NO SECOND CHANCES
UPDATE 10/30/09
SPEECH GIVEN BY KATHY MCGUIRE AT SENTENCING FOR KHALIL SPIKES TO THE JUDGE
Euthanasia means “good death”. Before NJ Aid for Animals has ever euthanized an animal, we ascertain and affirm the animal’s qualify of life has been compromised and is in fact, in a diminished state.When we inject the animal with the blue fluid that will take their life forever, the animal looks at us almost thankful.
A viable animal that does not deserve to die was the case with the four pitbulls that were euthanized because of the defendant. All were injected with the blue fluid because they happened to end up at a high kill shelter who did not have the resources to keep them.
Fortunately the three NJAFA took did not die. Rather from November, 2008 almost one year ago to now, we spent thousands of dollars keeping them alive, safe, fed and housed.
The night the dogs were brought in from the raid, they had just been in a dog fight. They were brought to the hospital with gaping wounds in their mouths, scars on their faces and very sick.
I hope the defendant enjoyed a nice holiday season last year because I was at the hospital every day wondering whether the three creatures we had would survive the night.
For the record, I will be following the defendant through the court system like I did the abuser who starved his horse to death and the abuser who froze his puppies to death. I will be contacting Adult Probation and putting his name on the animal abuse sites for all to see including our website.
The defendant’s actions like a small time Michel Vick, were intentional and he should not be forgiven. Perhaps the defendant should get a real job instead of counting on the the money he gets from fighting defenseless animals to the death.
It is our opinion that in this case, the wrong animal was injected with the blue fluid.
—————————-
UPDATE 10/18/09 -Convicted dog fighter Khalil Spikes is to be sentenced on October 27 at 9:00 am in Salem County Courthouse Salem, NJ
See link below
If you or your group can come to the sentencing we would appreciate your support. Although NJAFA already came to a plea agreement with the defendant for five years probation and full restitution, it will be up to the judge to ascertain the full sentence.
Rest assured, we asked for but did not get 3 years jail time forfeiting any restitution. We were also offered a trial but did not want to take a chance on one juror. This individual has had so many contacts with law enforcement however that he is sure to end up in jail again which will be in violation of his parole so he will end up in jail anyway.
Although a long weary road for everyone concerned, it is finally coming to an end and gratifying that the judge has allowed me to speak on behalf of the pitbulls everywhere being fought and to say something on behalf of Chance, Noel and Miracle and the other four that did not make it.
It is also gratifying to see Mr. Spikes’ face every time he sees me in the court room and to watch him squirm.
Realizing it is a work day, please know that we will be working as well, speaking on behalf of the voiceless. If you have any brief thoughts you would like me to add to my prepared speech, please forward them to me
———————–
NJ Aid for Animals was in court yesterday (9/8/09) to represent the three pitbulls that were victims in a dog fighting ring.
The now convicted animal abuser, Khalil Spikes, pleaded guilty to a 3rd degree crime of “Fighting or baiting animals….keep a place to be used for purpose of fighting or baiting a living creature; permit or suffer a place owned by him; for amusement or gain; cause or permit fighitng or baiting a living animal, knowingly own, train, possess a living amimal for fighting”.
We were given the opportunity to either receive full restitution which we declined if Mr.Spikes would get 3 to 5 years in jail, but a plea bargain was reached instead for full restitution and five years probation.
Mr. Spikes has a long history of contacts with the authorities and it won’t be long before he is in jail of his own accord or in violation of probation by not paying restitution.
Although three of the seven dogs are now healthy and with loving owners, the millions of other dogs that have suffered and are suffering at the hands of dog fighters is unbearable to think of.
PLEASE IF YOU KNOW THERE IS DOG FIGHTING GOING ON, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, SPCA OR NJAFA.
REMEMBER THE HSUS OFFERS $5,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION ON DOG FIGHTING.
IF YOU WANT TO COME TO SALEM CO. COURT ON OCT 27 AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR NJAFA PLS COME!WE WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL THE POOR PITBULLS THAT NEVER WERE THIS LUCKY AND NEVER GOT “A SECOND CHANCE”.
NOEL, MIRACLE AND CHANCE HAVE HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT… WHAT OF ALL THE OTHERS?????????
NJ – Khalil Spikes pleads guilty in Penns Grove dog-fighting case
by Randall Clark, Today’s Sunbeam
Tuesday September 08, 2009, 3:04 PM
http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2009/09/khalil_spikes_pleads_guilty_in.html
SALEM — He won’t be serving jail time, but a plea agreement Khalil Spikes has reached here will see him repaying more than $9,000 for the care of several animals rescued from a dog-fighting ring in his Penns Grove home last November.
Spikes, 29, of Sheffield Drive in Willingboro, pleaded guilty to a third-degree count of allowing a place for dog-fighting during an appearance in Salem County Superior Court on Tuesday.
He will be sentenced Oct. 27 to five years probation in addition to the restitution, prosecutors said.
Seven abused pit bulls were allegedly seized from the Lanning Avenue residence in the borough on Nov. 16, as well as quantities of cocaine,marijuana and a .22 caliber handgun, according to authorities.
Spikes and two other suspects were charged with 31 counts of animal cruelty in the case, among other drug- and weapons-related offenses.
Four healthy dogs were subsequently taken to an area animal shelter,where sources said they were presumably euthanized.
The three in the worst shape, however, were treated at a Mullica Hill veterinary hospital, their bills paid for by the non-profit group New Jersey Aid For Animals (NJAFA).
NJAFA founder and president Kathy McGuire, who led the effort to save the dogs, sat with her notepad in court Tuesday as an advocate for the
animals, she said.
“I’m here representing these dogs as their witness,” McGuire explained.”Because they don’t speak for themselves.”
She said the vet bills for that first day alone were more than $1,000,adding Spikes will be held responsible for such costs.
Two of the rescued pit bulls, named Miracle and Noel, have since been flown to an animal sanctuary in Texas. The third, Chance, has been
adopted by a loving owner in a home without other animals or children,McGuire said.
Once called Scarface in the dog-fighting circuit, Chance bore the wounds
and gashes of his brutal kill-or-be-killed encounters. Miracle was likely
used for training and Noel for breeding.
In what she said was her seventh appearance in court here, McGuire recounted the doctor’s unconvincing prognosis for one of those dogs,
teetering on the brink of death when it arrived.
“They told me to put the dog to sleep,” McGuire whispered as court was in session. “I said, ‘Do whatever we can to keep him alive. Whatever it takes.'”
Animal control investigators apparently found fresh blood on basement walls in the Penns Grove home, dog-fighting equipment and animals
with scarring as well as recent bite marks.
They were called out to the scene Nov. 16 after receiving complaints that one of the dogs was hanging over a fence by its chain. It had apparently jumped over and was stuck dangling there, authorities said.
Salem County First Assistant Prosecutor William Brennan said previously
that some of the equipment seized in a search included canine medications, break-sticks used to open the jaws of dogs, a radio to
cover noise and a scale to weigh the animals.
According to McGuire, when Spikes’ sentencing date rolls around in October, she will be there once again, but this time with Chance in tow,putting a face to what she called unspeakable acts of cruelty.
Not everyone seemed thrilled with the idea.
“What happens if she bring my dog in and he jumps all over me because he’s happy to see me?” Spikes asked his attorney outside of
the courtroom. “That’s some terrible (stuff), bringing my dog in here.”