A CRY FOR HARSHER ABUSE LAW

At memorial for Ollie the pit bull, animal activists call for change

HOLLYWOOD – The horrific death of Ollie the pit bull, who was stabbed more than 50 times and stuffed into a suitcase, provoked a call for tougher punishments for animal abusers.

Almost 100 people filled the pews of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood on Sunday to remember Ollie, who died two days after being found in October.

“We are here because a moment of silence is not enough to honor a living being who was brutally murdered,” the Rev. Lisa Shaw told the crowd.

Shaw and other speakers at the memorial urged supporters to write to legislators to increase minimum sentences for animal abusers and to speak up if they encounter someone treating an animal poorly.

“It’s important to mention that this is not just about Ollie,” said Jan Milbyer, founder of the Grateful Paws Dog & Cat Rescue.

“It’s about all animals, and we must be their voice.”

Aggravated animal cruelty is a third-degree felony in Florida, which can mean up to 5 years in prison.

Dahlia Canes, founder of the Miami Coalition Against Breed-Specific Legislation, said the maximum sentence needs to be longer for people who abuse animals.

“We need to use that as a deterrent,” she said.

Many people cried during the memorial Sunday as guest speakers talked about Ollie’s friendly demeanor despite his suffering from his fatal wounds and previous abuse.

Ollie’s face was everywhere Sunday. Some supporters showed up to the memorial with it on their shirts and banners. Affixed to the church’s pulpit was a watercolor painting of Ollie, created by local artist Susan McKenna List.

On Friday, the Broward State Attorney’s Office filed 17 counts of aggrevated animal cruelty against 31-year-old Brendan Evans, who prosecutors have accused of killing Ollie. Evans is currently in the county jail.

Sixteen of the charges are for each of the 16 deep stab wounds Ollie sustained, and the other charge is for trapping Ollie in the suitcase.

Ollie’s death is at least the third animal abuse case in Florida that garnered national attention this year: a video of a shark getting dragged by a boat surfaced over the summer, while abuse of cows at two Florida dairy farms gained attention last month.

“Stuff like this should not be happening in this day in age,” said Gabriel Kortez, a member of the animal rights group Anonymous for the Voiceless.

Hundreds of people took to social media to show support for Ollie, and Kortez said he was glad Ollie received the attention he did.

Grateful Paws had originally offered to find Ollie a home if he survived. The organization helped organize Sunday’s memorial.

Animal rights activists also plan to host a candlelight vigil for Ollie later this month.

“It’s about all animals, and we must be their voice.” Jan Milbyer, Grateful Paws

JENNIFER LETT/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ollie, the pit bull who was stabbed 50 times, beaten and stuffed into a suitcase, was honored Sunday during a memorial in Hollywood.

JENNIFER LETT/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Almost 100 people filled the pews of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood on Sunday to remember Ollie the pit bull.