Dear Editor,
On March 12th, 2019, a decision was handed down by Magistrate Crystal Lambert that should send a clear message to animal abusers everywhere.
November 17th, 2018 was the first of five court hearings into the brutal chopping of an innocent dog named Trudy, rescued from the streets by an elderly woman named Victoria. The chop was so malicious that her foot below her knee had to be amputated by vet Dr Nicolas Waldron. For those of you who were not following the case, Trudy was chopped by a neighbor who accused her (a dog) of stealing and killing his chickens and eating eggs.
The matter was investigated and prosecuted by Inspector Kooldeep and Officer Thornhill of Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. Thanks to Trudy’s brave mum, a senior in her 70’s, for giving crucial evidence and looking after Trudy during and after her surgery. On March 12th, 2019, the magistrate found the accused guilty and fined him $15,000.
This is a big victory for animals! Thanks are due to Shalini and Kumar Singh and their family, known animal lovers, for being there financially and morally for Victoria and her pets. Thanks also to the good officers at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station who wanted to see justice done for Trudy and to veterinarian, Dr Nicolas Waldron, for writing up the medical report on Trudy’s injuries used in court.
“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.” – Anna Sewell
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
