SEVEN DOGS PERISH, TRAPPED INSIDE HOT VAN

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY / PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST
7/4/09: Seven Dogs Perish, Trapped Inside Hot Van


Jersey, an Akita above with handler Mary Wild, 24, died from heatstroke
inside a hot van. Seven dogs succumbed to heat-related death. Three golden
retrievers, a Dalmation, a Siberian Husky, and a Malamute were confined in
Wild’s cargo van where it reached 120 degrees. Cinder, a Siberian Husky,
survived and has returned home. PHOTO: stltoday.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION. Sample letter follows.
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Forrest K. Wegge, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney
Jefferson County Courthouse
300 Main Street; Hillsboro, MO 63050
ph: 636-797-5321; fax: 636-797-5065
email: fwegge@jeffcomo.org

Public Administrator
Jefferson County Courthouse
300 Main Street; Hillsboro, MO 63050
ph: 636-797-5385; fax: 636-797-6043

Circuit Clerk
Jefferson County Courthouse
300 Main Street; Hillsboro, MO 63050
ph: 636-797-5443; fax: 636-797-5073
email: Howard.Wagner@courts.mo.gov

Sheriff Oliver “Glenn” Boyer
Justice Center, 400 Main Street
Hillsboro, MO 63050
ph: 636-797-5000; fax: 636-797-6451
email: GBoyer@jeffcomo.org

ALL EMAILS IN THIS ALERT:
fwegge@jeffcomo.org, bking@jeffcomo.org, Howard.Wagner@courts.mo.gov,
GBoyer@jeffcomo.org

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Dear Jefferson County Authorities:

Thank you for your prompt inquiry into the death of seven “show dogs” left
in Mary Wild’s overheated van in Arnold, MO. Please book Wild on animal
neglect charges under Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 578.009: “A person
is guilty of animal neglect when he…fails to provide adequate care…which
results in substantial harm to the animal.”

If Wild is found to have “intentionally or recklessly caused injury or
suffering to an animal,” please upgrade neglect charges to animal abuse.

Wild was hired to supervise and transport eight dogs to and from an Iowa dog
show the weekend of 6/20/09. At the very least, she neglected to provide
heat relief in the a.m. hours of June 22. She kept all eight dogs in her
cargo van where temperatures soared to 120 degrees. The dogs succumbed to
slow death, likely heatstroke, while Wild slept comfortably indoors.

This tragedy was no accident. Rather than move the dogs into a ventilated,
cool area, Wild let them roast in portable kennels inside the van. If it’s
too hot to unload dogs, as Wild later told police, than it’s too hot NOT to.

I urge you to seek maximum penalties under Missouri law. As you know, animal
neglect is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment and/or fine, and persons
found guilty can be ordered to reimburse veterinary and carcass disposal
costs. In light of the multiple deaths, Wild ought to incur full punition
and be barred from possessing or working with animals.

Animals feel the excruciating pain of heatstroke no differently than humans.
Any person who traps them inside a vehicle in the sweltering heat should not
care for animals. Seven beautiful dogs were very much alive until Mary
Wild’s selfish act of cruelty killed them.

Thank you,

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION / REFERENCE LINKS
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Prosecutor to weigh case soon in deaths of 7 show dogs
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/BE68A9D708F5CE8F862575E1005BB061?OpenDocument
Seven show dogs die after handler leaves them in hot van
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/191EDA28F711396D862575DF005870EC?OpenDocument
Missouri Animal Cruelty Laws
http://law.justia.com/missouri/codes/t38/5780000009.html

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