Aaryn Michelle Joseph (Sellers) aka @aarynmj on Tiktok and other social media platforms recently took the life of a 9 month old puppy for absolutely no reason other than she was not for or equipped to care for her. She resides in Stillwater OK and brought her 9 month old puppy “Birdie” to Cimarron vet clinic in Stillwater and had her euthanized. The clinic itself admits it was “owners discretion” and there were no signs of aggression that they witnessed. Aaryn chose this specific vet clinic because of the horrible reviews and for the fact that they will “put down any dog without asking questions.” Birdie was BEATEN, neglected and drugged every single day that she was alive on this planet by Aaryn and her mother, Patricia. Aaryn was giving Birdie large doses of gabapentin and trazadone that were Aaryns own prescriptions to keep Birdie sedated and quiet. She was hitting, kicking, and abusing Birdie in so many other ways. Birdie was put in an empty crate all day, everyday. No mat, bed, toys, chews, water, food, etc. Just cold crate. She was never taken out to run or play. She was never walked, and barely brought outside to go to the bathroom and when she was brought out it was for less then 2 minutes at a time. If you go on to Tiktok and search the pages “TheAarynarchives” and “TheAarynfiles” there is an abundance of proof of these allegations. Birdie was abused and neglected by every single human in her life- including the vets office who just took her look without even bothering to try and give her a chance first and rehome her. Aaryn refused to even try to rehome Birdie in fear of what the “internet would say about her.” When she had Birdie euthanized she lied to the internet and everyone she knew and said that she had rehomed Birdie to a woman named Kim in NC and created an AI generated photo of Birdie sitting on this woman’s lap. The woman, Kim, admitted to helping pay for Birdies euthanasia and a slew of other things. There was also a trainer who was helping Aaryn with Birdie for free who came forward with proof of abuse from Aaryn towards Birdie along with neglect. This brings us to this petition, and is the motivation behind it. We want justice for Birdie and every other innocent animal this has happened to. We want harsher laws for animal abuse\neglect and tighter laws on euthanasia! 

PETITION FOR STRONGER ANIMAL CRUELTY, NEGLECT, AND ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS IN OKLAHOMA

To the Oklahoma Legislature and State Officials:

We, the undersigned citizens of Oklahoma and supporters of animal welfare, respectfully petition the Oklahoma Legislature to strengthen Oklahoma’s laws concerning animal abuse, animal neglect, abandonment, seizure, and euthanasia.

Animals are living beings that depend entirely upon humans for their care, safety, food, shelter, medical treatment, and protection. When an animal is intentionally abused, seriously neglected, or unnecessarily killed, the consequences can be permanent and devastating.

We believe Oklahoma’s laws should provide meaningful consequences for those who intentionally harm animals while also providing appropriate due-process protections for animals whose lives may be at risk.

WE ASK THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE TO:

1. Make serious animal abuse and animal neglect felony offenses.

We ask that intentional or knowing animal abuse and serious neglect be treated as felony-level offenses rather than allowing serious cases to be handled only as misdemeanors.

This should include conduct such as:

Intentionally causing serious physical injury to an animal;
Torturing or intentionally inflicting prolonged suffering;
Knowingly withholding necessary food, water, shelter, or veterinary care resulting in serious suffering or injury;
Abandoning an animal under circumstances that create a substantial risk of death or serious injury;
Repeated acts of animal cruelty or neglect;
Killing an animal through intentional cruelty or severe neglect.
We further ask that enhanced penalties apply when an animal suffers severe injury, permanent disability, prolonged suffering, or death.

2. Require meaningful accountability for repeat offenders.

A person previously convicted of animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, or a substantially similar offense should face enhanced penalties for subsequent offenses.

Courts should also have the authority to prohibit convicted animal abusers from owning, possessing, fostering, breeding, selling, or otherwise controlling animals for an appropriate period of time or permanently in the most serious cases.

3. Establish stronger protections before an animal is euthanized because of an alleged aggression problem.

We believe an animal should not lose its life solely because an owner, custodian, or other individual claims that the animal is aggressive.

When euthanasia is being requested or considered because of an alleged behavioral or aggression issue, we ask that Oklahoma law require documented evidence supporting the claim whenever reasonably possible.

Such evidence may include:

Veterinary records;
Animal-control records;
Police reports;
Photographs or video;
Witness statements;
Documentation of an actual bite or attack;
Prior documented incidents;
A professional behavioral or veterinary assessment; and
Other reliable evidence establishing a legitimate safety concern.
4. Provide additional safeguards for puppies and juvenile dogs.

We specifically ask that special consideration be given to dogs under one year of age when euthanasia is being considered based solely upon an allegation of aggression.

A young dog should not be presumed permanently dangerous based solely upon its breed, appearance, size, temperament at a particular moment, or an unsubstantiated allegation.

Whenever reasonably possible, a qualified veterinarian or certified animal-behavior professional should evaluate the animal before euthanasia is authorized on behavioral grounds.

Age-appropriate behavior, fear, anxiety, lack of socialization, pain, illness, environmental stress, or other potentially treatable causes should be considered.

5. Require an independent assessment when euthanasia is requested because of alleged aggression.

When a private owner requests euthanasia specifically because the owner claims that the animal is dangerous or aggressive, we ask that the law provide safeguards against euthanasia being used as a substitute for investigation.

Except in circumstances involving an immediate and documented threat to human safety or where a licensed veterinarian determines that euthanasia is medically necessary to prevent unavoidable suffering, the animal should, whenever reasonably possible, receive an independent assessment before euthanasia based upon an aggression allegation.

6. Preserve evidence in suspected animal cruelty cases.

When an animal is suspected of being abused or severely neglected, authorities should be required, whenever reasonably possible, to document the animal’s condition through photographs, veterinary examination, medical records, witness statements, and other appropriate evidence.

This documentation should be preserved so that animal cruelty cases can be properly investigated and prosecuted.

7. Give abused and neglected animals a meaningful opportunity for protection.

When there is probable cause to believe an animal has been seriously abused or neglected, authorities should have appropriate authority to remove the animal from an unsafe environment and place it into protective custody while the case is investigated.

The safety and welfare of the animal should be considered throughout the legal process.

8. Increase transparency and accountability.

We ask Oklahoma to establish stronger reporting and recordkeeping requirements concerning animal cruelty convictions, repeat offenders, animal seizures, and court-ordered animal ownership prohibitions.

Animal cruelty should be taken seriously as a public-safety and animal-welfare issue, and the public should have appropriate access to information concerning convictions and legally imposed animal ownership restrictions.

OUR POSITION

We recognize that public safety matters.

We recognize that there are circumstances in which euthanasia may be necessary because an animal presents an established and significant danger or is suffering from an irreversible medical condition.

Our goal is not to prevent legitimate emergency euthanasia.

Our goal is to prevent an animal from being unnecessarily killed because of an unsupported allegation, an impulsive decision, convenience, breed prejudice, or a failure to properly investigate.

A claim of aggression should not automatically become a death sentence. Evidence matters. Investigation matters. Veterinary expertise matters. And the life of the animal matters.

We believe Oklahoma can protect both people and animals by creating a system that distinguishes between a genuinely dangerous animal and an animal that has been labeled dangerous without sufficient evidence.

THEREFORE, WE PETITION

We respectfully ask the Oklahoma Legislature to introduce, support, and pass legislation that:

☐ Makes serious animal abuse and serious animal neglect felony offenses;

☐ Creates enhanced penalties for severe injury, prolonged suffering, death, and repeat offenses;

☐ Strengthens restrictions against convicted animal abusers owning or possessing animals;

☐ Requires documented evidence and appropriate evaluation when euthanasia is sought because of an alleged aggression issue;

☐ Provides additional safeguards for dogs and puppies under one year of age;

☐ Requires preservation of evidence in serious animal cruelty investigations;

☐ Provides appropriate opportunities for veterinary and behavioral assessment before non-emergency euthanasia based upon alleged aggression;

☐ Protects legitimate emergency euthanasia when necessary to protect human safety or prevent unavoidable animal suffering; and

☐ Establishes stronger transparency and accountability for animal cruelty cases throughout Oklahoma.

We believe animals deserve laws that recognize the seriousness of cruelty and neglect.

Oklahoma can—and should—do better.

We respectfully ask our elected officials to listen to the citizens of Oklahoma and take action to strengthen protections for animals.