florida gunman killed 50 people and injured 53 at a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning. The massacre is “the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history,” according to published reports.
In other news, late last week and again over the weekend, several media outlets published stories about the pleas for leniency in sentencing made by convicted sex offender Brock Turner’s parents. In and of itself that is not a big deal. What makes it newsworthy — and frankly unbelievable — is that not once do Dan or Carleen Turner express concern or remorse about what their little golden boy did. In fact, they were both too busy crying about how “the verdict” ruined their lives to acknowledge he did anything wrong.
What is even more disgusting is that these self-centered, narcissistic swines (for lack of a better description) got their wish. Their son, Brock, who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster on the Stanford University campus in January 2015, got only six months in jail and three years probation.
Elsewhere over the weekend, English and Russian soccer “fans” gathered in France, where teams representing their countries faced off in Euro 2016, the European Championship tournament. Unfortunately, troublemakers from both countries reportedly incited violence prior to and during the game.
Collectively, this is more than enough to make any sane person wonder justwhat the hell is going on.
Stop The World, I Want To Get Off
What is almost as disturbing as the violence itself is the reaction to it. In this case, I am referring specifically to the reaction that occurred in the wake of the Sunday morning massacre.
Media reports issued before all of the facts were known fueled speculation about the shooter and his motive. Politicians started mouthing off before all of the facts were known. People commenting on Internet stories about the incident resorted to trading insults, name calling, and generally carrying on in a completely disgusting and reprehensible manner.
Not that it surprised me. That’s what always happens after an incident of this magnitude. But that doesn’t make it right. Not by a long shot.
The time in the immediate aftermath of any tragedy is not the time to politicize the issue, nor is it the time to engage in the stupidity commonly seen on the Internet. Honestly, does screaming louder than the other guy or calling him names or insulting his mother really make anyone feel better? Does it do any good? Does it change anything?
I think not.
Enough Is Enough
The hours and days following a tragedy of this magnitude is the time to find compassion in our hearts and rally to help everyone affected. It is the time to offer what little solace we can for families and friends of those who were lost and those who were injured. It is the time to grieve for and with those now facing inexplicable heartache. It is time to respect their privacy, but it also time to give them a forum to share their feelings if they wish to do so.
We must give those who were injured space and time as they begin to heal. We must give those who lost friends and loved ones time to mourn.
Then — and only then — will there come a time when we must put our differences aside and have a meaningful discussion about the important issues at hand. We must find it within ourselves to put our egos aside and enter an open dialogue about terrorism, radical Islam, gun control, gun owners rights, homophobia and the hate that generally plagues this country.
It is crucial that we find some way to come together — and we can do it. We did it after 9/11 — and we can do it again. We must.
If we don’t, we are doomed. It’s as simple as that.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
To hear his daddy tell it, Brock Turner — the convicted sex offender and former Stanford University student — is actually a golden boy who doesn’t deserve much more than a slap on the wrist for the crime he committed.
Apparently the judge agrees with him.
In March, Brock Turner was convicted of three felony charges: assault with intent to rape an intoxicated/unconscious person; penetration of an intoxicated person; and penetration of an unconscious person. The charges stemmed from a January 2015 incident in which Brock Turner, 20, took advantage of a helpless young woman on campus.
The California Penal Code is very specific about the punishment upon conviction for these crimes.
First there’s Section 289 subdivision (d) which states: “Any person who commits an act of sexual penetration, and the victim is at the time unconscious of the nature of the act and this is known to the person committing the act or causing the act to be committed, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”
Under the law, a victim who is “unconscious of the nature of the act” is one who can’t fight back because he or she was “unconscious or asleep” or because he or she is not “aware, knowing, perceiving or cognizant that the act occurred.”
Then there’s Section 220. subdivision (a) (1), which states: “Except as provided in subdivision (b), any person who assaults another with intent to commit mayhem, rape, sodomy, oral copulation, or any violation of Section 264.1, 288, or 289 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, four, or six years.”
At any rate, you can do the math. And then ask yourself why Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky couldn’t seem to do the same. Or why he didn’t want to.
Last week he sentenced the former Stanford University swimmer to just six months incarceration and three years probation.
Boo Hoo
Even so, Brock Turner appears to be feeling pretty sorry for himself, according to a recent article in The New York Times that included a copy of his letter to Perksy and a link to his father’s controversial statement.
“The night of January 17th changed my life and the lives of everyone involved forever,” Brock Turner says in his statement. “I can never go back to being the person I was before that day. I am no longer a swimmer, a student, a resident of California, or the product of the work that I put in to accomplish the goals that I set out in the first nineteen years of my life.”
Although he acknowledges and says he regrets that he also caused the victim “emotional and physical stress that is completely unwarranted and unfair,” most of the emphasis in Brock Turner’s statement is on himself and how he has been affected.
“I’ve lost two jobs solely based on the reporting of my case,” he says. “I wish I never was good at swimming or had the opportunity to attend Stanford, so maybe the newspapers would want to write stories about me.”
He goes on to beg the judge to give him only probation, saying that wants to be a positive influence on young people and that he’s already paid a steep price for his actions.
“I’ve been shattered by the party culture and risk taking behavior that I briefly experienced in my four months at school. I’ve lost my chance to swim in the Olympics. I’ve lost my ability to obtain a Stanford degree. I’ve lost employment opportunities, my reputation and most of all, my life,” he says.
The Apple Hasn’t Fallen Far…
That Brock Turner is so selfish, self-absorbed and self-centered can be partially attributed to youth and immaturity. That he seems completely incapable of taking responsibility for his actions is also easily explained — especially when viewed in context of his own father’s statement.
In the written request that his son be placed on probation Dan Turner also indicates that his son has already paid — and will continue to pay dearly — for what he did. Specifically, he bemoans the fact that Brock Turner would have to register as a sex offender and says incarceration would be too a harsh penalty for something that took place in a relatively short period of time when viewed in the context of his entire life.
Well with all due respect, Mr. Turner, the length of time it took your son to assault that young lady has nothing to do with the punishment he deserves. It takes someone a split second to decide to drive after they’ve had too much to drink. And guess what? If they hit and kill or maim someone, they are punished accordingly — even if it’s their first offense and they’ve never been in trouble. It can take years to plan and carry out a homicide. And guess what? If you’re caught and convicted, you’re punished accordingly — even if it’s your first offense and you’ve never been in trouble.
It’s the price we pay for living in a society governed by rule of law. There are always consequences for our actions. We all need to be held fully accountable for our choices.
By the way, my mother taught me that when I was little. Too bad you didn’t teach your son the same thing.
It is simply mind-boggling. There’s just no other way to put it.
Last week, authorities in Monmouth County, New Jersey, reportedly rescued 276 dogs from one home. According to multiple media accounts, some of the dogs had never been outside, some were trapped in walls and some were literally having puppies.
“When the Monmouth County SPCA Law Enforcement Division realized that we were facing an historical hoarding event, we knew that we would need to call on all our partners in animal welfare, law enforcement and emergency responders,” the agency’s police chief and executive director Ross Licitra said.
Personnel from at least five separate animal rescue, animal welfare and law enforcement agencies rallied to the cause. But even with such a massive response, it took workers 15 hours to free all of the animals.
Help Wanted
The Monmouth SPCA is now turning to the community for help, and there are several ways you can do so.
In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
Even if you don’t live in New Jersey, you can donate to help cover the costs of caring for these dogs. You can find a link to a special donation page and additional information about where to send your payment here.
The agency is also welcoming inquires about fostering some of the dogs.
“Dogs in our care, especially in cases like this, have a much easier time adjusting to their new surroundings in a home environment rather than in a shelter,” the organization says.
If you live nearby and are interested in providing a temporary home for one of these dogs, you can send an email to: Fostering@monmouthcountyspca.org.
Finally, you can help by donating items on the shelter’s wish list. This list includes:
blankets
towels
sheets
small/medium dog crates
dog toys
Science Diet dog food
Purina One wet puppy food
For more information about where you can drop off your donations, click here.
Finally, the Monmouth County SPCA stresses that the dogs are not yet available for adoption and it will take at least one to two weeks to determine which, if any, will be.
“The dogs we currently have need to be medically cleared, spayed/neutered, and assessed behaviorally before they will be ready to meet potential adopters,” the agency says.
In the meantime, those of you who do live in or near Monmouth County are encouraged to meet some of the SPCA’s shelter animals currently available for adoption.
It’s Sad But True
According to the ASPCA, animal hoarding occurs when someone “is housing more animals than he or she can adequately care for.” Specifically, it is defined by “an inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care—often resulting in animal starvation, illness and death.”
While extreme hoarding cases make national headlines and grab our attention, the ASPCA says there as many as 900 to 2,000 new animal hoarding cases in the United States every year. Collectively, these incidents may involve as many as 250,000 animals of varying species.
For more information about animal hoarding, including warning signs and what to do if you suspect someone you know may be overwhelmed, click here.
And please remember that no one can save all of the companion animals in need of homes in the United States. But together we can make a big difference for a few.
Last week I urged you not to leave your pets — or your kids alone in the car this summer.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
But I didn’t tell you what you should do if you see an unsupervised child or animal in a hot car.
To be honest, there are a couple of reasons for that. First, and most importantly, I don’t want anything I write to be construed as legal advice. For one thing, I am not a lawyer so I am not qualified to dispense it. As a paralegal I can’t dispense it. And aside from all that, we live in an extremely litigious society and I would really rather not get sued.
If I could tell you what to do, here’s what I’d say. “It depends.”
It’s The Law… In Ohio
In Ohio, citizens will soon be able to take immediate action in order to “rescue” an unsupervised child or animal from a hot car. Specifically, the new law that reportedly takes effect later this summer allows a civilian to break into a vehicle in order to free a companion animal or child without fear of reprisal — but only in very specific and very limited circumstances.
The language in Ohio SB215 regarding the removal of a child and the removal of an animal is similar. So for brevity’s sake I’ll share the information regarding pets.
The new law recently inked by Ohio Gov. John Kasich stipulates that a vehicle owner can not sue someone who breaks into their car to remove an animal for damages if the person who does so:
has checked to see if the door is locked before forcing his or her way into the vehicle
has reason to believe the animal is in grave and immediate danger
has made a legitimate effort to alert authorities before breaking into the car or alerts them as soon as possible afterwards
has made a legitimate effort to inform the vehicle owner of what has transpired in writing after forcing his or her way into the car
has stayed with the animal in a “safe location” until authorities arrived
and has not used unnecessary force to break into the vehicle
Anyone who uses excessive force or tries to aid the animal in a manner not specified by the law automatically loses the protection otherwise afforded by it.
As of last year, laws in other states, such as Arizona and California allow certain authorities to use “reasonable” force to remove or rescue animals from motor vehicles. Similar provisions were in place in the following states in 2015:
Delaware
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Vermont
Washington
The New York law also prevents qualified individuals from being sued. In Tennessee, anyone who acts within the scope of the law is also protected.
For more information on the applicable laws in your state, visit your state legislature’s website.
Patriotic Colors. Memorial Day Ceremony in Warrenton, Va., May 2011. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I hope you are enjoying the last day of your three-day weekend. I hope you’ve had fun celebrating the unofficial start of summer, and I hope you celebrated it responsibly. But most importantly I hope you’ve stopped to reflect upon the true meaning and significance of Memorial Day.
Today is not about blockbuster sales, blockbuster movies or backyard barbecues. It is a time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in armed conflicts around the world. It is a time to reflect on their patriotism, sense of duty and courage. It is also a time to remember the families that had to go on after suffering the unspeakable loss of their loved ones.
Remembering America’s Fallen War Dogs
But there is another group we seldom hear about that should not be forgotten. These are the American military animals — mostly (but not all) dogs — that were also killed in action.
In an effort to learn more about the unsung heroes of the U.S.A.’s armed forces, I came across several websites, including eagleid.com. This page pays tribute to “The War Dogs of the United States Military.” Its contents brought me to tears.
Memorial Day Wreath. Warrenton, Va., 2011. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
Apparently there was a time, not too long ago, when the American military regarded its dogs the much in the same way it viewed tanks, planes, submarines, guns and bombs. These dogs — living creatures — were “relegated to the status of military equipment instead of personnel.” Among other things, this once meant that the dogs that survived the horrors of war were simply discarded (left behind or put to sleep) once they served their “purpose.” It also meant that the geniuses in charge of the U.S. armed forces historically refused to recognize the part that the dogs killed in action and those that survived played in this country’s military campaigns. According to the author of the article on the Tribute to War Dogs of the United States Military page, the rationale for this was that honoring canine warriors would be “demeaning to servicemen.”
Luckily the public and the “servicemen” themselves roundly castigated the idea. And as so often happens when the establishment is called out in the court of public opinion, significant changes ensued. Most importantly, military dogs are no longer put down or abandoned once their tour(s) of duty end. From what I understand, they either join their handlers once their handlers return to civilian life or are put up for adoption.
Increased media coverage in recent years has also heightened public awareness about the work that military dogs do and the bond between them and their human partners. News about the death of our war dogs is no longer ignored. Military dog handlers who receive honors for their efforts are quick to share credit with their canine partners. Internet stories about dogs grieving for their fallen handlers and troops angered by the loss of their dogs are now commonplace.
Rest In Peace, Brave Warriors
American Flag. As seen at Memorial Day ceremony in Warrenton, Virginia. May 2011. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
In addition to information about the history of U.S. war dogs, eagleid.com provides a list of the U.S. military dogs that have served in armed conflicts since the Civil War (including those presumed missing or left behind). There are too many to list here, so I will include those designated on the site as “killed in action.” They are:
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