DawnWatch: NFL star kills girlfriend’s dog 2/27/07
February 27th, 2007 10:35 pm by Kelly Garbato———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Feb 27, 2007 8:52 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: NFL star kills girlfriend’s dog 2/27/07
The Tuesday, February 27, New York Times has an article by Judy Battista, in the sports section (D4) headed, “Latest Mess For N.F.L.: The Death Of a Dog.”
It tells that Jonathan Babineaux, a defensive tackle who just finished his second season with the Atlanta Falcons, killed his girlfriend’s dog:
“A dog belonging to Babineaux’s live-in girlfriend died last week, and Babineaux was charged with felony animal cruelty. The dog, Kilo, was a 1 1/2-year-old pit bull mix” and “the police have said the dog died of blunt force trauma to the head.”
We read:
“Babineaux and his girlfriend, Blair Anderson, argued last Sunday, and Anderson was at the movies when Babineaux called to tell her she should come home to check on the dog, according to the police.
“When she got there, the dog was in ‘severe physical distress,’ the police said. Kilo vomited blood in the car as Anderson drove to the Animal Emergency Center in Lawrenceville, Ga. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Doctors called the police.
“At the time, Babineaux told the police he had had physical contact with the dog but nothing that would have caused its death. The police said Babineaux’s explanation was inconsistent with the physical evidence, and he was arrested.
“Since then, an Atlanta television station has reported — and a league official has confirmed — that Babineaux said he was following the advice of a dog trainer recommended by his veterinarian to try to train the dog not to be aggressive. And in turning the dog repeatedly in a circle until it became disoriented, the dog accidentally smacked its head against the wall.
“The autopsy is expected to show whether a weapon was used to kill Kilo.”
You’ll find the whole article on line here.
It gives us a good opportunity for letters to the editor about our treatment of other species, particularly, in this case, on the link between spousal abuse and domestic violence against animals. PETA has a useful fact sheet headed, “Animal Abuse and Human Abuse: Partners in Crime” on line at www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=132.
The New York Times takes letters at letters [at] nytimes.com.
Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Remember that shorter letters are more likely to be published. And please be sure not to use any comments or phrases from me or from any other alerts in your letters. Editors are looking for original responses from their readers.
Yours and the animals’,
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited — leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)
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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts dawnwatch animal abuse cruelty to animals dog canine pit bull Jonathan Babineaux Atlanta Falcons NFL National Football League Georgia Atlanta Kilo peta people for the ethical treatment of animals Blair Anderson domestic violence spousal abuse
