THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STEAL A PROTECTED ANIMAL Animal Theft and Trespassing Don’t Go Unnoticed
You wake up slowly, still groggy from a raucous night out with your friends. As you look around, taking stock of your surroundings, you see the other inhabitants: a desk, your shoes, a penguin … a penguin?! While footage confirms that two youngWelshmen stole Dirk the penguin from his SeaWorld Australia home, the men had little memory of the night’s misadventures the next morning — until they saw Dirk waddling around their rented apartment. The night before, after imbibing a hefty amount during their vacation in Australia, the men got the harebrained idea to break into SeaWorld and swimwith the dolphins. After getting inside, video footage captured them stripping down to their skivvies and running around the facility — until they spotted the penguin enclosure. “Look at them!” one said. Distracted from their original plan, they made their way to the penguins, grabbed one, and left. Dirk, the 7-year-old fairy penguin (the smallest species of penguin), was bred in captivity and had never left his enclosure. The next morning, realizing what they’d done, the three young men panicked and released Dirk into a nearby canal. But Dirk’s misfortunes weren’t quite over. He was chased out of the canal by what onlookers believe was a shark, only to be chased back in by a surprised dog.
Fortunately, concerned passers-by called authorities, and SeaWorld workers came to rescue Dirk and bring him back to his family.
Dirk returned unharmed to his partner, Peaches, but his kidnappers weren’t so lucky. Once a Facebook post recounting their misdeeds made its rounds, police traced the crime back to the two Welshmen. They were charged with trespassing, stealing, and keeping a protected animal, and there was no shortage of public shaming as their crime circulated the internet. Taking note of their letter of apology and admissions of guilt and regret, the judge enforced a heavy fine for the crime in lieu of jail time. Charges for kidnapping a protected animal vary from state to state, but the Endangered Species Act ensures perpetrators face harsh penalties, including fines and maximum sentences. The Animal Legal Defense Fund also provides free legal assistance and training to help protect animals from harm.
Be careful on your next night out, and please, enjoy wildlife without stealing it!
And Our Goal to Help Veterans and Their Families THE HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY
Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flags, flowers, and wreaths, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died in service to the United States. Memorial Day was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers. During that first national commemoration, 5,000 participants helped decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. Then, after World War I, the day grew to become an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.
With over 1.5 million veteran soldiers residing in Texas, it is of utmost importance that all Texans take time to understand and honor the sacrifices made by the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country, both in the past and in the present. Here at Hegwood Law Group, one way we honor those who have served in the military is by helping veterans and their families receive the specialized government benefits they rightfully earned. Navigating Veterans Affairs can be a complicated and frustrating process. However, depending on a client’s qualifications, he or she might be entitled to a number of benefits, including survivor benefits, disability compensation, death pension, or dependency and indemnity compensation. Once our veterans benefits attorneys review a case, they will work to help clients understand their rights and how to go about advocating for them.
To learn more about veterans benefits or to identify whether or not you are eligible, do not hesitate to reach out to our team to schedule an appointment.
2 HEGWOOD LAW GROUP
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