Cocoa Puff to be killed -- The Bulldawg BBQ Flamefest

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Date Posted: 17:10:46 02/03/03 Mon
Author: barb
Subject: Cocoa Puff to be killed

SOURCE: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2003/January/31/local/stories/05local.htm ;
Contact info provided by Christina@TeamJohnson.Net (TeamJohnson.Net )

CONTACT:
Judge Robert Atack, Department 9
Santa Cruz Main Courthouse
701 Ocean Street, Room 110
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

SAMPLE LETTER:
======================================

Judge Atack:

Please accept this letter as a petition respectfully requesting that you spare the life of a pit bull named "Cocoa Puff."

According to a news article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel ("Pit bull must die, judge rules," by Cathy Redfern, 1/31/03), county animal control officials have been ordered to kill a 3 year old pit bull because of complaints from neighbors. Although Cocoa Puff has run loose in the neighborhood she has never bitten, or tried to bite, anyone.

County officials call it a sad case that stems from the caretaker's inability or unwillingness to control her pet. It is unfortunate that Cocoa Puff must die because of her caretaker's negligence.

Please spare the life of this dog and, instead, turn her over to a pit bull rescue who can find her a proper home with a caretaker who will act responsibly. Cocoa Puff should not have to give her life due to human negligence.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

--end of sample--

NEWS ARTICLE:

Pit bull must die, judge rules
Cocoa Puff called �sweet,� �vicious�
By CATHY REDFERN
Sentinel STAFF WRITER

Unless her distraught owner appeals, a pit bull called both sweet and vicious will be destroyed by county animal control officials. The dog�s owner sobbed Thursday as a judge upheld an order for the dog to be put to death. She shouted at departing county attorneys, "Are you happy now?" The 3-year-old pet, Cocoa Puff, got in trouble last year after months of complaints by her Rio del Mar neighbors. Responding to those complaints, the dog was deemed vicious by animal control workers. They ordered its owner, Bonnie Ridino, to keep the dog penned up on her Granada Drive property. But Cocoa Puff ran loose again, and neighbors complained, saying the dog threatened them by growling and barking at them and their children. Ridino says she�s the sweetest dog in the world. "We�ve been going through hell around here," said neighbor Linda Morello. "I�m a dog owner too, but we�ve been terrorized." Dubbed a habitual offender, Cocoa Puff was sentenced to death in September. Ridino hired an attorney to appeal that sentence, but in November, the county Animal-nuisance Abatement Commission upheld the order. The dog was caught Saturday, with the help of a sheriff�s deputy. Thursday, Judge Robert Atack denied the owner�s appeal of the commission�s decision. Evidence shows that the dog, "in certain circumstances when running at large, poses a threat to neighbors and their children," Atack said. County officials call it a sad case that stems from Ridino�s inability or unwillingness to control her pet. It is "highly unusual" for volunteer animal-nuisance abatement commissioners to sign a destruction order, their attorney said. Ridino�s attorney, John Hannon, said gentle, kind Cocoa Puff is a victim of an infamous San Francisco dog mauling case. He stressed that Cocoa Puff never bit, or tried to bite, anyone. "With the situation of that poor lady butchered, the last thing a judge wants is to let a dog go and have it attack some 4-year-old," he said. Hannon questioned the commission�s hearing process, the evidence of the dog�s menacing behavior and said Cocoa Puff had matured since deemed vicious. Ridino rescued Cocoa Puff from a trash can when she was a puppy. Her friends attended Thursday�s hearing and said neighbors had a grudge against Ridino. Petitions were signed for both sides. No date has been set for the dog�s death, a county Animal Services representative said, in part because they are unsure if Ridino will appeal. Her attorney said he was unsure as well.

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Replies:

It seems to me... -- Lisa, 10:03:00 02/04/03 Tue
- Yes, I believe that is the number 1 -- John, 21:30:42 02/18/03 Tue