What You Can Do

Dear Friends of the Rabbit Center,

On March 15, HRS member Asia Grey responded to strange noises in her backyard, and was shocked to discover that her teenaged neighbor had broken into her backyard and was beating her rabbits to death with a brick. Asia ran outside and stopped him from killing one rabbit, but two of them had already been brutally killed. Asia has pressed charges against the teenager and she has sought an emergency restraining order to protect herself and her remaining pets. Oakland police have charged the boy with felony animal cruelty.

Numerous studies have shown that children who engage in animal cruelty are more likely to commit violence as adults, and that there is a direct link between the abuse of animals and violence toward humans. Violent acts like the one committed this week are a sign that without swift intervention, this young man is on the road towards an even more violent future.

We commend the Oakland Police Department for taking this incident seriously.
We urge authorities to make sure that this teenager receives immediate, intensive counseling for his obvious psychological problems and strict punishment to protect other animals and people alike.

Please write a polite letter to Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff and ask that his office vigorously prosecute this case. On behalf of Asia Grey, her surviving rabbit, and the two rabbits who were so brutally killed, please ask DA Orloff to ensure that this young man is convicted of felony animal cruelty, and given serious and appropriate psychological sentencing.
We also ask that the Alameda County Children and Family Services Department investigate why this boy's severe emotional problems had gone unnoticed and untreated, leading to such tragic consequences.

Address your letters to:
Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff
1225 Fallon St. Suite 900
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone (510) 272-6222
FAX (510) 271-5157

Alameda County District Attorney's Office Juvenile Division West
Assistant D.A. Walter Jackson
400 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 268-7575
FAX: (510) 268-2067

For more information and updates regarding this case, please visit www.rabbit.org/rabbit-center.

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Sample Letter

Below is a sample letter. Please feel free to copy and put it in your letter.

To: Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff
1225 Fallon Street Suite 900
Oakland CA 94612

Re: Oakland Rabbit Killing Case (CR# 05-015454)

Dear Mr. Orloff,

I am requesting that your office seek mandatory psychological counseling for the 13 year old Oakland boy that bludgeoned two of his neighbor's pet rabbits to death on March 15, 2005. As you are aware, children who commit violent acts against animals often go on to commit violent acts against humans.

I commend the Oakland Police Department for their exemplary handling of this situation and hope that you will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.

Sincerely,