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& Rehabilitation Condemns Turtle Cruelty
 For
Immediate Release
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Condemns
Turtle Cruelty
Press Release by Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
San Antonio, TX – Thursday, July 3,
2008 – Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR) announced
today the closure of an investigation by cruelty specialist
Officer Joseph Flores into unimaginable cruelty to a Red-Eared
Slider turtle in San Antonio. On May 13, 2008, a volunteer
from WRR was called to an apartment complex on West Military
Drive to assist a turtle who was discovered in a trash dumpster.
The turtle had been presumably cut open with a power tool
and a section of the plastron (underside of the shell) approximately
10 cm square had been removed leaving his internal organs
exposed. Due to organ exposure and breach of the internal
diaphragm, euthanasia was determined to be the only option
by veterinary professionals.
According to witnesses, the turtle was brought
to a 20-year-old individual who agreed to care for him in
a terrarium in his apartment. The turtle was later found by
another resident of the complex who called San Antonio Police
and WRR. A WRR volunteer responded and brought the turtle
to a veterinary clinic.
"This unspeakable act of torture should
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," stated
Don Elroy, Advocacy & Education Coordinator for WRR. "Intentionally
inflicting pain, suffering and eventual death to any animal
should never be accepted in our society." The case now
resides with the District Attorney's office, where determination
of prosecution will eventually be made. "Wildlife Rescue
applauds the assistance and efforts of Officer Flores to bring
this case to justice," stated Elroy.
Animal welfare organizations, cruelty investigators
and law enforcement agencies have recognized the link between
violence perpetrated on non-human animals and violence toward
other humans. Several studies of cases show serial killers
and those who have tortured other humans began with violence
toward animals. "For this reason, as well as the intrinsic
wrong of needlessly harming an animal, we urge the DA to give
this case a high priority," said Elroy.
About Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR)
(www.wildlife-rescue.org)
was founded in 1977 in San Antonio by Lynn Cuny. Our mission
is to provide rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orphaned,
injured, and displaced wildlife, and provide sanctuary with
dignity for non-releasable and non-native wild animals who
have been the victims of the exotic pet trade, rescued from
roadside zoos, or used in research. Today WRR volunteers and
staff annually receive 5,000–6,000 animals at our 187-acre
sanctuary outside Kendalia, Texas. Over 600 wild and farmed
animals make their permanent home at WRR.
Contact Information
Don Elroy, Advocacy & Education Coordinator
Phone: (830) 336-2725 x304
E-mail: don@wildlife-rescue.org
Website: www.wildlife-rescue.org
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Inc.
P.O. Box 369
Kendalia, TX 78027
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