Animal rescue centers often remind us around this time of year that a dog is life, and not just for Christmas - but that doesn't stop the heartless abandoning their new furry friends in the New Year when they quickly get bored. According to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, 20,000 animals were abandoned on the streets of London last year - a truly shocking statistic which makes you question why people even buy animals in the first place.
It can't be for the love of animals, can it?
While I really struggle to understand how someone could ever abandon an innocent and adorable young pup, I recoil at the thought of people who actually go out of their way to abuse animals. Sadly, these disgusting stories of animal abuse are not rare, and happen on an almost daily basis - a sad inditement of the world we live in.
Today news outlets have reported that the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office have charged 39-year-old Betty G. Hemp, of Middlebrook, with six counts of felony animal cruelty and six misdemeanor charges of illegal dumping.
The bodies of the puppies Hemp is believed to have killed and discarded from an embankment were found on the 22nd December, with details surrounding their deaths still fairly scarce. Investigators believe that the dogs in question were between four to six months old - making the act somehow even more deplorable.
The sheriff’s office revealed that Hemp was freed on a $2,500 bond after her arrest on Thursday.
A crime like this brings into sharp focus just how terribly some people still treat animals - while the western world understandably attacks countries like China for events like the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, it's clear that we have a lot of work to do to make sure animals are treated correctly in our own countries.
I think I speak for everyone when I say I hope Hemp, or whoever was guilty of this appalling crime, get brought to justice as soon as possible. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office at 540-245-5333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-2017.
