February 17, 2013-
A brazen boast on Facebook by a young man sent chills through the hearts of animal lovers. It has also created an overwhelming response.
The furor began last Thursday when Caisen Green, 18, who lives in rural Cherokee county near Cookson, Oklahoma posted a picture Facebook bragging that he killed a dog. The caption read “ For all you Pit Bull lovers out there. Here’s what happens when one shows up around my house.” The photo shows a pit bull with a red arrow protruding from it's body.
Animal lovers in the Midwest picked up the story and began circulating it on the internet through blogs, face book, email and twitter alerts. A Facebook page called “Caisen Green of Cherokee County OK Shoots dog w/ arrow 02/15/2013” told the story.
Since the story went viral last week, Cherokee County authorities have been inundated with calls and emails begging for action in the matter. They say they have received calls and emails from not only concerned people in Cherokee County and the State of Oklahoma but all across the United States and several foreign countries.
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office officials assured the public that they are investigating a Facebook picture allegedly posted by Caisen Green showing a dog wounded by a bow and arrow. They say the matter will be fully investigated and presented to the prosecutor’s office for charges.
Residents of Cherokee County were also outraged by the news. Lou Hays, who volunteers with the Humane Society of Cherokee County, said the post upset locals not just because the animal is a pit bull, but because of the act itself.
Hays said Caisen Green apparently killed the dog only because of its breed, and didn’t indicate the animal had been aggressive toward anyone or anything. “A boy who would needlessly kill a dog, post a morbid picture of the dead dog on Facebook, then boastfully taunt dog lovers needs counseling,” said Hays.
“This young man would greatly benefit from a few dozen hours of community service at an animal shelter. I would point out that on his post, all he did was brag about it; he did not say the animal was causing any trouble other than just showing up, being near his house
Now according to a news release Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department says the teen is receiving death threats. Undersheriff Jason Chennault says Green and his family have received numerous death threats, which are also being investigated.
The animal protection groups that sent out the alerts to the situation are now asking people to stop contacting the authorities in the rural Oklahoma county. Saving Dogs of Missouri had asked their own facebook followers to help spread the word, but are now asking people to let authorities in Oklahoma do their job. They published an update on their page yesterday, it reads in part " UPDATE! We want to thank all of our fellow followers for the sharing and concerns on this case. You all are amazing and really stand beside us. We would like you to all know that the authorities do know about this and are investigation this case. We ask that everyone stop contacting officials and let them do their job...." The statement went on to say that they had heard that some had posted death threats toward Caisen and noted that these types of comments were "inappropriate and reflect badly on the animal rescue community".
To visit the website of Humane Society of Cherokee County, Click HERE
Cookson is a rural community in the Cookson Hills of Cherokee County, Oklahoma.. It is about 35 miles southeast of Muskogee, Oklahoma near the banks of Lake Tenkiller
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