Please Urge Vigorous Prosecution of Alleged Bird Killers

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BACKGROUND

Eric Cuellar and Justin Teixeira, both reportedly law students at the University of California–Berkeley, face felony charges of conspiracy and willful malicious torture and killing of wildlife stemming from an October 10 incident in which they were allegedly seen on camera chasing a 14-year-old exotic bird into a patch of trees at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and then emerging with the bird’s severed head as they laughed. More information on this disturbing story can be found here.

People who abuse animals rarely do so only once and almost never stop there. The community’s safety depends on the strong prosecution of animal abusers. Please urge the Clark County district attorney to treat this crime with the seriousness that it deserves—for everyone’s sake.


WHOM TO CONTACT

Steven Wolfson, District Attorney
Clark County District Attorney’s Office
steven.wolfson@clarkcountyda.com ; dainfo@ccdanv.com


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear District Attorney Wolfson,

I have learned of extremely disturbing and malicious case of animal cruelty (allegedly) committed by Eric Cuellar and Justin Teixeira, both reportedly law students at the University of California–Berkeley; they face felony charges of conspiracy and willful malicious torture and killing of wildlife stemming from an October 10 incident in which they were allegedly seen on camera chasing a 14-year-old exotic bird into a patch of trees at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and then emerging with the bird’s severed head as they laughed. I am writing to express my support of sentencing these defendants to the maximum penalty allowed under the law. It is essential to recognize that their decision to harm this gentle, innocent non-human animal was premeditated as demonstrated by the chronicle of events.

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 Mr. Cuellar’s and Mr. Teixeira’s actions, causing unmitigated pain and suffering, demonstrate their 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 we excuse Mr. Cuellar’s and Mr. Teixeira’s criminal behaviour, or agree to a lesser punishment, we only harm ourselves by unjustly nullifying cruelty as acceptable behaviour. Please proceed with the most severe penalties.

I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your attention and consideration.

NAME

these two monsters slayed an innocent bird,
and decapitated.
do you think that their blood lust will be sated.
by killing one bird…soon there will be two.
then maybe three.
unless you do,
take this vicious killing seriously,
or more they will kill, deliriously.
and perhaps to humans they
will graduate.
prosecute and punish
before it is too late!

Karen Lyons Kalmenson