Justice Denied You may remember the case of the 241 cats we rescued from a Philadelphia home in late March. Since that day we have been working to treat the significant medical issues the cats were suffering, finding adoptive homes for those that were eligible, and preparing the legal case of 280 counts of cruelty and neglect against the owner. This week, the case finally went to trial. Our witnesses, including HLE officers and forensics vets, were well prepared and our case was well documented. Indeed, the defense did not challenge the conditions inside the house. But to our dismay and disappointment, the judge found the defendant, Alaine Jacobson, the self-proclaimed Crazy Cat Lady, not guilty. Although its always better to share good news with you, its just as important to share the challenges we face when advocating for animals. The Jacobson case is a painful reminder that despite the progress in advocating for animals in the legal system, there is still much more to do. Be assured we are committed, more than ever, to this journey. The irony in the courts reasoning to acquit the defendant is noteworthy, to put it mildly. In the weeks leading up to our full-day rescue at Jacobsons home, we tried diligently to work with her to have her surrender the cats or allow us to provide veterinary care and other resources. She did agree to surrender about two dozen cats, but then immediately demanded them back, and rebuffed all subsequent efforts by the PSPCA to assist. Now, for the irony. In delivering his verdict, the judge stated that if we had intervened with a warrant initially rather than working to encourage Jacobson to get veterinary care for her cats, the prosecution would have been a slam-dunk. We would have won. But despite the documented medical issues, unsanitary conditions and overcrowding, the Court concluded that Jacobson lacked the required intent to abuse or neglect her cats and found her not guilty. Its worth noting that 29 of the cats from Jacobsons home died or had to be humanely euthanized. Working with pet owners in our community is at the heart of our mission to protect animals. The Court believed that Jacobson did not intend to harm her cats, but the fact is that her refusal to accept the help the animals needed was, in our view, inhumane. Instead of penalizing her failure to care for hundreds of cats, the acquittal effectively penalizes us for our efforts to keep the cats alive. We know from experience that other judges might well criticize us for not trying to work with animal owners before deciding to secure a search warrant and seize animals in need. While the judge did not rule in our favor, we remain proud of this massive rescue, which the PSPCA is uniquely qualified to undertake. We were able to treat the cats for a host of medical problems, including ear mites, upper respiratory infections, dental disease, emaciation and chronic diarrhea. We have found homes for 160 of the surrendered cats. And we remain hopeful that Jacobson will surrender the 76 cats still in our custody to the PSPCA to be placed for adoption. Although he could not prohibit Jacobson from owning animals again, the judge recommended that she surrender the remaining cats on legal hold to our organization. We have begun to sort out the implications for future cases as well as the opportunities this case presents to press for more judicial education on animal law and animal welfare, and the need for the Philadelphia District Attorneys office to return to its prior practice of having a one attorney dedicated to prosecuting animal welfare cases. From the date of the warrant to the end of the prosecution this week, we have spent approximately $200,000 on the investigation, veterinary treatment, housing, and legal work associated with this case. With support from generous donors like you, and in-kind donations from Pet Smart Charities, we were able to defray some of our costs. Thank you for your ongoing support. We couldnt do this work without you. With your help, we will continue to advocate for animals.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 23:54:38 +0000