Man drags horse behind ATV: ask for harshest penalty
BACKGROUND | FROM THE EXAMINER
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma – Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Reuben Houston, 26 pending charges of animal cruelty. Houston dragged his horse behind his ATV severely injuring the animal.
According to the police report, Houston became angry at his horse for continually escaping from the paddock. Obviously in an attempt to punish the horse, Houston allegedly tied the animal to his ATV, dragged him down a paved road, and then tied the horse to a tree.
A neighbor found the horse tied to the tree and called the Sheriff’s Department.
The horse’s eye was protruding from the eye socket, and his flesh was torn away from his shoulders, ribs, hip and flank. His injuries were so egregious a veterinarian had to humanely euthanize the horse.
Houston was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail and has since been freed on bond.
PETITION
Demand Maximum Sentence for OK Man that Critically Injured Horse by Dragging Behind ATV
WHOM TO CONTACT
Sequoyah County District Attorney Office
Sequoyah County Courthouse
120 East Chickasaw
Sallisaw, OK 74955
Telephone Number: 918-775-9131
Fax Number: 918-775-1215
Send two free faxes per day from HERE with no contract, money, or registering: all you need is the fax number and names.
SAMPLE LETTER
RE: Reuben Houston
Dear District Attorney,
I have learned of extremely disturbing and malicious cases of animal cruelty in which Mr. Reuben Houston deliberately caused the suffering and subsequent death of a horse by dragging him behind his ATV and then tying him to a tree; due to the extensive and debilitating injuries, the horse had to be humanely euthanized. I am writing today to encourage you to pursue every route investigating this hideous crime in order to effectively charge and prosecute Mr. Houston and sentence him to the harshest penalty; his crime causing unimaginable agony, fear, and death in the horse and distress and wanton endangerment in children and adults who witnessed the tortured animal on display tied to the tree deserve social justice, not community approval.
When I try to imagine what possible motive animal abusers entertain for subjecting their animal victims to such malicious, heinous acts of brutality, I fail, but I am thankful for a lack of cognitive understanding and rationalization. To voluntarily engage in such malicious behaviour suggests sadistic tendencies, and this Mr. Houston’s actions, causing unmitigated pain and suffering, demonstrates an incontrovertible lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards non-human animals has the ability to show such indifference towards human animals. This link between animal and human abuse has been established, and if society excuses Mr. Houston’s criminal behaviour, or agrees to a lesser punishment, we only harm ourselves by unjustly nullifying cruelty as acceptable behaviour.
Please respect the victim by penalizing the guilty; doing so will demonstrate your commitment to justice, responsibility, and integrity, attributes unquestionably necessary in a legal setting: rejecting cruelty by maintaining an unyielding position towards it would be a model for all community members and would serve to characterize this type of behaviour as both impermissible and punishable.
I know your time is limited and I thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
Name | Address | Email Address
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i sit here in anger
and i want to cry
over and over
i ask myself why
throw the book
at this vicious
jerk
and others
like him
a strong enough
deterrent that
will work:(
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
They have received many, many calls, thats great! Husband is faxing and sending letter…..
Great…they have received many calls already…Tell your Warrior Husband thank you also. Warrior Woman Judith
GOD ALMIGHTY THE POOR POOR HORSE, I CAN’T IMAGINE THE PAIN AND AGONY HE WENT THROUGH AND THE BEWILDERMENT OF WHY HIS OWNER WAS DOING THIS TO HIM. YOU KNOW WE REALLY DON’T NEED SCUM LIKE THIS ON THE EARTH SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OWNER GETTING HIS KARMA. THE HORSE, WELL HEARTBREAKING TO SAY THE LEAST. I PRAY HES IN THE SPIRIT WORLD AND IS SO HAPPY AND FREE. !
Your words mirror my thoughts, Linda. I am heartbroken over the cowardly act of this hater. Let’s all write letters, too. Those do have an impact when trial comes. Thanks for your heartcentered words.
i sit here in anger
and i want to cry
over and over
i ask myself why
throw the book
at this vicious
jerk
and others
like him
a strong enough
deterrent that
will work:(
The maximum sentence is the very least this man deserves for his ruthless and disgusting behavior! he deserves the max!!! See that it happens!
Letter sent!!
Please this man deserves the max!!!! This poor horse and the pain it went throw..
..
Thank you so much, everyone!
Its Just as bad as stealing a horse hang him for horse crualty
This man should be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law..He has a problem..Anyone that can get that angry at a horse and do this,Will hurt other people in my opinion..He needs to be taught a lesson..
i believe he should be tied to the back of an atv and drug down the road as well. then, instead of helping him, tie him to a tree for a day and see how he likes it.
I agree with Kelsie here, the Law will do no more then slap him on the wrist. He is scum who deserves as much if not more then what he gave that poor horse!
If more people had to go through what they subjected their animal to – I believe there would be FAR less cruelty in this world – an eye for an eye.
Thats disgustin how some can do such a thing I think he should get the harshes sentence
this person no animal is a discrase to the world and i hope he gets put to death and he deserves it that animal was going away because he new the owner was not nice and the owner was crule i hope the man who did this sees this and is sorry for wat he did
I HOPE HE GOS TO JAIL FOR LIFE OR IS PUT TO DEATH IN JAIL
I CRY
AS I LIE
FOR THAT HORSE MAY DIE
SO I WILL CRY
ON ALL DAY AS I PRAY THE HORSE WILL BE PUT TO REST
He deserves the worst & harshest that can be handed down to him. A “person” who would do this to an animal would just as easily do it to a child or anything that is defenseless. He needs jail. I always say there is probably “a special corner in hell waiting for him.”
I’ve talked to the Assistant DA’s office in Sallisaw, OK today and expressed my outrage. I will tell you all this, that I will be shocked if this man gets more than a small fine and community service. Of course, Reuben Houston deserves a much harsher punishment, but our laws just don’t go far enough in animal cruelty crimes. As an example, you only need to google “starving sheep in Craig County, OK” to see the defendant, David Bradley Bell, received only 240 days of community service, moved to Texas and rode off into the sunset after being convicted of a crime that the HSUS described as one of the worst animal cruelty cases they had investigated in the United States! I hope I am wrong.
Fly with wings of angels, our equine friend, no more cruelty or pain now that you have made your way across the Rainbow Bridge. May we all be the voice for those that cannot speak for themselves against unspeakable cruelty and neglect.
WHERE’S THE PETITION ON THIS ONE? I WANT TO SEE THIS SOB PAY FOR WHAT HE’S DONE!! HE WILL NOT STOP, HE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!! ANIMAL ABUSE MUST END AND WE ARE THE VOICES FOR THE VOICELESS CRITTERS OF OUR WORLD! I DO NOT ASK FOR HARSH PUNISHMENT – I DEMAND IT!!!!!
I am not going to tell you how sad I am, Instead, I think the punishment needs to be, to tie this bastards legs together and drag him behind a atv. BUT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO KICK HIM IN THE FACE with my boot!!!!! i feel a little better now!!!!! but not much!!!
This diabolic maniac deserves nothing short of the pain and horror that he intently delivered upon such a wonderful creature. The DA’s office should be punished for setting such a low bail amount, and for allowing an incredibly dangerous sociopath as Houston to be released back into the community. You know he’s back at his home, warm and comfortable and laughing at the legal system for being such fools!!! Petitions are great and there is one at Change.org that can be signed, but I wonder if they are actually sent or delivered, and to whom? Contacting the Sequoyah County DA directly or through letters might actually be beneficial, but it’s really about changing Oklahoma’s ancient animal cruelty laws. We animal advocates have been fighting a losing battle for years just to get stronger laws on the books regarding the over-breeding, “puppy mill” problems here. Reuben Houston should be given the maximum sentence in prison, no chance for parole or good time served, and should have to pay the vet fees as well as for the burial of that poor, poor horse!!!! But knowing Oklahoma’s legal system, the most he’ll receive is probably probation………
suck sick losers in the world to do something like this,;; god bless that poor horse,;;I hope the person who did this gets a real harsh penalty;
u CANNOT punish a creature that is not the same as you
it is not right
it is not moral
it is not fair
this is absoulouteley discusting you should do the exact same back to him and i hope after that let him die in jail
this is un normal and the saddest thing ever i had a tear in my eye while i was reading about it MAKE HIM SUFFER
This guy should be dragged down a road till he is half dead. Tie him to a tree for a couple days. Bring him to prison till he is able to walk again and keep doing this over and over till this low life finly dies !!!! How dare he treet one of gods great animals this way. There should be a law if you see some one doing such a act like this. We the people can take matter’s in our own way and show him what it’s like to be dragged down a road till his flesh is all gone. I hope they hang him in public so people will see what will happen to you if you do such a crule thing to a horse.
Horrible!! What a creep! No decent human with a good conscience be able to even think up such a horrible, mean and cruel thing to do any living being/beast!! This ‘person’, as he doesn’t even deserve to be labeled a ‘man’; deserves the maximum charge, which in my mind doesn’t do enough! If this were a human being, it would be life in prison or the death penalty. Why is it that animal torture is taken so lightly in our country? Bless that horse’s soul that he is at peace.
Horrible!! What a creep! No decent human with a good conscience would be able to even think up such a horrible, mean and cruel thing to do to any living being/beast!! This ‘person’, as he doesn’t even deserve to be labeled a ‘man’; deserves the maximum charge, which in my mind doesn’t do enough! If this were a human being, it would be life in prison or the death penalty. Why is it that animal torture is taken so lightly in our country? Bless that horse’s soul that he is at peace.
Reuben Houston on the “Disposition Docket” Wednesday, 12/14/11 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Langley. The address is 120 E. Chickasaw, Sallisaw, OK 74955. It would be a good idea to call the day before (918) 775-9131 to be sure Houston is till on the docket. There is power in numbers so please make it your goal to represent the principal that we will not tolerate such abuses in Oklahoma nor anywhere else when we hear of such injustice toward animals. Maybe we could each comment if attending so we will have an idea how many to expect. As I get responses to my cross-posts from emails I send out, I will do the same. Thanks
well this is know suprise of just another act of brutality inflicted on some poor beast that didn’t know why it was being abused or maimed , all for sport i am sure , just like my cat run over and left to die but he didn’t right away but had the strength and determination to drag his broken body into my motorhome threw his kiddy door and to my bed where he cried out and i was up in a flash but i couldn’t save him . i can’t get over that fact that some people think these other living animals have no feeling , just like you and me . hey lets drag this guy around by the neck by that atv , i think that would be alot of fun , know what they say in ROME , AN EYE 4 AN EYE
The primary goal with this case is to assure that Reuben Houston, nor any of his family, are allowed to EVER own another animal. Those that live near Vian and know him alledge that he is mentally challenged so the best we could hope for would be such a verdict because I have little faith that there will be a harsh punishment for this crime.
Please Fax or call the DA prior to Wednesday’s court hearing at 9:00 a.m. in Sallisaw, OK and ask for no animal ownership. There is a group of animal lovers from Claremore that may car pool in support of a strong verdict.
Kil this bastard!!!!!
This sick man deserves the maximum punishment and should never be allowed to keep any animals.
I am speechless, this vile and evil thing needs to be punished to the full extent of the law.
Please do not let him get away with this after such immoral and sick behaviour I fear a child could be next.
For all those wishing cruelty upon this man, I would like to bring it to your attention that you too are putting negative energy into the world through anger, hatred and want of revenge and pain. That perpetuates actions like this by putting that negative energy into the world. He will get his, cause and effect, karma. But to wish it upon this man is to become what you hate, to become like him. I hope he is fined thousands of dollars. I hope he has to serve time in jail/prison. Those penalities will most likely ensure that he will never do something like that again; that is why I hope that happens to him, not to hurt him, but to change him. It probably won’t teach him, he is obviously mentally/emotionally disturbed. I also hope that he is never allowed to own, live with, nor work with any animals ever again. That should be the law.
Update?
I have no new information as of this time, sorry, Michelle; as soon as I do, I will update.