Threats
and Hate Messages Sent to Attorney Involved in Animal Cruelty Case.
The attorney who represented Andrew Delgado, who was convicted of animal cruelty, said she received hate
emails and threats for representing Delgado.
Some of these people left hate-filled messages on her message machine, said Attorney Rebekah Mathis of the Public Defender's Office,
After a court hearing, Mathis said one woman, who was confrontational, and followed
her down the hallway and waited until she got inside the elevator.
She said she's never received so many threats and hate messages
for representing a criminal case.
Ms. Mathis said she got about 30 of these hateful messages.
Similar threats were made to prosecutor Richard Simon, according
to an employee who works there.
Delgado poured lighter fluid on Buddy, a 3-year-old basset hound,
then set the dog on fire. A neighbor saw the fire and called the fire
department. The dog had suffered severe burns when found by emergency personnel
and several days later, died.
During Delgado's sentencing, Judge Bruce Young noted that a lot of the "anger and outrage" spilled out at people who have no personal involvement in what the judge described as a vicious crime.
"I wish that would stop," said the judge.
Ms. Melissa Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte, the president of Basset Hound
Rescue of Southern California, along with about 20 members of the group have shown
up to these court proceedings. hearings.
Those who I interviewed, including Ms. Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte,
were always thoughtful, articulate and passionate when talking about this case,
Buddy the blood hound, and protecting the rights of animals.
Bella
Finds a New Home, Thanks to Buddy
I bumped into District Attorney employee Paula Miller in hallway at the Hall of Justice. She said this animal cruelty case nudged at
her heart, adding that she read some of the documents pertaining to this case.
She said the Buddy the blood hound story inspired her to go to the
Camarillo Animal Shelter and rescue a dog. Just before Christmas, Ms. Miller adopted a mutt named
Bella who she described as being part Chihuahua and Labrador.
Grinning, Ms. Miller said she tells Bella: "You're lucky because of Buddy. If
it wasn't for Buddy, you wouldn't be here."
Ms. Miller said Bella was terrified of her new environment at
first but the animal is now thriving. She said her other female dog, Bingo, died in
June, and Bella is now keeping her company.
"She's sweet, super sweet," Ms. Miller said. "She's happy, very
happy."
Ms. Miller said there are many dogs waiting to be rescued at the
Animal Shelter.
"The place is just full of Chihuahuas and pit bulls," she said.