July 5, 1999

Dear human,

Want to know whats going on in our home state? Learn about Rutherford County Tennessee: home of the animal dumping grounds.

Someone thought it would be a good idea to build drop-off bins for unwanted pets to be disposed of after hours.

Let us describe this place to you. It is a concrete bunker with a metal chute where the animals are forced through. They litarally fall down into this horible pit.

All animals are together there, unattended to. Some of our fellow furkins have even died in the pit. They have no food or water. The rooms inside are the size of a small closet. There is no air-conditioning and temperatures have reached up to 105 degrees lately. There is only one small vent in this place.

Some would lead you to believe that the death-pits are needed. That it is better for humans to dump their unwanted pets here than on the side of the road or in the country.

How easy it is for irresponsible people to dispose of an inconvience. We are living creatures with feelings. God didn't intend for us to be dumped in animal disposal bins. Our fellow animals don't deserve to be treated like trash.

We know they must be terribly confused and frightened. Being in a virtual garbage dump with all sorts of other animals, they are left to fend for themselves. But what we can't figure out is how at the dawn of the 21st century can this be considered progress. And they call us animals!

CALS



*Update*

February 16, 2000

Thanks to everyone's hard work the bins in Rutherford County Tennessee are now just a bad memory.

Unfortunately there are more animal drop bins in other states.

If you saw the 20/20 segment last week, you know how horrible these things are.

Other Known Bins

Owensboro, KY
Hallifax Co., VA
Winchendon, MA
Farmington, NM
Hinesville, GA
Garner, NC
Dunn, NC
Irving, TX
Fairbanks, AK
Amherst Co., VA
Yolo, CA
Mojave Shelter in Kern County, CA
Maddox Co., VA
Shelby, NC

Here's what you can do to help!
If you know of any bins in your area please let me know.
Just drop me a line Here.

Better yet, subscribe to Stop-DumpBins, IMOM's egroup

If we all wrote the Tennessee Attorney General and/or the Prosecuting Attorney in Rutherford County outlining this with CC's to the ALDF, ASPCA, HSUS and PETA ... maybe they would get investigated and prosecuted under Tennessee's own Animal Cruelty Statutes!!!! (Thanks Judy Myers-founder of Pet-Rights@onelist.com)

Rutgers Animal Rights Law Center
Anti-Cruelty StatutesTennessee

TENNESSEE CODE

TITLE 39 CRIMINAL OFFENSES

CHAPTER 14 OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY

Part 2-- Animals

39-14-202 Cruelty to animals.

(a) A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly:

(1) Tortures, maims or grossly overworks an animal;

(2) Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;

(3) Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;

(4) Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner;

(5) Inflicts burns, cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain, by any method,

(c) Whenever any person is taken into custody by any officer for violation of subdivision (a)(4), the officer may take charge of the vehicle or conveyance, and its contents, used by the person to transport the animal. The officer shall deposit these items in a safe place for custody. Any necessary expense incurred for taking charge of and sustaining the same shall be a lien thereon, to be paid before the same can lawfully be recovered; or the expenses, or any part thereof, remaining unpaid may be recovered by the person incurring the same of the owners of the animal in an action therefor.

(d) In addition to the penalty imposed in subsection (f), the court making the sentencing determination for a person convicted under this section shall order the person convicted to surrender custody and forfeit the animal or animals whose treatment was the basis of the conviction. Custody shall be given to a humane society incorporated under the laws of this state. The court may prohibit the person convicted from having custody of other animals for any period of time the court determines to be reasonable, or impose any other reasonable restrictions on the person's custody of animals as necessary for the protection of the animals.

Help put an end to these animal garbage dumping facilities.

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