Petition calls for more police oversight in animal cruelty cases
SEATTLE -- There's a growing grassroots effort to get police and deputies more involved in animal cruelty cases in King County.
But police officers and deputies say they already jump in when needed.
For Diane Rudy, pictures and video of pets living in deplorable conditions or injured from physical abuse appear far too often.
"Hurting animals -- it's not necessary," she said, adding she has even witnessed animal cruelty first-hand.
"We thought the dog was going to die," said Rudy as her emotions swelled. "I heard the dog barking, then I heard my neighbor yelling. And I heard thumping and yelping."
Rudy said her neighbor also saw abuse.
"She had seen him hold him above his head and slam him on the ground, and nothing's being done," she said.
Rudy and her neighbor called police and animal control. In this case, animal control officers took the dog in, conducted a full medical exam and only found that it needed vaccinations. The owner paid the bill and took the dog home.
Convinced something more needed to be done, Rudy started an online petition. In her plea for support, she wrote law enforcement officers need to be allowed to get involved and help bring justice.
"For some reason, some people think we can't respond to animal cruelty cases, and we can," said King County sheriff's spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, adding deputies do actively investigate cases in cooperation with animal control officers.
But Rudy still says there's room for improvement, which is why she started the petition and launched a Facebook page.
"I think it's going to do something," she said. "I'm optimistic about it."
In just five days, close to 200 people have signed Rudy's petition. Rudy set her deadline for collecting all signatures at April 30.
But police officers and deputies say they already jump in when needed.
For Diane Rudy, pictures and video of pets living in deplorable conditions or injured from physical abuse appear far too often.
"Hurting animals -- it's not necessary," she said, adding she has even witnessed animal cruelty first-hand.
"We thought the dog was going to die," said Rudy as her emotions swelled. "I heard the dog barking, then I heard my neighbor yelling. And I heard thumping and yelping."
Rudy said her neighbor also saw abuse.
"She had seen him hold him above his head and slam him on the ground, and nothing's being done," she said.
Rudy and her neighbor called police and animal control. In this case, animal control officers took the dog in, conducted a full medical exam and only found that it needed vaccinations. The owner paid the bill and took the dog home.
Convinced something more needed to be done, Rudy started an online petition. In her plea for support, she wrote law enforcement officers need to be allowed to get involved and help bring justice.
"For some reason, some people think we can't respond to animal cruelty cases, and we can," said King County sheriff's spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, adding deputies do actively investigate cases in cooperation with animal control officers.
But Rudy still says there's room for improvement, which is why she started the petition and launched a Facebook page.
"I think it's going to do something," she said. "I'm optimistic about it."
In just five days, close to 200 people have signed Rudy's petition. Rudy set her deadline for collecting all signatures at April 30.
Learn about changes coming to commenting