On Wednesday, in Ventura County Superior Court, Andrew Delgado of Camarillo, Calif., was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
The 18-year-old man doused his family's dog, a three-year-old basset hound named "Buddy," in lighter fluid and then set him on fire back in October of 2012.
According to the Ventura County Star, the judge responsible for yesterday's sentence, Bruce Young, justified sentencing Delgado to less than the maximum prison time based on Delgado's age, and the fact that he had taken responsibility for his actions early in the proceedings.
Delgado's prison time will be for the arson to property charge, rather than the animal cruelty charge, which would not have been sufficient for a state-prison sentence.
Those fighting for justice for the deceased dog are upset that the current laws do not seem to adequately punish people who are responsible for animal cruelty.
Following the sentencing, one man, Robert Gorecki, told the Ventura County Star:
“I would like to see the law change to a closer relation to what the charge would be against a human,”
A living being has the same rights as you or I whether it’s a dog or people. It’s killing a living being. Murder is murder whether you murder a person, whether you murder a dog or whether you murder a baby.”
Prior story on this incident here.
Continue reading: Two puppies urgently in need of rescue or adoption at Georgia animal control
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