Community Should Fear for Public Safety, Say Experts

For Immediate Release:
April 28, 2005

Contact:
Daniel Paden 757-622-7382

Dallas, Texas- This morning, PETA sent an urgent plea to Dallas County District Attorney Bill Hill, urging him to vigorously prosecute Edward Pinales of Dallas. Pinales faces charges stemming from an April 23 incident in which he allegedly slammed a kitten to the pavement, causing multiple facial injuries to the animal. The kitten, along with five other cats, was later rescued from the defendant’s charge. News sources indicate that Pinales twice threatened to kill a witness after being arrested and that he has previously been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“Animal abusers are cowards,” says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Daniel Paden. “They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Dallas residents have reason to be concerned. According to leading mental-health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat not only to other animals, but to the community as a whole.”

PETA is also sending its anti-violence public service announcement hosted by actor Dennis Franz to TV stations serving the Dallas area.

For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.

PETA’s letter to District Attorney Bill Hill follows.

April 28, 2005

The Honorable Bill Hill
Dallas County District Attorney
133 N. Industrial Blvd., LB 19
Dallas, TX 75207-4399

Dear Mr. Hill:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter concerns a recent cruelty-to-animals case that your office is handling, involving Edward Pinales, 32, of Dallas. Pinales faces charges stemming from his alleged April 23 attack on a kitten on Manett Street. According to news sources, Pinales slammed the animal to the pavement, leaving her suffering from multiple facial injuries. Thankfully, that kitten and five additional felines were apparently removed from the defendant’s charge. Pinales reportedly threatened to kill one neighbor on two occasions—once when he was arrested and then later with a phone call from jail.

We understand that Pinales is no stranger to accusations of violent behavior, having evidently pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following his alleged October 2001 attempt to stab a relative.

Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies animal abuse as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of cruelty to animals in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior—not the species of the victim—that matters.

We ask that, upon conviction and in addition to a period of incarceration, Edward Pinales be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling and anger-management classes at personal expense¯the safety of the community may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the violent and malicious nature of his alleged actions that day, we implore you to take every measure necessary to ensure that he is barred from all contact with animals and to immediately seize any animals who remain in his charge.

On behalf of our thousands of members in Texas, we thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Daniel Paden, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department