A Florida minor league baseball player who reportedly killed a protected bird in front of thousands of fans appears to be avoiding prosecution for animal cruelty charges. "Ozzy " the osprey was a well-known fixture at Jackie Robinson ballpark in Daytona Beach until 19-year-old Jae Kuk Ryu, after four attempts, hit Ozzy with a baseball and knocked him from his perch. Ozzy fell to the ground and later died of injuries related to the incident, leaving his mate and brood of chicks to fend for themselves. Although the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission charged Ryu with harming a protected bird, animal cruelty charges have not been filed. Last week The HSUS wrote the State's Attorney's Office and urged the prosecutor to charge Ryu with felony animal cruelty, in addition to the wildlife violation, to reflect the intentionally cruel and callous nature of his alleged crime.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact Volusia County State's Attorney's Office and respectfully ask that Jae Kuk Ryu be charged with felony animal cruelty, in accordance with the intentional and cruel nature of his alleged actions. Point out that Florida's animal cruelty law protects wildlife, in addition to dogs and cats, and that failing to enforce it is a disservice to all animals it was meant to protect.
John Tanner
State's Attorney
251 N. Ridgewood Avenue, 3rd Floor
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: 386-239-7710
Fax: 386-239-7716
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