Letter to the Editor

Letter: Stop the animal abuse

Friday, January 10, 2020

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Andrew Nipper who has been sentenced to nine years in prison after he stole a dog and stabbed it 11 times, killing the animal.

Judge Michael Gardner sentenced Nipper to four years on a felony animal abuse charge, two years for stealing the dog and three years for stalking.

Animal abuse is particularly tragic because an animal lacks the ability to speak out.

Animals cannot simply walk into a local shelter and report the behavior of their owners.

Animal abuse many times goes unreported due in large part to confusion and fear on the behalf of those who witness the neglect or mistreatment of animals.

While it is easy to identify an owner striking a dog in public as animal abuse, it may not be as easy to identify when an animal lives in fear of that action from it’s owner.

Mental abuse in animals is just as real as physical abuse.

We need to stop the abuse and the abuse of pet mills, and I’m hoping you will fight for tougher penalties.

Be a voice for the voiceless.

Danny Landers