Thank you for making bail, Virgil.

[flvegan]

http://www.tampatrib.com/MGB89U78OME.html

LUTZ - Roxy races enthusiastically around her owner's front yard with such speed that, at first glance, it's tough to see the white scars on the puppy's back.

Robin Mannino has the X-rays, a veterinarian's bill and the frayed nerves to prove about 50 pieces of birdshot are lodged beneath the skin of the 14-month-old, short-haired German shepherd mix.

It's been little more than three weeks since Roxy was shot after entering a neighbor's yard on 148th Avenue. Since then, the neighbor, Virgil Sluis, has been arrested twice on animal cruelty charges. He was released from Orient Road Jail on Sunday after posting $2,000 bail.

The first arrest was April 5, after Mannino's family called Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies. Katie Mannino, 16, said she saw Sluis shoot her dog as she tried to bring Roxy home.

<snip> more at the link, above
*****************************************************

I've already gotten a dozen calls (today) about this one, naturally, as this is local to me.

Although Virgil (and his betrothed Nellie) own their property outright (no mortgage on their mobile home), I wonder how their insurance company will welcome this information. Certainly, opening his homeowner's policy to lawsuits isn't something they'd like.

Wonder when the last time Code Enforcement was out there. I like that there's a 15 foot easement across the back of their property, yet the mobile home is only set back 1/3 of the way into the property, heavily covered by trees. Have to see if that mobile home title has been retired, or if there's a lien on it there (personal, not real property).

Do me a little favor, VVAR group. Drop our "state attorney" Mark Ober (he loves me, really! okay, no he doesn't) an e-mail and ask that he prosecute this fucker to the nth degree. Ask for mandatory counseling, ask that this "person" not be able to have, own or be the caretaker for any animal, if convicted. Ober's e-mail (heh heh) is [e-mail] Mr. Ober also might need to be reminded that those that abuse animals oftentimes graduate to abusing people. Please be polite, if you are so driven to act.

Mr. Sluis, you have played the role of predator. I'm a bad man, and I intend to show you what "predator" really means.

[Robeson]

1. Done....

...and did...:thumbsup:

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Has tjos been posted in GD forum ? I think it might get more attention.

[flvegan]

3. No. I didn't take it there due to the

overwhelming Colbert and immigration protest threads. I though that not only would it get buried and lost, but it would also garner unfavorable attention, considering it's "competition" in that forum.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. That is shame. Perhaps the editorials and articles forum?

The Pet Group?

[peacebuzzard]

5. just saw this ... sent email to Ober.

Done.