Cat Torturer Given Light Sentence

Cat Torturer Given Light Sentence

by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)

Lovey shot 30 times with BB gun

Two useful tags. Click either to see the articles: Toxic to cats | Dangers to cats

Lovey shot 30 times with BB gun

Lovey shot 30 times with BB gun X Ray of Lovey The carrier

Good morning readers. This is an update on a case that made national news back in September about a cat who was shot thirty times then tossed into McKay Bay in Hillsborough, Florida. On Wednesday this cat torturer was given a light sentence when he had his day in court.

This case made the news not because of the abuse done to the cat, but for the carrier made up to look like a jail cell. On the side of the case were the words "kitty penitentiary, Inmate Mittens and Cell 666."

When this case was first being investigated there was a $1000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest. Records state the punishment could be up to five years in prison.

The cat, Lovey, was found by someone who heard her cries after being thrown into McKay Bay. This person had the heart to take Lovey to a vet where it was discovered she'd been shot thirty times with a BB gun (a type of air gun).

Giovanni Estrada, age 20, was eventually arrested and charged with cruelty to animals.

Pam Perry, an investigator with Hillsboro County Animal Services called this cowardly act "a heinous act of animal cruelty."

Giovanni Estrada appeared before Circuit Judge Daniel Sleet on February 23, 2011 where he admitted to the shooting and other abuse he had caused Lovey.

I'm quite upset that Judge Sleet has given this cat torturer such a light sentence. Estrada was sentenced to 364 days in jail, 250 hours of community service and 3 years probation. Plus he must undergo psychological testing and treatment.

Why wasn't he given a harsher sentence? Because the judge felt the need to humiliate Estrada in court (which he did). Estrada says he's sorry and it won't happen again. The judge knew full well that Giovanni Estrada tortured a caged defenseless animal and let him go with a slap on the wrist.

Pedro Estrada, Giovanni's father, says that although Estrada is 20 years old he's still a child. Excuse me, but in this country he turned into an adult at 18. What will they say when his next crime involves a person?

Are any of the readers here fuming mad at this light sentence? I am. Partly because I know how the jail system works in the U.S. There's something called "work side" where the inmates can earn time off their sentence by working while imprisoned. So chances are he'll serve about five months and be released.

I believe he should have been given the maximum five year sentence. If not to punish Estrada, then to serve as a warning for other cat haters like him. We all know there are plenty more where he came from.

What do the readers at pictures-of-cats think would be a fitting punishment? The cat was shot 30 times by a BB gun and thrown away like garbage in a crate it had obviously been punished in many times in the past.

How can the legal system set any kind of an example by giving 20% of the punishment allowed? Can SOMEONE out there just explain how far someone has to go to be punished in this country!!! Many killers began with animal crimes. Doesn't anyone in the legal system study?!!

I'd better close now. I'm starting to ramble. Please comment.

Photos are courtesy of Petabuse.com

Elisa

Reference: http://www.pet-abuse.com/

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Cat Torturer Given Light Sentence

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Apr 01, 2011
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cats
by: Anonymous

love the page


Apr 01, 2011
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RE: I am watching
by: Sharon

I am watching and waiting. Rest assured that we know sometimes one must protect the innocent when the law choses to do otherwise. What recourse do we and the cats have when we let the law do its job and it fails us both? This kind of animal abuse is everywhere and NO ONE does anything about it but coddle the abuser once they are caught and slap them with some light sentence. Can you just imagine what the poor cat went through and the hundreds just like that poor cat go through because we as a society do nothing. We wait for the law and they do nothing and then we forget about the cases all together. I, for one have had enough!!! I am really really fed up. I have resources and am going to use them and make a difference. Sorry to vent on your page...Sharon


Feb 25, 2011
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neo natzi
by: Anonymous

Extremely light sentence, unbelievable!
What kind of a person could do this? Does he even have a heart? Itis more than immaturity at the age of 20.
I've recently seen a 6 year old crying because his Mom had accidentally stepped on his stuffed teddy bear and the toy squeaked.That was a LIVE little caged kitty for God sake!
It is so sad people like Giovanni Estrada are getting away with this horrendous act.The history tells us that to make his newly drafted army cruel and heartless, Hitler made them torture and beat to death many defenseless animals for "training" purposes.

The acts like these are not only sad and disturbing, they are dangerous for the society of humans.


Feb 25, 2011
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Child abusers
by: Elisa Black-Taylor

The child abusers suffer in prison, but the animal abusers can brag and they all think it's funny.

All one has to do to see the flaws in U.S. law is to sit in on General Sessions court. We took Archies son once and it was the worst idea we ever had. He was turning into a misguided teenager and all we did was show him drug dealer is the best job in the country. We sat for four hours and watched 4th offense drug dealers who dealed near schools get a $300 fine and probation. In other words, they didn't have to take time out from their "job" except to go to court.

I've been turned down for jury duty because of my beliefs. I'm all for public hanging for those who confess to murder. Forget the jails with the big screen TV and libraries and gyms. Lets hang them up at daybreak, make an example of them and not cost the taxpayer 40 years of upkeep.


Feb 25, 2011
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Cat torturer
by: Ruth

The judge should have put him in a crate and sent him over to the UK where we would have seen to it that he never ever tortured an animal again because he'd not be on this earth to do so after a long lingering torture session on himself.
Seriously though, I don't know much about the law apart from staying on the right side of it (except in my imagination as above) but he does seem to have got away lightly.
Elisa do child or animal abusers suffer in prison as they do here by the wrath of other prisoners who hate abusers ? I do hope so !


Feb 24, 2011
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Not enough. Never enough.
by: Anonymous

How about sentencing Estrada to 364 years in jail? Maybe our State Department could work something out with the government of Turkey, and he could spend some of it in a Turkish prison. Miserable, cowardly, pathetic POS.


Feb 24, 2011
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For me it is like this
by: Michael

I have two hats on when I think about these horrible people.

Personally, if I saw him do it etc. I would probably thrash him to within an inch of his life, if my old body held up. I hate these people.

But as a judge, you have to be more "balanced" and reflect society.

This judge tried to do that: produce a balanced sentence.

I am like you, Elisa. I want to give him the max. but if I did he would probably appeal and get it reduced.

The underlying problem is not the judge but society. It bestows neither enough rights nor enough respect to our companion animals (or any animal for that matter) because we are king on this planet and they are "only animals".

Michael Avatar


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