Community Should Fear for Public Safety, Say Experts

Millville, N.J.  -- Today, PETA sent an urgent plea to Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella urging his office to vigorously prosecute Andrew Lopez of Millville. Lopez faces charges stemming from a November 1 incident in which he allegedly deliberately ran over at least 11 seagulls with his car in a Cumberland Mall parking lot. News sources state that seven of the animals were killed—left with broken necks and shattered wings—after they were struck and that four others were critically injured.

For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com. To view PETA’s new anti-violence public service announcement featuring Sopranos star Edie Falco, please visit http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=edie_link1.

Mental health professionals and top law enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes 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.

On behalf of our thousands of members and supporters in New Jersey, we respectfully ask that, if convicted and in addition to serving a period of incarceration, Lopez be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling (and anger management classes, if applicable) at his own 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, we implore your office to take every measure necessary to ensure that the convicted is prohibited from contact with animals and to immediately seize any animals who may remain in his charge.