In short, high ranking officials in Steuben County, (New York), namely District Attorney Brooks Baker and his assistant Joseph Pelych, have gone so far as to invent and prosecute crimes that don't exist to try and kill this dog, Buster. When that plan failed due to our legal action, Pelych stated, on the record, that he wants "to keep this dog in a cage for the rest of his life." For a District Attorney to openly and brazenly invent crimes to try and kill a dog, and then openly and on the record promote and advocate a severe form of animal cruelty is... wow.

Here are the facts: Buster, age 6 or 7, was abandoned in a vacant house to die by his previous owner. That is known by Baker and Pelych. Abandoning an animal is a crime pursuant to §355 of the Agricultural and Markets Laws. They have turned a blind eye to that part of the story.

He was rescued by the Hornell Area Humane Society, which is one of the most diligent and compassionate shelters I have had the pleasure of working with. He was adopted into a loving home. Tragedy occurred. While being walked in the park by his owner, he walked by a very small dog. Buster attacked and killed the poor animal, despite his owner and others doing everything they could to separate him from the tiny dog. It's awful. It's tragic. I've been there. What it is not, on any level, is a crime.
Yet, Pelych prosecuted Buster's owner on a bogus and completely made up charge that does not even EXIST in the law to leverage her to surrender Buster so that the dog could be euthanized.

The Humane Society knew something was amiss and contacted me. We put a stop to his being killed ASAP, and are now working out a legal disposition where Buster could be released, potentially to my sanctuary. There is a place for Buster in society, despite the cruelty he has suffered at the hands of so many humans, including the government that is supposed to protect him. His life matters.

Baker and Pelych are now, somehow and out of spite, going after the Humane Society. They are using the power of the Grand Jury to send subpoenas and intimidate the Humane Society directors. Pelcyh is calling one of the directors and screaming at her. They are using an unbelievable amount of taxpayer dollars to try and illegally kill Buster. This could best be described as a rabid prosecution, stemming from small minded breed discrimination and prejudice.

Buster is stuck in kennels while these men use their powerful perches to continue this crusade. Let's show them there are more people watching them now and we will not stand for this ludacris behavior from a district attorney.  This is not the first time the county has had a case like this mistreating animals. Enough is enough.

#bustoutbuster #dontbullymybreed