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May 22, 2003
Arrests being made
LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) Three teenagers with what a police officer termed a "morbid sense of entertainment" have been charged with killing eight exotic birds at a zoo for abused animals.
M*atthew R*onneberg, 18, Thomas Ca*vanaugh, 18, both of Forked River, and M*atthew M*ercuro, 18, of Waretown, were arrested Wednesday night and charged in the bludgeoning death of three emus, three ducks and two rheas at the Popcorn Park Zoo early Monday. Authorities say the three, who were out joyriding in M*ercuro's family car, jumped the fence at the zoo and attacked the animals with a rake and a length of plastic plumbing pipe.Authorities said they were led to the three by a series of tips, some from as far away as New York state and Pennsylvania, although Capt. William Nally of the Lacey Township Police Department would not disclose the nature of the tips.
(click the following link to read full story) 3 teens arrested in killings of exotic birds
From the Popcorn Park Zoo's website:
The Popcorn Park Zoo, a federally licensed rescue zoo established in 1977 for the sole purpose of providing a refuge for sick, handicapped, injured, abused and abandoned animals that can not be returned to their natural habitat. As time went on we expanded to accept both exotic and domesticated animals who faced the same circumstances as well as illegal ownership and shameless exploitation.
Among the many attractions to Popcorn Park are African lions, American black bears, Australian wallabies, monkeys of all kinds, cougars, bobcats, foxes, emus, both fallow and white-tailed deer, peacocks, caimen, cows and sheep, and so many more. All are housed in comfortable areas with plenty of room to stretch out and relax. The diversity of residents is testimony to the extent of animals in need, and who have at last found refuge with us.
The girls and I have visited this zoo many times. It is heartbreaking to read the stories behind each animal and the circumstances in which they were brought to the zoo. There is one monkey (I think a white faced capuchin) that was burned so badly by it's forner trainer (via a hose and hot water) that she is missing most of the fur on her body. All you see is patches of skin and very little fur. It makes you want to cry. Sure she is kept in a caged area but there is plenty of room for her to move around and she is not being tortured anymore. I hope they catch the rest of those bastards. How the HELL can you smash an animal to death? What kind of FREAK are you? A veterinarian who did the necropsies on the animals said the emus had their windpipes ruptured and their jugulars lacerated, in addition to suffering head trauma, and one of ducks had an eye gouged out.
Posted by Cate at May 22, 2003 12:34 PM
Comments
those sick little bastards. to think that the birds were already abused before they got to the zoo is sad - and now this
Posted by: erin at May 22, 2003 01:14 PM
How horrible. First it totally pissed me off, and then it made me so upset for those poor birds. Abused all their lives, and then helped, only to be abused again and then murdered.
I hope those idiots are roasted over an open spit for this.
Posted by: Melissa at May 22, 2003 02:34 PM
So more spoiled suburban punks hurt helpless
critters. This sort of disgusting behavior isn't
nearly as uncommon as parents of teenagers would
like to think.
You might have noticed that CNN's "crawler" at
the bottom of your tv screen referred to the
slaying of birds as "murder".
Sheeesh! Get some perspective, people.
Posted by: Dave at May 22, 2003 04:14 PM
No one better try to come after my little Maxx bird; there would be hell to pay!
Sick bastards.
Posted by: shelley at May 22, 2003 05:02 PM
Some very mentally ill kids. I hope their parents get them help. They wouldn't want the kind of "help" I would give! Grrrrrr!!! :o(
Posted by: Maria at May 22, 2003 10:11 PM
They should be subjected to the same treatment they gave the birds....and then some!
Posted by: Da Goddess at May 23, 2003 12:02 AM
