Lucy is Dead - One Year Later

Although we did not need any reminders, we received a number of e-mails and postings from people around the world recalling what happened exactly one year ago today. In an act of brutality and callousness that rivaled any terrorist or criminal act committed anywhere in the world over the last year, Judge Brain Walsh of the Santa Clara County Superior Circuit, a man who says he sits on the bench with angels at his side, condemned to death the beautiful, gentle family dog Lucy. Her only crime was being a dog, a pit bull. In doing so, Judge Walsh ignored the pleas of thousands of people around the world who had rallied to Lucy's side in less than 24 hours, pleading with him to show compassion, not to mention fairness, and to do what was right. Judge Walsh, a graduate of the Roman Catholic University of Notre Dame University no less, opted for death, when other options were available to him to protect the community, if indeed that was even a cause of concern. Worse, he allowed the Sunnyvale city attorney and the Humane Society of Silicon Valley to deprive Lucy's long-time guardians of being with her when she breathed her last breath and of taking her body home for a decent burial. He committed these despicable miscarriages of justice and compassion after Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger also refused to intervene.

Judge Walsh did not act alone in what should be unforgivable acts. To be sure, the judge did not initiate the chain of events that led to Lucy's wrongful death, but he had the last chance to stop this tragedy from happening. (Pontius Pilate acted more nobly than did Judge Walsh.) David Kahn, the Sunnyvale city attorney, and Don Johnson, the callous police chief who initially condemned Lucy to death for an act that was provoked and expected, bear as much responsibility for what happened to Lucy as Judge Walsh does. Although we are not close to the situation, there is no indication that any have shown the slightest remorse over their actions.

Although some showed concern, if not compassion, Sunnyvale Mayor Otto Lee, City Manager Amy Chan, and City Council members Christopher Moylan, John Howe, Dean Chu, and Melinda Hamilton essentially stood off the side, silent, and could do nothing. The ugly chore to kill Lucy fell to Christine Benninger and Beth Ward of the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, individuals whom the public believes speak for animals and not betray them, as Benninger and Ward did to Lucy. Outside the animal shelter where Lucy was killed, a place that is supposed to be a refuge of hope for animals, tears flowed as the sun set over an already dark city. Across the world, during a time that was supposed to be joyous for many people, tears also flowed for Lucy. They still flow today if the e-mails and comments we received are any indication.

The only people who showed any sign of jubilation over Lucy's death were those with whom civilized society would prefer to have nothing to do. Those are the people whose values Judge Walsh represents.

Lucy has since become an icon in the animal welfare and protection movement. Her death represents all that is wrong with the system, and society. Lucy's death has already motivated many to work to spare many other beloved dogs and their guardians from the same dreadful fate she suffered. Some day, Judge Walsh and his accomplices in this terrible event will understand the impact of what they did to Lucy. Until then, Lucy's death shall not be forgotten.

As sad as Lucy's case is, what happened to her is happening in many cities across the country every day. Please do what you can to stop this callousness. Please write to the above named individuals and plead with them to remember what they did to Lucy, and to understand why what they did was wrong. But please be polite in your letters as these people, no matter how dark their actions, can be forgiven because they truly did not understand that what they did was wrong. And they were only doing the jobs the public pays them to do, as abhorrent as those jobs are.

Thanks for remembering the horror of the day, one year ago, when Judge Walsh and the city of Sunnyvale killed Lucy. Thanks for remembering Lucy.