The HSUS Praises Marines For Disciplining Soldiers Who Made Alleged Animal Cruelty Video |
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June 12, 2008
Organization Renews Call For Broader Animal Cruelty Provision in Military Code
The Humane Society of the United States praises the U.S. Marine Corps for taking disciplinary action against two Marines in connection with a videotape that showed a Marine throwing a puppy over a cliff, and renewed its call for the inclusion of a broad animal cruelty prohibition in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
According to CNN, Lance Cpl. David Motari is being processed for removal for his role in the puppy-throwing incident, and Sgt. Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion has received unspecified punishment. While details of the investigation were not made public, The HSUS believes that in cases involving animal cruelty convictions, jail time, psychological evaluation, treatment and community service are important consequences for sentencing.
“The bad actors in this case have been dealt with by the Marine Corps, which rightly recognizes that harming animals is unacceptable conduct,” said Dale Bartlett, The Humane Society of the United States' deputy manager for animal cruelty issues. “Now, the Department of Defense and the Congress must step up protection from cruelty for all animals under the law governing military conduct.”
While reports of animal cruelty in the military do not appear to occur with any greater frequency than in the civilian population, instances of animal cruelty linked to Americans in conflict zones have led The HSUS and its international affiliate, Humane Society International, to write to the Department of Defense four times since mid-2005.
In the most recent
letter, sent in response to the puppy-throwing incident, The HSUS's President and CEO Wayne Pacelle urged U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to take agency-wide steps to raise awareness of the relationship between cruelty to animals and socially maladapted behavior. While rare, incidents of extreme violence against animals should be given particular attention when seen against the backdrop of any difficulty readjusting to civilian life experienced by returning soldiers.
The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.
The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. Visit: humanesociety.org/cruelty.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
Pepper Ballard, 301-258-1417
