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Saturday, 29 May 2010 11:46 |
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In concert with The People's Advocate, the SWLA Humane Society served as a co-sponsor along with the Calcasieu Animal Coaltion, of the 2nd Annual Family Violence Workshop.
The photos that follow are of the advance press coverage of the workshop, gues speakers the day of the workshop as well as some of of the attendees and volunteers.
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Preventing Family Violence Workshop this Saturday! |
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 The SWLA Humane Society is proud to partner with The People's Advocate and other groups to co-sponsor the "Preventing Family Violence" workshop to be held this Saturday, May 29th at Parra Ballroom at McNeese State University.
We are especially excited that nationally recognized expert, Lesly Ashworth, will be in Lake Charles from Thursday to Saturday.
Ms Ashworth's topic at Saturday's workshop as well as her message to the various groups she will meet with is “Making the link between animal abuse and domestic violence, strategies and programs that pair rescued animals with abused children."
Learn more about the conference at the People's Advocate Website.. Also, a printable flyer/registration form is available. |
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 In a courtroom full of those who love animals, Aaron Simoneaux was sentenced today by Judge Kent Savoie for brutally killing a dog on New Year's eve.
SWLA Humane Society President Beth Zilbert represented the SWLA Humane Society as well as the many animal coalition partners present in asking the Judge for an appropriate sentence. In doing so, Beth alerted the judge that over 400 signatures had been obtained asking for a severe penalty. She also quoted statistics detailing how animal abuse relates to domestic violence. (These statistics are provided below).
Simoneaux was sentenced to 7 years and ordered to attend an 18 month IMPACT bootcamp program as well as receive counseling and achieve his GED. If Simoneaux fails the IMPACT program, (Intensive Motivational Program of Alternative Correctional Treatment) he will have to serve the entire sentence. At the very least, he will serve 18 months.
The SWLA Humane Society wishes to thank District Attorney John Derossier and his office for their diligent efforts in prosecuting this case.
Judge Savoie and John Derossier both made very positive comments as to the presence of those who attended the sentencing hearing.
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Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence |
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Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence
In association with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Why it Matters
- 71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals. [1]
- 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75% in the presence of the children, to psychologically control and coerce them. [2]
- 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence. [3]
- Between 25% and 40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave. [4,5,6]
- Pets may suffer unexplained injuries, health problems, permanent disabilities at the hands of abusers, or disappear from home. [7]
- Abusers kill, harm, or threaten children’s pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent about abuse. Disturbed children kill or harm animals to emulate their parents’ conduct, to prevent the abuser from killing the pet, or to take out their aggressions on another victim. [8,9]
- In one study, 70% of animal abusers also had records for other crimes. Domestic violence victims whose animals were abused saw the animal cruelty as one more violent episode in a long history of indiscriminate violence aimed at them and their vulnerability. [10]
- Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble. [4]
- For many battered women, pets are sources of comfort providing strong emotional support: 98% of Americans consider pets to be companions or members of the family. [11]
- Animal cruelty problems are people problems. When animals are abused, people are at risk. [12]
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An important request from Beth Zilbert |
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DEAR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND CAMPAIGNERS AGAINST VIOLENCE:
On Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Judge Savioe will be holding the sentencing hearing for Aaron Simoneaux -- the man who plead guilty to felony animal cruelty
for the brutal slaying of a miniature chow last year around the Xmas/New Year holidays.
As you may recall, from both local and national news coverage of his horrific crime, he took a samurai sword to the friendly and docile dog and hacked it to death
while a number of people -- including children -- watched.
Study after study has shown that crimes like this against animals are indicative of a person's propensity for violence against women and children in their home.
This man is dangerous, and not just to animals.Additionally, this kind of brutality should not be punished with a warning or suspended sentence.
We are asking all supporters of the fight to rid our parish of all forms of domestic violence to join together on Wednesday, October 7 at 8:45 in Judge Savoie's
courtroom to show our support for the toughest sentence allowed by law: 10 years.
*Please come to the courthouse located at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Kirby Street and show your support for real justice.*
*We cannot bring in signs or placards to the courthouse, but we can wear our t-shirts that show the organizations that we are members of and that we support.
(If you don't have a t-shirt, you can come to my office, 607 Ryan Street, and you can get a Humane Society T-shirt with the wonderful Ghandi quote on the back) *
We are a coalition of organizations supporting justice for victims of violence: Humane Society of Louisiana-SWLA Chapter, The People's Advocate,
Four Paws Society, Hobo Hotel for Cats, and Lake Area Animal Hospital.
We look forward to your support and your voices -- to help end violence in Calcasieu Parish. Please call with any questions, thoughts, ideas, etc. 436-3475
Most sincerely yours,
Beth Zilbert
Director of the People's Advocate
President of the Humane Society of Louisiana -- SWLA Chapter |
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Incarcerated youth care for rescued dogs |
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Written by Beth Zilbert (337) 513-2857 Erin Kelly Cormier (337) 540-6527
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Friday, 12 October 2007 11:41 |
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Program sponsored by local Humane Society chapter
LAKE CHARLES -- A new rehabilitation project for incarcerated at-risk youths and rescued death-row dogs has been launched at the Calcasieu Parish Juvenile Detention Center in partnership with the Calcasieu Parish Animal Services Department and the Humane Society of Southwest Louisiana.
The project, New Leash on Life, places rescued dogs in the care of detained youths, who feed and walk the animals and practice obedience training. According to Dane Bolin, director of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Office of Juvenile Services, the youths are chosen based on a willingness to participate and a proven track record of being capable of accepting responsibility. They are paired off into teams and are expected to feed the dogs, clean their kennels, document training progress, and take them for morning, noon and night walks.
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