(8/5/2002) This tale of unspeakable animal cruelty is unfortunately true, but there are far better ways you can contribute to the cause than to forward this chain letter.
SAMPLE CHAIN LETTER TEXT
To: Clay County Prosecutor's Office
Help send Charles C. Benoit to jail for up to five years! Charles C. Benoit was arrested in Liberty, Missouri, on July 16, 2002 for burning a 7-week-old kitten on a barbecue grill, while others watched with amusement, as he poked the defenseless kitten with a stick, and maliciously chanted "Meow, meow". One brave woman stepped in to save the kitten. The kitten later named "Lucky" by his rescuer wasn't so lucky after all, when he had to be put down because of his severe injuries. Sign this petition to urge the Clay County Prosecutor's Office to seek the maximum sentence of five years in prison and the maximum fine of $5000, for Charles C. Benoit. Don't let Charles C. Benoit and others like him go free with a slap on the hand. Charles C. Benoit could be a danger to society and could possibly become a repeat offender. Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer tortured and killed helpless animals in his youth. Don't let him go free! Sign!
You Can Write To:
Clay County Prosecutor's Office
11 South Water Street
Liberty, Missouri 64068
The Undersigned
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The Don't Let Charles C. Benoit Go Free Petition to Clay County Prosecutor's Office was created by and written by Susan Silverman. This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. The petition scripts are created by Mike Wheeler at Artifice, Inc. For Technical Support please use our simple Petition Help form.
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END CHAIN LETTER TEXT
The e-mail petition above was copied from PetitionOnline.com, a website that "provides free online hosting of public petitions for responsible public advocacy." In short, a petition on their site is only one step removed from an e-mail petition - most of which are utterly worthless. Read my primer on Armchair Activism to find out why.
According to animal rights activist group, Last Chance for Animals, the story above is basically true. On July 12, 2002, Sherry Scott approached 24-year-old Charles C. Benoit and a group of a dozen or so people partying in the courtyard of her Liberty, Missouri apartment complex. What she found was the horrifying image of a 7-month-old kitten shoved into the hot coals of a grill and the onlookers dancing around and cheering. Scott chased the onlookers away with threats of calling the police and tried all night to save the kitten's life. However, a veterinarian euthanized the cat the following day because of a congenital deformation of the animal's chest cavity (not "severe injuries," as the letter above claims).
Officials arrested Benoit, who actually stuck the kitten in the grill, and charged him with animal abuse. Benoit faces a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. He is being held on $25,000 bail (raised from $10,000 because of Benoit's history of violent offenses). A court hearing scheduled for August 19, 2002 will determine if there is probable cause to take the case to trial.
The Kansas City Star reports that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest an conviction of all those who participated in the cat's burning. Since going to officials, Sherry Scott has received numerous death threats and feels as if she can no longer stay in the complex. Relief efforts have been formed to help Scott relocate. Last Chance for Animals' Action Alert provides more information on these more effective and helpful efforts. Send friends there instead of propagating this misinformed and ineffective online petition. Break this chain!
(8/5/2002) This tale of unspeakable animal cruelty is unfortunately true, but there are far better ways you can contribute to the cause than to forward this chain letter.