For Immediate Release:
April 5, 2005
Contact:
From: Stephanie Bell 757-622-7382
Creston, Wash. --- This morning, PETA sent an urgent plea to Lincoln Deputy County Prosecutor Mel Hoit,
urging him to vigorously prosecute Sarah Schak, said to be the founder of a Creston-based horse "rescue" organization. Schak
faces charges stemming from her alleged starvation of two horses who had been adopted out of her agency. The animals’
new guardian reportedly contacted a veterinarian to examine the weak, emaciated animals, who were found to be suffering from
severe starvation. One was euthanized because of her condition. Schak is scheduled to face these charges in court this
Thursday, April 7.
"To have denied these animals food and allowed them to slowly waste away and suffer is horrifically cruel," says PETA Cruelty
Caseworker Stephanie Bell. "Too often, people who are convicted of crimes against animals walk out of court with a slap on
the wrist. We urge Mr. Hoit to make sure that isn’t the case here and to seek a sentence—including incarceration—that
addresses the vile nature of this crime."
PETA is asking that—if convicted and in addition to a period of incarceration—Schak be required to forfeit
all animals in her custody. PETA is also asking that she be banned from all contact with animals for at least the two years
suggested by state law and that she be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling.
For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.
PETA’s letter to Deputy County Prosecutor Mel Hoit follows.
April 5, 2005
Mel Hoit, Deputy County Prosecutor
Office of the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney
450 Logan St., 3rd Fl.
Davenport,
WA 99122
Dear Mr. Hoit:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than
800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. As you may recall, we encouraged you in a January letter to
file cruelty-to-animals charges against Sarah Schak, said to be the founder of a purported Creston-based horse-rescue organization.
We understand that Schak now faces charges of cruelty-to-animals stemming from the reported October 2004 discovery of two
severely neglected horses who had been adopted out by her agency days earlier. Horrified by the animals’ alleged condition,
their adoptive guardian contacted a veterinarian, who reportedly found that both were suffering from severe starvation. One
horse was apparently euthanized because of her condition, while the other is said to be continuing her recovery.
We understand that Schak is scheduled to answer to these charges in court on April 7.
Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider the blatant disregard for life and desensitization
to suffering evidenced by all forms of cruelty to be a red flag. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association identifies
cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these crimes in analyzing
the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior, not the species
of the victim, that matters.
On behalf of our thousands of members in Washington, we respectfully ask that, given her apparent prolonged and
utter disregard for the lives and suffering of animals in her custody, Sarah Schak be barred, upon conviction, from all contact
with animals for at least the two years suggested by RCW 16.52.200(3)—anything less may facilitate recidivism.
In addition to a period of incarceration, we recommend that Schak be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation
followed by mandatory counseling at personal expense—the safety of the community may depend on it.
Thank you for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration. Do not hesitate to contact me at 757-622-7382
if you have any questions or if our office can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Bell, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department
