Report: BP crimnally abused animals

Activist Files Police Report - Alleges BP Criminally Abused Animals

(New Orleans, LA) –The Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, filed a police report yesterday with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department, alleging that BP violated several Parish ordinances hundreds of times since the April 20th blowout of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig. The report alleges that BP violated the parish animal cruelty codes and the ordinances that specifically prohibit the exposure of poisonous materials, the avoidance of mistreatment of animals, and the littering of waterways.

"I realize this is a modest legal action in light of the crisis, but I hope it has a significant impact.” Dorson says. “Every time we see an oil-covered animal and contaminants in the water we are witnessing a crime and it should be reported."

Dorson backed his claims with information he gathered on three visits to the barrier islands in Barataria Bay off Grand Isle. His photos of oiled birds and oil globs bobbing in the water, along with statistical counts of captured animals injured by oil and the number that subsequently died are included in the police report.

The claim will be reviewed by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office where the decision on whether to prosecute will be made. If the matter is tried in court, hundreds of residents could be called to testify. Dorson says: “I hope they prosecute and allow us to testify in open court. We need to stand up for the tens of thousands of birds and animals who have been in harmed, killed, or displaced by this criminal activity," Dorson adds.

Established in 1988, The Humane Society of Louisiana is one of the state's largest animal protection agencies, with over 10,000 members and supporters. To tackle many of the issues surrounding the BP Deep Horizon oil spill, the group launched Operation Here to Help, which can be found on Facebook. For more information, please call 1-888-6-humane or visit www.humanela.org.