LCA & THE
HEIGL FOUNDATION SPEAK OUT
AGAINST ALL ANIMAL ABUSERS AT
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE!
"England's" abuser arraigned today, 5/7/10!
The Bakersfield man who was arrested on April 26 for hogtying a
pit bull and abandoning it in a field, pleaded not guilty today
to two felony counts of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor count
of dog abandonment. James Worley was released from jail today
after posting $10,000 bail. Further hearings are set for May 14,
and May 21, 2010.
Katherine Heigl speaks out against
animal abuse at the joint press conference held by LCA and The
Heigl Foundation. The Heigl Foundation found a home for the
abused and abandoned pit bull. Chris DeRose, LCA's President is
also in attendance.
"England" was named after Officer Kristen England, the animal
control officer who found him hogtied, lying in a muddy field.
The animal was unable to move and suffered injuries due to the
abuse. Reportedly, when the bindings and the heavy chain from
around his neck were removed, the dog was friendly and showed no
aggression. Animal Control estimated that he had been abandoned,
tied-up in the field for 4-5 hours.
Thanks to
The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, England has found a new
home, and will be rehabilitated. The Heigl Foundation, founded
by Katherine Heigl and her mother Nancy, in memory of Jason
Debus Heigl, Katherine's brother, rescues dogs and works to
increase awareness of the inhumane treatment to animals.
Thankfully, "England" was found in
time.
He was named after his rescuer, Officer Kristen England.
Last Chance
for Animals (LCA) and
The Heigl Foundation have teamed up to fight against animal
abuse. The Heigl Foundation will be working with LCA by offering
a reward for abuse cases that LCA investigates. "We will do
everything possible to make sure animal abusers are held
accountable and punished to the full extent of the law for their
actions," states Katherine Heigl.
Pictured from left, Kim Sill, Chris
DeRose, of LCA, and Nancy and Katherine Heigl representing The
Heigl Foundation.
The Heigls', Chris DeRose and Kim Sill of LCA, and Kern County
Animal Control Director Guy Shaw held a press conference in Los
Angeles on Tuesday, May 4th, addressing this case, and future
animal abuse investigations. "Anyone that would do this to an
animal is a coward and would potentially do this to a child or a
woman," states Chris DeRose, president of LCA.
It has been proven that there is a connection between animal
abuse and other criminal behavior. This is the not the first
horrific case of animal abuse the Kern county animal control
officers have witnessed. There were two separate cases of pit
bull puppies found burned in acid last last year, in east
Bakersfield.
LOCAL NEWS FOOTAGE ABOUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE
CASE!
LCA & THE HEIGL FOUNDATION SPEAK OUT
