Woman who admitted to starving her dog to death is released fro...

I'm a dog lover and owner, but I'm also a people lover. I think anyone and everyone passing judgment on any other person, especially based solely on facts gleaned from forum sites like this and the biased media, and then trying to incite some sort of e-riot should really re-evaluate themselves and their priorities in life. There are a lot of troubled people that need help, not castigation or incarcertaion.

I'd rather see effort spent going after people that actively abuse dogs, via dogfighting, overbreeding, or puppy mills, than one person that clearly had a psychological break.

Let's hope the local magistrates have more sense than a lot of the posters on here. I'll make it a personal point to ensure the involved officials are aware of the biased and agenda-driven petitions and phone calls sourced from here. I'm sure the calls for death and starvation will add a tremendous amount of credibility to your demands.

Truly sad.

justanothervoice wrote:

I'm a dog lover and owner, but I'm also a people lover. I think anyone and everyone passing judgment on any other person, especially based solely on facts gleaned from forum sites like this and the biased media, and then trying to incite some sort of e-riot should really re-evaluate themselves and their priorities in life. There are a lot of troubled people that need help, not castigation or incarcertaion.
I'd rather see effort spent going after people that actively abuse dogs, via dogfighting, overbreeding, or puppy mills, than one person that clearly had a psychological break.
Let's hope the local magistrates have more sense than a lot of the posters on here. I'll make it a personal point to ensure the involved officials are aware of the biased and agenda-driven petitions and phone calls sourced from here. I'm sure the calls for death and starvation will add a tremendous amount of credibility to your demands.
Truly sad.

As a dog lover/owner, how many times do you hear of any who commit heinous animal abuse receiving any serious repercussions? You don't...so the vicious cycle goes on and actually increases because those who commit such crimes are well aware that the laws are lax and rarely enforced.
You say you'd rather see effort spent on those "actively abusing dogs" rather than one person who - in your words - "clearly" had a meltdown...
1)Do you personally know Ella's owner?; 2)According to verified police reports, this woman knew exactly what would happen to Ella when she walked out last January and left that dog to starve to death/die of thirst; 3)You don't call that "active"?; 4)Increasing awareness of such crimes has to start somewhere and, yes, with one person, one case. 5) Yes, the petitions/phone calls are, of course, "agenda-driven" (I.e., serious prosecution is the only way this type of abusive behavior will stop); 6)I've already made it my "personal point" to let the involved officials know that this is NOT a case of blood-thirsty revenge (though some here have gone in that direction). Rather it is an issue of blatant, premeditated, and extremely cruel animal abuse; 7)I have been actively involved (hands-on) with pets/wildlife for over 25 years so I know from personal experience the calamity these creatures face daily at the hands of so-called man"kind" and, therefore, that public outrage is the ONLY way to make the powers-that-be "pay it forward".....
Bottom line: Have you ever done any research on the proven link between animal abuse and crimes committed against people? Do you honestly believe that ALL animal abusers haven't had some form of "psychological break"?? That their behavior is a one-time occurrence to be forgiven and ignored and let's move on to the next subject?
This is not about judgement; this is about long overdue justice for ALL animals that endure needless fear and suffering. Period...

If this judge releases her with only a minor slap on the wrist, let's not only continue to go after Christine Abrams, but also the judge and the State Attorney's Office for not have the guts or the fortitude to deal effectively with this type of low-life scum!

This horrendous story made it's way to Texas. I have been involved in rescue for years, cats mostly, but lost a favorite animal tragically and in it's memory adopted two abandoned dogs downtown Dallas. It's been the most rewarding thing I've ever done. One was preganant and now all have wonderful loving homes. Please think about doing this in Ella's memory or something in her memory so her horrible and painful death was not in vein. I am hoping that if she is released she gets whats coming to her. From all of the comments local to Cocoa I'm thinking she will have to changed her name and move out of the country or kill herself to avoid the wrath of those who despise her and hopefully she will take the latter of my speculations. In my opinion she deserves worst than execution. Ella was tortured before she died.

Just got the following information from another website:

The Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's Office is gathering evidence in the case of Christine Abrams, the Cocoa woman facing animal cruelty charges for locking her dog in a crate and leaving it to die. They would like to contact bloggers "BCG" from Cocoa Beach and "Former co-worker" from Titusville. They ask that those bloggers e-mail lhooper@sa18.state.fl.us as soon as possible.

Please come forward!!!!!!!!

Dan wrote:

can i feed her to my dogs? win-win situation! we're down one criminal, and my dogs get fed for free!

I totally agree you took the words right out of my mouth.

For the Dogs wrote:

Just got the following information from another website:
The Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's Office is gathering evidence in the case of Christine Abrams, the Cocoa woman facing animal cruelty charges for locking her dog in a crate and leaving it to die. They would like to contact bloggers "BCG" from Cocoa Beach and "Former co-worker" from Titusville. They ask that those bloggers e-mail lhooper@sa18.state.fl.us as soon as possible.
Please come forward!!!!!!!!

I think I've found BCG's original blog and forwarded your info.

Please write to Florida State Attorney c/o Norman Wolfinger, 400 South Street, Titusville, FL 32780 and beg justice for Ella (Christine's innocent dog). Ella was left in her cage to starve to death because she became inconvenient to Christine. Even if she would have turned Ella loose, she might have been turned into Animal Control and someone might have given her a loving home.
While Christine was busy going to parties and on her My Space site, etc., her devoted, beautiful German Shepherd was left to starve to death in a metal crate with a bag of dog food withing smelling distance.
It's means so much to so many people to see justice done for Ella. It hurt so many hearts to hear what was done to her.
I met Ella once at a park, and she was devoted to Christine and so enjoyed playing with the other dogs and just being with all the people and dogs. She was a large, light colored dog, very friendly and so happy to be playing with all the dogs. She kept coming over by Christine every few moments just to make sure Christine

Just tried to call that # no answer. I guess she checks on this blog?

Texas Animal Lover wrote:

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I think I've found BCG's original blog and forwarded your info.

I, too, found both of the "sought-after" bloggers' initial posts but how did you forward the State Attorney's info to BCG??? Please let me know as, obviously, I'm not very techno-savvy.....in any case, I messaged the SAO and told them to get these people's contact info from the executive editor of the Orlando Sentinel. Surely, they can 'backtrack' and find where these posts were emailed from...anyway, thank you.

This story is in Florida Today, May 08, 2008.
Thanks, Florida Today!
Keep Ella's story alive until she gets justice for all the animals.

So many people adopt a cute kitten or puppy not thinking about the long term commitment required to care for them properly or what's more important … what to do if they can no longer keep or care for the animal. They should be treated no different than a child. People say that animals are property. Legally that's correct but that doesn’t make them less alive or without personality and a body and mind that requires love and care. People should know that their are numerous avenues to take and even if abandonment is the choice ..... the animal can be reported anonymously online or by phone to the local German Sheppard Rescue organization or even animal control. Anyone can report suspected or blatant abuse anonymously. People who say they don’t want to get involved don’t have to. Just pick up the phone or ask someone else will to make an anonymous call. That one simple gesture could have prevented that poor creature from enduring weeks of torturous pain and if not the worst form of death it’s certainly one of the worst.

I think it is imperative that Christine Abrams spend time in jail, is fined the maximum of $5000 and must volunteer at a minimum 500 hours caring for starved/dehydrated animals that are brought to the Brevard Animal Shelter. She should also be counseled with on exactly what Ella was forced to endure from being confined to a crate where she probably couldn't stand up and to even relieve herself away from where she was crated, without food or water and in site of food and exactly the excruciating pain she endured for WEEKS dying of dehydration and starvation. It is unconscionable that even Christine could have anonymously reported Ella as an abandoned dog and didn’t. My feeling is that she MUST have done this intentionally to punish the dog for something it had done. Young unspayed Sheppard’s that haven't been trained can be a handful. The fact that Ella at one point had been tied to a door because of barking tells me Christine Abrams did not want the responsibility that goes with training a young dog. Ella's back leg was so damaged after becoming tangled in the leash that it had to be amputated but that's the story she told the vet. I think the story is suspect at this point in light of the fact that she killed Ella in a vicious brutal manner. This woman needs to be made an example of and NEEDS to be convicted of a felony that will follow her rest of her life. This should be an ABSOLUTE. Just setting her free with a fine would be sending the wrong message to those who now have animals they mistreat and don't care for properly. It will also make some people complacent about reporting abuse if a person is not convicted of heinous actions similar to what Christine Abrams did to Ella. The judicial system now has the opportunity to send a strong message in order to vindicate Ella and animals like her …. NOT her abuser and murderer. This is not ONE animal at issue here. It is all of the thousands of animals that are being mistreated and abused right this minute and not being reported. Those who mistreat animals will think twice and others will become more vigilant in watching for and reported this type of abuse if you convict this woman.

Please copy and paste your posts (or write a new message), then send in an email to Brevard County State Attorney, Norman Wolfinger, at: cir18@sa18.state.fl.us

In the subject line, make sure you specify your email is regarding Christine Abrams/Ella...

Lot quicker than writing snail-mail letters; hopefully, the SAO will listen to the outraged public...

There are no words for this piece of filth"woman." May she get hit in traffic. Up North this is definitely a felony. In my opinion she is a murderess and should be doing a life sentence or be sent to the gas chamber. Also what's up with the cop who arrested her who said the dog would have been better off on the street? Humane education in the community is the only way to go. Contact the H.S.U.S. and the Center for Compassionate Living in Maine. Of course there are always people who come from bad gene pools . We need fewer humans as most of them are selfish and stupid.

The cop felt that even if she had turned the dog loose in the street, she might have had a chance to live moreso than being locked in a cage with no chance. Someone might have called animal control and they would have picked her up. She would have been adopted right away. She was a 2 year old, beautiful, friendly German Shepherd.

-Sick of it All- wrote:

<quoted text>
DOG is GOD spelled backwards...

For all of you who think a dog is less than a human, I think maybe you should be put in a crate for two months and then we can ask you what you think. No dogs are not the same as humans-reading your comments it is clear that they are better than humans. And just to make it very clear to you-medically it's called the law of 3s-3 minutes without oxygen, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food is death. So-any takers for that 2 month stretch in a crate? I'll gladly slide the bolt for you.

More than unfortunately, the State Attorney's office filed formal charges against Christine Abrams yesterday...reducing her crime to a mere misdemeanor. So you know damn well she won't be spending any time in jail.

Please go to floridatoday.com to view the entire article.....then read it and weep.

What a travesty, what a farce, what a tragic mockery of justice...So very sorry, Ella, but we tried...

-Sick of it All- wrote:

<quoted text>
I am totally with you!!! I read about this yesterday and I just can't stop thinking about it! I'm trying so hard not to think about the suffering that dog went through, and waiting for days and weeks for someone to come and set her free.
I hope this sorry excuse for a human being will get what she rightly deserves....everyone knows her name and face now! To me, she is no better than someone who abuses and neglects a child..she should stay in jail!

Oh my Gosh...me too. I saw this last night and again in the paper this morning...I've had tears streaming down my face thinking of how she must have suffered and just waited for her "mom" to come and get her...Ugh....I'm sick!

I've cried tons of tears over this after seeing it on the news and reading again in the paper. How poor Ella must have suffered...just waiting for her "mom" to come get her. How could anyone do something so awful to an innocent animal? I truly hope that woman gets what she deserves. I'm sick.