John,
When Franky’s body washed ashore in plastic bags on a beach in Maine, his family couldn’t believe this dog was their beloved Pug. Franky had been stolen from their home a few days earlier. In his final hours, he had been beaten, shot, and drowned. He was bloated — and barely recognizable.
Right now, when many of us are spending more time at home with our animal companions and feeling the comfort they bring, Franky’s story is a reminder that not every animal and not every family is so fortunate. Animal abuse doesn’t stop — and neither does the heartache of a family like Franky’s. Our fight against cruelty can’t stop either.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund is committed to protecting animals and holding abusers accountable — and we still need you with us. We know these are challenging times. That’s why a generous donor is offering to match every gift made this month, up to $75,000, during our Anti-Cruelty Campaign so that your donation goes twice as far to fight cruelty and win justice for victims like Franky. |
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Animal victims can’t speak for themselves. They need a voice in the courtroom speaking on their behalf, and that’s exactly what your matched gift now can provide. In response to Franky’s death and with your support, the Animal Legal Defense Fund helped pass Franky’s Law in Maine — which gives animal victims like him a powerful legal voice and helps to ensure abusers get the punishment they deserve.
Franky’s Law is a Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (CAAP) law, empowering judges to appoint trained volunteer attorneys or supervised law students as courtroom animal advocates to represent the interests of animal cruelty victims. The laws make it more likely that an animal’s needs will be considered and that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes. Now we’re fighting to establish similar laws in other states — and we need your help.
Through your support, you are a voice for Franky and so many others like him. But there’s one week left to have your gift matched, up to $75,000, to fight for animals who need an advocate in the courtroom and to bring abusers to justice. So please stand with us during our Anti-Cruelty Campaign and have your gift doubled today — because every life is worth fighting for, every being deserves kindness, and we will never turn our backs on animal victims. |
For the animals,
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Stephen Wells
Executive Director
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| P.S. The alleged perpetrators involved in Franky’s killing have been caught and charged, but it’s imperative that we send a strong message that animal cruelty is a serious crime and will not be tolerated. All too often, animal abusers get off with a slap on the wrist. CAAP laws can change that by empowering advocates to push for appropriate sentencing in criminal animal cruelty cases. The punishment for animal cruelty should fit the crime! Help hold animal abusers accountable with a much-appreciated gift today. |
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This email was sent to [email protected].
© 2020 Animal Legal Defense Fund
525 East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931 | (707) 795-2533 |
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