July 1st, 2020

Judge Karen Bennett-Haron

Regional Justice Center
200 Lewis Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Dear Judge Karen Barnett Haron,

Esmerelda Martinez and Bianca Perez left Las Vegas in early June for a trip to Florida, intentionally leaving behind their two 8-month-old puppies in kennels in a bedroom, without food or water. They could have made arrangements with family or friends to check on the dogs or board them, but they chose not to.

Instead, the puppies suffered in the triple digit Las Vegas heat, succumbing to starvation and dehydration with no help arriving. They must have been terrified as they lay suffering in their own urine and feces. It was only when the smell of their decomposing bodies could be detected outside the door that someone alerted law enforcement.

No pet should have to endure what these two puppies experienced in their short lives, and their owners had no legitimate excuse for their actions. Martinez and Perez have each been charged with felony counts of “willful/malicious torture/maim/kill/animal” according to statute 574.100.5a. Laws are only good when properly enforced, and we depend upon our judicial system to do that.

Please impose a substantial penalty upon these women and further prohibit them from acquiring future animals. The Las Vegas community strives to be a place where humane and compassionate treatment of all beings is a priority and the actions of these women were anything but.

Sincerely,

Annoula Wylderich
Nevada State Director
Animal Wellness Action