California ranchers cruelty case -- help needed

On Monday, January 3, California ranchers Paul Keller and David Guice are scheduled to be sentenced for felony animal cruelty for starving to death scores of animals under their care. The men were each convicted of one count of felony animal cruelty last March when authorities found approximately 100 dead cows, horses, goats and pigs on Keller's property (where Guice was the caretaker), alongside dozens more severely emaciated animals still clinging to life.

Felony convictions for animal abuse are rare, and this is especially true in the case of farm animals. The felony conviction against Keller and Guice for cruelty to farm animals establishes an important precedent in acknowledging that all animals, including farm animals, deserve protection from egregious abuse.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Keller and Guice each face 3 years in jail for their felony animal cruelty conviction. The hearing date is January 3. Fax your letters to Judge Dennis Murray today, asking him to impose significant jail time on Keller and Guice, and to especially ban each of them from keeping animals in their custody.

The hearing date is January 3 thus all letters MUST be faxed.


The Honorable Dennis E. Murray
Tehama County Superior Court
Fax: 530-527-5431

The District Attorney has requested that as many people as possible attend the sentencing hearing. If you are a resident of Northern California, please try to attend. A strong showing in support of the prosecution of this animal abuser will be important in ensuring that he does not get off with a mere slap on the wrist:


Where: Department 2, 445 Pine St. in Red Bluff, CA
Directions and parking information.
When: 9:45 a.m., Monday, January 3, 2005
RSVP: Meghan Beeby at 607-583-2225 ext. 251.