krazydog
02-20-2006, 03:21 AM
Tennessee Judge Slam-Dunks Puppy Mill Owners
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (USA) - Last week, The Commercial Appeal reported on a
recent Tennessee Court ruling that was "worthy of a standing ovation."
Animal cruelty doesn't always require baseball bats and knives.
If you've ever heard the phrase "puppy mill", you know what I'm
talking about. Last week, an animal cruelty conviction was upheld by
Judge Alan Glenn, rebuking the appeal of a couple from Humboldt who
had bred and kept as many as 350 dogs sick and starving in filthy
kennels.
Not only did Judge Glenn deal very sternly with the offenders, he
delivered an excellent oratory that ought to be framed above the door
of every court that handles animal abuse cases.
He said: "The Court finds that Judy Fay Johnson and Stanley Paul
Johnson have been found guilty of 11 counts of cruelty to animals.
Bonds are set at $1,000 in each of the 11 counts, which was done by a
jury of good and lawful citizens of Gibson County.
"Over 350 puppies and dogs were victims of this gross violation of
the law. The victims of this crime were animals that could not speak
up to the unbelievable conduct of Judy Fay Johnson and Stanley Paul
Johnson that they suffered. Several of the dogs have died and most
had physical problems such as intestinal worms, mange, eye problems,
dental problems and emotional problems and socialization
problems.
"Since dogs have entered domestic service of human beings, they have
given solace and companionship when needed. They have helped hunt,
guard flocks, and in ice and snow have pulled sleds.
"They have rescued people when lost in snowdrifts. They act as police
in sniffing out crimes, and they become eyes for those who cannot
see. They guard homes and possessions. All this, these creatures do
for kind, humane treatment.
"Watching this video of the conditions that these dogs were subjected
to was one of the most deplorable things this Court has observed in
the 22 years in the course of being on the bench.
"And though, Judy Fay Johnson, you urge this Court to take into
consideration the mitigating factors that you've been sick up to two
years prior to them being rescued from your care. You say you've been
sick. You talked about reducing the population, but the only thing
you did was sell puppies.
"The Court finds that you have a previous history of criminal
convictions or criminal behavior, that the offense involved more than
one victim, that the victims were particularly vulnerable, that you
have a previous history of unwillingness to comply with conditions of
a sentence involving release into the community, and that you abused
the position of public or private trust.
"The Court further finds that you were charged with this exact same
charge in 1993, and after a period of probation, the matter was
dismissed.
"Judy Fay Johnson, you're sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in each
of the 11 counts of cruelty to animals. These will be run concurrent.
Further, this Court finds that probation would not serve the ends of
justice, nor be in the best interest of the public, nor would this
have a deterrent effect for such gross behavior.
"Therefore, you, Judy Fay Johnson, shall serve six months of your
sentence on condition that you make restitution to the Dyersburg
Humane Society for $3,242 for the expenses involved in freeing those
dogs from their purgatory and your payment of the fine and costs in
full. You are further prohibited from ever running or owning any
animal kennel or owning any animal as a pet.
"Stanley Johnson, the Court finds that your offenses involve more
than one victim. The victims were particularly vulnerable. You
treated the victims with exceptional cruelty. You abused the position
of public or private trust. You were charged with the exact same
charge in 1993 that after a period of probation was dismissed.
"You are sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in each of the 11
counts. . . . You shall serve 90 days of your sentence on condition
that $3,242 be paid to the Dyersburg Humane Society for the expenses
involved in removing the helpless dogs from your custody. You are
further prohibited from ever running or owning any animal kennel or
owning any animal as a pet.
"There are those who would argue that you should be confined in a
house trailer with no ventilation or in a cell three-by-seven with
eight or ten other inmates with no plumbing, no exercise and no
opportunity to feel the sun or smell fresh air. However, the courts
of this land have held that such treatment is cruel and inhuman, and
it is.
"You will not be treated in the same way that you treated these
helpless animals that you abused to make a dollar."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (USA) - Last week, The Commercial Appeal reported on a
recent Tennessee Court ruling that was "worthy of a standing ovation."
Animal cruelty doesn't always require baseball bats and knives.
If you've ever heard the phrase "puppy mill", you know what I'm
talking about. Last week, an animal cruelty conviction was upheld by
Judge Alan Glenn, rebuking the appeal of a couple from Humboldt who
had bred and kept as many as 350 dogs sick and starving in filthy
kennels.
Not only did Judge Glenn deal very sternly with the offenders, he
delivered an excellent oratory that ought to be framed above the door
of every court that handles animal abuse cases.
He said: "The Court finds that Judy Fay Johnson and Stanley Paul
Johnson have been found guilty of 11 counts of cruelty to animals.
Bonds are set at $1,000 in each of the 11 counts, which was done by a
jury of good and lawful citizens of Gibson County.
"Over 350 puppies and dogs were victims of this gross violation of
the law. The victims of this crime were animals that could not speak
up to the unbelievable conduct of Judy Fay Johnson and Stanley Paul
Johnson that they suffered. Several of the dogs have died and most
had physical problems such as intestinal worms, mange, eye problems,
dental problems and emotional problems and socialization
problems.
"Since dogs have entered domestic service of human beings, they have
given solace and companionship when needed. They have helped hunt,
guard flocks, and in ice and snow have pulled sleds.
"They have rescued people when lost in snowdrifts. They act as police
in sniffing out crimes, and they become eyes for those who cannot
see. They guard homes and possessions. All this, these creatures do
for kind, humane treatment.
"Watching this video of the conditions that these dogs were subjected
to was one of the most deplorable things this Court has observed in
the 22 years in the course of being on the bench.
"And though, Judy Fay Johnson, you urge this Court to take into
consideration the mitigating factors that you've been sick up to two
years prior to them being rescued from your care. You say you've been
sick. You talked about reducing the population, but the only thing
you did was sell puppies.
"The Court finds that you have a previous history of criminal
convictions or criminal behavior, that the offense involved more than
one victim, that the victims were particularly vulnerable, that you
have a previous history of unwillingness to comply with conditions of
a sentence involving release into the community, and that you abused
the position of public or private trust.
"The Court further finds that you were charged with this exact same
charge in 1993, and after a period of probation, the matter was
dismissed.
"Judy Fay Johnson, you're sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in each
of the 11 counts of cruelty to animals. These will be run concurrent.
Further, this Court finds that probation would not serve the ends of
justice, nor be in the best interest of the public, nor would this
have a deterrent effect for such gross behavior.
"Therefore, you, Judy Fay Johnson, shall serve six months of your
sentence on condition that you make restitution to the Dyersburg
Humane Society for $3,242 for the expenses involved in freeing those
dogs from their purgatory and your payment of the fine and costs in
full. You are further prohibited from ever running or owning any
animal kennel or owning any animal as a pet.
"Stanley Johnson, the Court finds that your offenses involve more
than one victim. The victims were particularly vulnerable. You
treated the victims with exceptional cruelty. You abused the position
of public or private trust. You were charged with the exact same
charge in 1993 that after a period of probation was dismissed.
"You are sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in each of the 11
counts. . . . You shall serve 90 days of your sentence on condition
that $3,242 be paid to the Dyersburg Humane Society for the expenses
involved in removing the helpless dogs from your custody. You are
further prohibited from ever running or owning any animal kennel or
owning any animal as a pet.
"There are those who would argue that you should be confined in a
house trailer with no ventilation or in a cell three-by-seven with
eight or ten other inmates with no plumbing, no exercise and no
opportunity to feel the sun or smell fresh air. However, the courts
of this land have held that such treatment is cruel and inhuman, and
it is.
"You will not be treated in the same way that you treated these
helpless animals that you abused to make a dollar."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~