On June 26, Merrick, an emaciated dog—in whose tumor-ridden torso a family of bees had actually built a nest—was found in East Pennsboro, Pennsylvania. 

Following an investigation, officials announced that they had charged the dog's owner, John J. Shafer of nearby Silver Spring Township, with cruelty to animals. If convicted, Shafer faces two years behind bars. His prosecutor needs to hear from you—today—that Shafer has more than earned that penalty and others if he is convicted. 

Shafer, 31, is accused of abandoning Merrick in his blood- and waste-strewn North Enola Drive apartment when he vacated the property; Merrick was apparently and subsequently deprived of food and water for up to three weeks. On June 26, he was found just a block away from Shafer's old residence. Merrick died a day later of starvation and dehydration, according to news sources.  

On October 3, Shafer apparently picked up an application for an accelerated rehabilitation program that—if approved—could wipe his record clean of these charges. 

The responsibility of prosecuting Shafer—and approving or rejecting any application for this program that he may file—falls to the office of David Freed, the district attorney for surrounding Cumberland County. Please respectfully remind Freed that the safety of his constituents and their animals is at stake whenever a cruelty-to-animals case is forwarded to his office and urge him to deny any application that Shafer submits. Ask Freed to—if the defendant is convicted—work with the court to ensure stringent penalties for Shafer, including the following:

• Incarceration
• A lifetime ban on his ownership of animals
• A mandatory, thorough psychiatric evaluation and counseling at the convict’s own expense

Impolite correspondence works against our efforts.