Soldiers Getting Away With Animal Cruelty In Texas

Soldiers Getting Away With Animal Cruelty In Texas

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<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1241'>https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1241</a><br /><br /><br />Soldiers Getting Away With Animal Cruelty In Texas<br /><br />Please Demand That The Army's Fort Bliss In Texas Take Animal Cruelty Seriously!</p>
<p>Two recent cases of animal cruelty by soldiers at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas raise cause for alarm. In the first case, Fort Bliss soldier Dwayne Sumter left his dog enclosed in a crate alone in an off-post house for weeks. The dog, dubbed "Little Pit Girl," ate her way out of the crate but with no food and water, she died. Her body was found later lying in a suitcase that was left in the abandoned house. Sumter was charged with animal cruelty by the El Paso District Attorney's Office but has never been to trial. He was transferred to Fort Hood.</p>
<p>The second case involved&nbsp;another Fort Bliss soldier accused of killing a small dog and injuring another. Spc. Frank Zimmerman, who was charged by military police last week with not following the post's animal cruelty policy, allegedly broke the leg of a dog he'd recently adopted from an animal shelter. That dog, Wrigley, has since had surgery and is recovering. A second dog, Tinkerbelle, was killed allegedly after Zimmerman stomped on&nbsp;her neck.</p>
<p>Please contact the U.S. Army to demand prosecution of these individuals, and to insist that they take animal cruelty cases seriously. Use the form on this page to send an e-mail, or contact by phone, fax, and snail mail:</p>
<p>Jean Offutt, Public Affairs Officer, United States Army<br />Tel (915) 568-4505<br />Fax (915) 568-2995<br />Email:&nbsp;<a href='http://mailto:jean.offutt@us.army.mil'>jean.offutt@us.army.mil</a></p>
<p>Address:<br />Public Affairs Office<br />Building 15, Slater Road<br />Fort Bliss, TX&nbsp; 79916</p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href='https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1241'>https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1241</a></p>
<p>Dear&nbsp;[Decision Maker],</p>
<p>I am very upset to learn that acts of animal cruelty committed by soldiers from Fort Bliss have not been adequately prosecuted.<br /><br />Spc. Frank Zimmerman was charged by military police last week with not following the post's animal cruelty policy. KFOX TV reported that Zimmerman allegedly broke the leg of a dog he'd recently adopted from an animal shelter.<br /><br />In February 2008, another Fort Bliss soldier.Dwayne Sumter, left his dog enclosed in a crate alone in an off-post house for weeks. The dog, dubbed "Little Pit Girl," ate her way out of the crate but with no food and water, she died. Her body was found later lying in a suitcase that was left in the abandoned house.<br /><br />As you know, Sumter was charged with animal cruelty by the El Paso District Attorney's Office but has never been to trial. He was transferred to Fort Hood.</p>
<p>It seems to me that you have a problem with animal cruelty at Fort Bliss, and I urge you to address this promptly. These cases need to be dealt with seriously and prosecuted. <br /><br />Please don't allow Fort Bliss' reputation to be tainted by a few sick criminals.</p>
<p>Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I shall keep my eyes on the news to see how you follow through on these cases, and any other animal cruelty cases that may come to light.</p>
<p>Sincerely,

[Your name]