The Story of Irving and Benito (and Fiona)
Current Case Status
Case Number CR# 05-015454
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People Who Should Be Voted Off The Earth
After doing this, he also did this.
Irving and Bonito were rescued buns, living in the loving care of Asia
Grey of Oakland, CA. They were enjoying life after the hardships from
which they were rescued. They were house pets of the Grey family,
loved by the entire family. Theirs is a family of big hearts and kindness.
One day, a 13-year-old sociopath living next door in professional foster care
(the foster parents are both in their 80's and partly to completely
blind) chose to enter the Grey's backyard while their bunnies were out
for their daily exercise and fresh air. Typically the rabbits were
closely watched when outside, but Asia had to go inside for just an
instant. Then she heard an odd sound, and looked outside to discover
that sound was this 13-year-old beating her rabbits to death with a
chunks of concrete, broken glass and nails. She ran outside, too late
to save two of her beloved bunnies, and broke down crying, and the
13-year-old calmly walked away with a blank expression on his face,
totally unmoved by the suffering he had created.
The full story can be read
here,
and happily the District Attorney in this case is pushing for felony
animal abuse. Updates will be posted as they become available.
As for the brutally slaughtered victims, we got this information from
a rescue organization to which the Greys belong:
"Irving" was a large (in the 15 pound range) New Zealand White whom Asia
adopted from the City of Alameda (a city adjoining Oakland) Animal Shelter. He
had been left in our shelter's night drop box on 10/25/02 along with another
NZW. There was no information left with them, but we think they were probably
brothers. "Irving" (known as "Nutley" when he was with us) and his brother were
neutered on 11/6/02 by Dr. Carl Singer at VCA Bay Area Animal Hospital in
Oakland. We send our bunnies to temporary foster homes for post-surgery
recuperation, and "Irving" came to my home. I remember him as being a sweet and
gentle bunny. He and his brother were adopted by the Grey family on 5/13/03.
"Benito" came to live with the Grey's after spending six years living in
solitude in an outdoor hutch, exposed to the elements, and had been with the
Grey's for two years.
Asia tells me that "Irving" was through of as the patriarch by the other
bunnies. They all seemed to turn to him for guidance. Not only was he very
social with the other rabbits, but with humans as well. Exceptionally friendly and
gentle, he was also quite trusting, even of strangers. He was killed by the
force of repeated blunt trauma inflicted by the boy, and likely suffered a
slow and painful death from repeatedly being beaten.
Because of his previous history, "Benito" was not as friendly and outgoing as
"Irving," but he was slowly coming around. He was also killed by repeated
blunt trauma.
There was a third rabbit involved in the attack, named "Fiona." She's a red
Rex. (Those of you who read the actual article in the newspaper saw her
picture.) Although it appears that she did not suffer any physical injuries, when
Asia found her she was in shock. She likely owes her life to "Irving" as when
Asia found them, "Irving's" beaten and dead body was lying across "Fiona's"
as though he had been trying to protect her from the attack.
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Around the country, we lit candles for these two poor buns. To be
rescued and have a second chance at a bright future, and then to be
brutally killed by some kid who is irreparably defective. I kept
candles going for an entire week because I was so disturbed by this
news. A society of 13 bunnies disrupted so viciously and randomly and
with no meaning at all.
Update: Fiona, the female mate who was saved by Irving, died on
Thursday, April 28, 2005, presumably from the emotional trauma of
having her mate brutaly slaughtered right in front of her (on top of
her, actually). We are awaiting the results of the necropsy to see
just how much more suffering this little 13-year-old piece of human
waste caused.
The Oakland police department and Oakland Animal Services are taking
this tragic event quite seriously. The Alameda County District
Attorney also takes animal abuse cases seriously, as we have seen with
the
Lucky
and
Hayward
cases.
Support from the public is needed. I encourage you to write to the
District Attorney and politely encourage him to prosecute the boy to
the fullest extent of the law. A sample letter can be found at the
bottom of this
page.
Here's the DA's contact info:
Tom Orloff
Alameda County
District Attorney
1225 Fallon Street - Room 900
Oakland, CA 94612
Fax: (510) 271 - 5157
Case Number CR# 05-015454
Let's turn our attentions to the foster home situation for a
moment. I understand that foster homes are very hard to come by, but
this professional foster home needs to be re-thought. The foster
parents in this case are in their 80's and basically blind (one still
has a bit of vision left, but not much). At least one of them was home
at the time this incident occurred, which was during a school day when
the kid was truant. They had no idea he was home, and no idea what he
was up to. This is a complete failure of parenting - these people
should not be allowed to be foster parents, and the state of
California should be held partially accountable for dropping the
ball. Voice your opinon:
STATE FOSTER CARE SPECIALIST
California Dept. of Social Services
744 P Street MS 19-78
Sacramento, CALIFORNIA 95814
916-323-2921
Family Builders By Adoption
528 Grand Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
510-272-0204 (voice)
510-272-0277 (fax)
kids@familybuilders.org
Since this kid is originally from San Francisco, the following
organizations should also hear about their error:
City and County of San Francisco
Department of Human Services
Foster Care Licensing, Attn. K120
P.O. Box 7988
San Francisco, CA 94120-7988
(415) 558-2200
and
Bay Area Homes for Kids
408 Columbus Avenue, Suite 3
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 392-5437
E-mail: info@bakids.org
On a personal note: I don't care if this kid gets any kind of help or
not, I just want him removed from society. Let me have him for five
minutes, I'll give him the "help" he needs.
Unfortunately, since the perpetrator in this case is only 13 years
old, I cannot legally publish any information about him. I am also
declining to provide the ability to get satellite images or maps to
the location where these events occurred. However, in 2009 he will
turn 18, and if he is still alive, that information will be published
on his birthday. Then we can acknowledge him properly.
Update: June 10, 2005: The little bastard is in
more trouble.
In the meantime, this candle burns for Irving and Benito and Fiona.
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