Why Is Death By Starvation A Misdemeanor?
I just read the story about a young German Shepherd, Ella, who was left by her owner to purposely starve to death. I was appalled to learn starving your dog to death in Florida is a misdemeanor?
I don’t understand how you can purposely leave your dog to die and it not be a felony. If Ella was a child Abrams would have been charged with murder? It just goes to show how little value is placed on the life of a dog.
Christine Abrams was arrested March 12, 2008, after prosecutors said she moved out of her Cocoa home and left Ella in a cage in the living room for several months, with an unopened bag of dog food and a bottle of water only feet away.
According to police, Abrams — discovered less than a mile away at a friend’s home — said she moved out because her water had been cut off and that she didn’t take Ella with her because her new roommate didn’t like dogs.
Prosecutors argued that police searched the home fearing Abrams might be in need of immediate medical attention after peering through a window and catching sight of Ella’s carcass.
Abrams pleaded no contest to two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and was sentenced to 12 months of probation, eight of which she was ordered to spend in jail. McKibben also sentenced Abrams to 80 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine, plus other court costs. Abrams was banned from owning animals during her probation period.
She had faced up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted at trial.
Abrams entered the jail on Dec. 19 — meaning her release date would have been on or about Aug. 19 — because she did not pay 10 percent of a $5,000 bond that would have allowed her to remain free pending her appeal.
Let’s recap, this woman got out of jail early, didn’t pay her fine because she’s appealing her case, and isn’t allowed to own an animal “during her probation period.” How about never being able to own an animal for the rest of her life? How about at least making her serve her full sentence? Which was a joke to begin with.
Abrams is fighting her conviction on the basis that the police searched her home illegally because there was no warrant. During that search police found the decomposing body of her young dog Ella who was locked in a cage. It is speculated by Blaise Trettis, who is the Brevard executive assistant public defender, that Abrams wants to avoid the remaining six months of probation and fines imposed by the court. Trettis is not involved in this case.
I am sickened at the thought of this poor dog left to starve, locked in a cage, helpless. As far as I’m concerned, Abrams should spend a number of years locked in her very own cage. Preferably with food and water placed just a little out of reach.
Pictured above is Christine Abrams with her beautiful dog Ella. All I can say, if you see this woman, keep your dog out of her reach.
* Pic courtesy FLORIDA TODAY
That’s just sick. I’m getting really tired of reading all of these horror stories.
I will go even farther and say this woman should be starved to death as she staved Ella. To not even have the feelings to at least go by and feed and water this poor dog who had no idea as to what was going on. And the Flordia court system should be shot by a firening squad to make such an offense just a misdemenor. If she did not want the dog, and apparently had to love for it at all, she should have at least took it to a shelter. I am so angry at this that it just makes me sick. This woman has no heart or no concicous to let this poor dog starve to death. And why did police not go by earlier, it had to take a few months for this poor thing to die. And she should be banned from ever owning any animal again as long as she lives. She has to be dead in side to allow poor Ella to starve with food and water there. I just don’t understand how someone could do that to one od God’s creatures. I just don’t understand. And now the parton my french (bitch) is appealing. She killed this poor dog on purpose, premeditated non the less. She pupposely killed this dogs as if she had shot or stab it. It was an act of mulishous murder. She is a murder.
I feel the same way. It should have been a felony. she deserves the same treatment that she gave her poor dog. She is an unfeeling witch who should never have another animal,
She can’t have a dog during her probation period? What was that judge thinking? It amazes me how stupid our legal system can be! The woman needs to be banned from ever having a dog ever again…after she’s done serving some time!
We remember hearing about this and wondered at the outcome. Mom had nightmares about the suffering poor Ella went through and we wondered what happened to this soul-less monster. We hope the people of Florida remember this judges name when it come time to re-elect. What a joke…no pets during probabation..how about no pets ever again. How about food placed outside her cell, but not within reach…which is what we heard she did to Ella.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. Mahatma Gandhi We are in big trouble as a people if we continue to let these monsters….and I am lumping the judges who find it ok turn a blind eye…get away with murder. God help us.
This sick person should never be allowed to own a pet again. She needs to be locked away with no food or water and get a taste of what she did to this defenseless animal……..
I don’t think I could have said it any better than “Ellie & Helga”…speechless, just speechless!
This dog would have had more of a chance of survival if she dumped it out on the road and let it run free. The punishments just do not fit the crime. The woman that had the Eskie puppy mill which had 400 dogs being mistreated will only face maximum 90 days in jail and $1,000.00 fine I think I read. The laws should really be looked at and updated.
Sick isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I feel and I saw about those Eskies too Bailey. ;(
These kind have no regard for life at all..
These kinds of things are hideous crimes, & happen all too frequently (if you watch the animal cops shows on tv, you’d think every other person in America starves or otherwise neglects their animals!) However, it is too late to fix the penalties, after something like this has happened. We need to be informed consumers in our own states, and find out what the laws are, relating to animal cruelty. If they are not harsh enough, we need to work with the state government/legislature to get them changed. Most of these types of laws are decades old and don’t reflect most peoples’ current views of the seriousness of crimes against animals (not to mention that many laws relating to crimes against people need some work, also!) The court can only impose penalties as specified in the laws, so the laws need to be changed. If people in Florida “hound” their legislators & get Florida laws updated, when (I sadly don’t think it’s an “if”) something like this happens again, the court will have a law with “teeth” in it, to properly impose on the perpetrator.
This makes me so mad! how that poor dog suffered and having a full bag of unopened dog food a few feet away from her so she would have to smell it while starving. I think she should have to suffer the same fate, there is no excuse for such horrific creulty!
She needs to be stuck in a cage, food within sight but out of reach, and the judge along with her. Heartless, heartless, it’s making me cry again.
Horrible. I am actually crying while typing this. how could someone be so cruel? Punishment of course does not fit the crime. When will the animal victims be heard?
The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
I am crying after reading this! How can this person live with herself after she purposely let her animal starve to death? What does that say about this indiivual? She should not only NEVER own an animal again, but she should also never reproduce! If she treats animals this way, what could she be capable of with a child? The way a human treats animals speaks volumes of what kind of person they are. It’s really too bad she can’t be thrown in prison (where she belongs) for years.
Agree with all previous comments. This woman should never have the right to own or be around animals for the rest of her life. What a horrible thing to just lock the door and walk away. How did she think the dog was going to get to the food and water when the cage was locked. Disgraceful and she should get the same treatment. What surprises me are some of the comments on the blog where this story was posted. Animals and people live in the same world and deserve the respect, kindness and love too.
she’s an evil human being.
Imagine how poor Ella suffered for hours, days, possibly even weeks trapped behind wire, with food and water just feet away. I am outraged and sickened by her suffering. Her story is similar to Sunbear’s story, and as the steward of his web site, I am deeply haunted by careless, mindless, needless neglect. So much cruelty in the world demands our attention and action and I do act, but the long hours and days of needless suffering by Ella, Sunbear, and others, really twists my core.
EVERYONE: be proactive when you see a neighbor moving and you know the neighbor has a pet. Ask your neighbor about plans for the pet. Please!!! Yes, I know this woman is guilty and the neighbors are not guilty. But it takes a village to raise a life. If one neighbor had asked Sunbear’s owner, or Ella’s owner, about plans for them, I imagine that neither would have died.
OMG!!!!!!SHE SHOULD HAVE GAVE HER AWAY!!!
This is just further proof of how ouor criminal justice system is completely broken. This is one of those times when vigilante justice is called for. If the various governments (state, federal, and local) don’t get serious soon, all that the common folk will have left to depend on is vigilante justice. Cocoa Police, here’s a hint: “Suspect shot while trying to escape.”
Not like anybody would shed a tear to read that headline; however you have to do it, make it happen.
May I suggest we band together and create a Bill to present to Congress to correct this problem at the Federal level. Let’s begin by calling it “Ella’s Protection Act”
This thing (women) who has no feeling for a living being should not only have another dog. She should not be able able to raise children. They say
cruelty to animals is a sign of worse things to come. To think what that beautiful dog want thru, I like to do samething horrible to that creature.
I agree with Nickolas…bring it on! What kind of black heart does this woman have? Obvously the same black heart that Sunbear’s owner had. To leave a dog, a companion animal that has spent his/her life devoted to YOU, locked up to starve to death while you continue on with your life…I don’t understand this. Here she is pictured smiling, hugging her dog. Do you just forget that you are this animal’s lifeline? ANY other option is better than the one she chose. I think prison and fines are WAY TOO NICE for this woman-beast.
How heartless. I guess this proves that Christine Abrams has no heart. So many homes would have opened their doors to that wonderful dog. A dog will give everything to you and asks for so little in return. It doesn’t look like Christine Abrams has missed too many meals.
Sick, sick, sick. I hate these stories, yet I feel that it’s important that the truth is told. Every story like this one should be a motivator to each and every caring person to let their collective voices be heard in support of the humane treatment of all of living things.
An eye for an eye works for me in this case. This lady is a slippery character with a crooked lawyer and this case deserves close watching. It seems like she’s got some kind of scam going to avoid responsibility and the court system where she lives is letting her get away with it. A quick note to Brevard County Judge Kelly McKibben in whose courtroom the case will be heard in July might be a good starting point for a protest if you’re too far away to attend. Here’s the address and phone #:
JUDGE KELLY J. MCKIBBEN
Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Justice Center
2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, Florida 32940-8006
Tel. (321) 637-5594
I urge everyone to send a note to the above address for Judge Kelly McKibben. Please verbalize your outrage. May the judge set a precedence with a harsh conviction to this woman The only way to deter future abuse and neglect is to get the word out nationally. Anyone with any connections with the media, please pursue this. O’Reilly, Oprah, etc.
I just sent a quick email to oreilly@foxnews.com
If anyone else could do the same, it would be great.
I WAS SICKENED TO READ THIS STORY, AND MORE WHEN I READ THE “PUNISHMENT” SHE GOT!! MY GOD!!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!?!? I REALLY WISH HER BAD…. I’M NOT A HUMAN BEING WITH MALICIOUS FEELINGS, BUT THIS “PERSON” DOES NOT DESERVE ANY GOOD. THIS DEMOSNTRATES SHE’S CAPABLE OF KILLING ANYONE WITHOUT MERCY. WHAT IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER ROOMMATE SHE LOCKED UP AND STARVED TO DEATH…. OR HER OWN CHILD…. DON’T JUDGES THINK ABOUT THAT?? NOT ONLY THAT SHE DID IT THIS TIME, BUT THE FACT THAT SHE’S CAPABLE OF DOING SUCH HORRIBLE THINGS. IS THE POLICE WAITING TO FIND HER WITH A HUMAN VICTIM? AND WHY IS A DOG ANY DIFFERENT? THIS KIND OF PEOPLE STILL DO IT BECAUSE THE LAW DOES NOT PUNISH THEM ENOUGH, SO THEY GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING. APPEAL THE CASE BECAUSE THE HOUSE WAS SEARCHED WITHOUT A WARRANT??? PHELEEEEEEEASE!
I agree with Nero and Homer!!!