Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. was applauded by the Humane Society of the United States following his call for tougher penalties for those convicted of the intentional torture of animals.  Mr. Howard has asked Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and the leadership of the Georgia legislature to raise the penalty above the current five year maximum sentence.

           District Attorney Howard made the request to the Governor in a letter (see letter below), after the arrest of two brothers in the gruesome death of a five-month-old puppy.  The little mixed-breed puppy was hog-tied, her mouth taped shut and she was doused in paint.  The 17 and 18-year-old boys allegedly tried to set the puppy on fire.  When that failed, they allegedly placed her in a commercial gas oven and cooked her to death. 

            Joshua and Justin Moulder have been indicted on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, burglary, criminal damage to property (the Englewood Manor Community Center where all of this took place) and making terroristic threats to neighborhood children, whom they warned not to tell.  The teens are being held in jail without bond.

DA Howard receives a special “thank you” from Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S.

September 8, 2006 103 West Restaurant West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, GA

September 6, 2006

The Honorable Sonny Perdue
Governor, State of Georgia                    
State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia  30334

Dear Governor Perdue:
            I’m writing to inform you of a case of alleged animal cruelty in our jurisdiction that is so egregious it cries out for special attention.
            We are charging two teen-aged brothers with breaking into the Community Center at the Englewood Manor Apartments, destroying the newly remodeled Atlanta Housing Authority facility and killing a puppy in such a horrible manner that it defies belief.
            On or about August 21, 2006, the 17 and 18-year-olds brought a tan and white puppy into the Community Center.  They tied her front paws together with duct tape, tied her rear paws together with duct tape, and then taped her front and hind legs together with tape.  They wound tape so tightly around the puppy’s mouth and nose she could barely breathe. 
            That was only the beginning.  The puppy, less than five months old, was immersed in white paint which the defendants tried to ignite with matches or a lighter.  When that didn’t work, they removed two shelves from a commercial gas range, put the pup inside, turned on the gas and literally cooked this animal inside and out.  The puppy’s body was so charred; the doctor who performed the necropsy could not determine which breed she was. 
            Currently, conviction under Georgia’s felony Aggravated Cruelty to Animals law is punishable by just five (5) years.  Governor Perdue, as part of your 2007 legislative package, would you consider proposing legislation that would increase the penalty for the obvious torture of animals?  No animal should ever be treated in such a manner in our State and should it happen, those responsible should be severely punished.
            Please let me know how I can assist in bringing about this much needed change in our laws.

Sincerely,

Paul L. Howard, Jr.
District Attorney 

  cc:  Lt. Governor Mark Taylor
        Representative Glenn Richardson
        Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives
        Representative Bob Holmes
        Chairman, Atlanta/Fulton County Delegation
        Mr. Frederic D. Bright
        President, District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia