Save Eagle!
- by: Kris Doster, TEARS
- recipient: Ralph Coleman, Jr., Judge, Jefferson County Courthouse, Bessemer Division
UPDATE AS OF 4/17/07: JUDGE COLEMAN, JR RESPONDS TO THE PETITION. HE STATES HE WILL NOT GIVE IN TO PUBLIC PRESSURE AND HAS BEEN A JUDGE FOR 20 YEARS AND THAT HE HAS MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. HE TOLD PETITION'S AUTHOR THAT HE DOESN'T CARE WHAT ELSE SHE TELLS THE PUBLIC ABOUT HIS RESPONSE TO THIS CASE.............
Tragically Judge Coleman of the Jefferson County Civil Court Bessemer Alabama Division has condemned Eagle, in our opinion, to his death by ordering that he be returned to his original owner even after that same owner sat in front of Judge Coleman in his court Eagle when found by Irondale police and proudly stated he previously ordered the horse to be shot and further stated, still in front of the judge that he would have been happy if the horse had been shot.
Eagles' owner loaned Eagle to a casual acquaintance a few years ago. When this man contacted the owner saying he no longer wanted the horse, the owner directed the man to shoot the horse as he had no where for him. The man intervened on Eagles behalf and rather than shoot Eagle, found him a home.
Much later Eagle was found staggering down the highway, emaciated and near death. At the request of the Irondale police this time TEARS intervened on Eagle behalf. We brought the 35 year old horse to the conditions you see here. Sadly during this process, the owner found that TEARS was attempting to save the horse.
We have fought a long and expensive fight in court and medically on Eagle's behalf but the battle has been lost. Having already tried to kill the horse Eagle now- after being in the care of TEARS once and at 35 years of age, we harbor no doubt in our minds what the owner plans for this horse.
In a state where there are virtually no laws to protect livestock of any kind and where judges have no regard for the life, death or suffering of the animals whose well being they hold in there hands, such outcomes are commonplace. Sign PetitionSign Petition