Protesters rallied at the Willoughby, Ohio courthouse Thursday where couple Alvaro Torres and Heather Pica Torres appeared for a preliminary hearing after allegedly abandoning a dog named Lucy. The pit bull mix was found on the side of the road next to a dog cage and dirty pillow; police say it looked as if she had been left there in freezing temperatures for several days.

Image Source: Cleveland.com
The couple is charged with cruelty to companion animals — a 5th degree felony — and having an unlicensed dog, a misdemeanor.
The lonely pup needed urgent surgery to remove a large facial tumor. The Lake County Dog Shelter, who has been caring for Lucy, reports that the surgery was successful and the tumor was benign.
LFT launched a petition regarding the case, urging the prosecuting attorney to take this crime seriously:
Thursday’s protesters said they were horrified to hear about the cruelty, and had to take action.
“This blatant abuse and neglect must be punished,” animal advocate David Sickles wrote in a letter to Prosecutor Richard J. Perez. “I strongly urge you to strenuously prosecute and seek the maximum penalty in this case, and in all cases that involve cruelty and neglect.”
Sickles noted the strong correlation between animal cruelty and violence against humans, stating,”Many serial killers/mass shooters, including Nikolas Cruz (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL 2018), Devin Patrick Kelley (First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, TX 2017) and Jeffrey Dahmer (Bath, Ohio), had a history of cruelty to animals before going on to commit brutal mass murders.”
Ms. Torres, who appeared with a lawyer, waived the preliminary hearing and turned the case over to the Lake County Grand Jury for consideration. Mr. Torres did not have an attorney, and requested a continuance.
The protestors promised they will continue to show up to all further court dates until justice is served for Lucy.

Image Source: Cleveland.com
People need to be put into a national registry for animal cruelty.
How about the people who did this get the same thing done to them!!!!! Then long jail time & hefty fines. NO EXCUSES!
Good on you all well done this evil vile cruelty has to STOP.
Great job protesters! You have my support from Ontario.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PROTESTERS!!!Next time, use FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWEETER to gather more people to your PROTEST!!!!!
To all of you who protested for Lucy……..HEROES.
Let us keep fighting the good fight for the abused animals.
I know that I will never quit.
THANK YOU to the protesters who rallied in Willoughby, Ohio. You are my heroes!
there is no excuse to hurting a innocent animal for the fun of it there needs to be stiffer laws for animal abusers.
Bravo to these big-hearted people. We need for Lucy’s owners to be severely punished.
AGREE!
Cruelty needs to STOP!
Good for the protesters! Keep it up. These two disgusting POS freaks need to spend the rest of their miserable lives in jail.
Thank you for being the voice for Lucy and countless other animals that are victims of heinous crimes committed by deranged humans! The world needs more hero’s like you all!!
All animal abusers must be fed to liins. Stop playing with them.
All animals abusers must be fed to lions.
Only wat to stop all abuse
Thank God Lucy is safe now! The next step is to punish these low lifes. If necessary, make an example out of them. The least these pukes deserve is a few nights out in the cold chained to some light pole somewhere.
This is truly a tragedy. I applaud these people standing up for this poor dog, however I wonder if any of these people are vegan. If not, the animals they eat suffer the same and in most cases much worse treatment than the poor dog. They need to look at themselves also. There is no difference between the dogs and cats we call companion animals and the animals that people eat. They all feel pain and they all want to live.
WAY TO GO!!!!! YOU GIVE ME A TINY SLIVER OF HOPE FOR WHAT THE FUTURE OF ” human ” kind has to offer !!!!! THANK & BLESS YOU FOR BEING SO COMPASSIONATE!!!
Bless her. Give these humans the electric chair.
W T F ??.
Save all animals. Protect all animals ! Love you, Lucy ! Many people care for you !
They must be harsh punishment for animal abusers to stop this problem.
Yes.. There should be punish according
As I said before, your animal cruelty laws need to be more severe! There aren’t near tough enough for the scumbags who abuse animals!
The only way to get justice for any animal that is subject to horrific cruelty is for people to make their voices heard. Hopefully then will tougher sentences be handed out. Well done to those protesters!
I’m keeping fingers crossed that the Lake County Grand Jury is full of Animal Lovers, and nails these crapweasels to the wall. Though, 5th degree is laughable after what sweet Lucy suffered. Alvaro Torres and Heather Pica Torres should never be allowed near an animal ever again, and should be tossed in prison.
So glad Lucy’s tumor was benign and now she can heal – physically and emotionally – and find that loving home all cats and dogs – ALL animals – deserve.
HERE IS THE LINK TO PETITION to help LUCY — https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-justice-lucy-abandoned-dog-left-freeze/#comments
FIRST : Thank God Lucy was rescued — Thank God Lucy has the WILL TO LIVE — Thank God for people who intervened and rescued this sweetie — SECOND : CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY — Throw the couple Torres-monsters into rubber rooms — We must ensure the sadistic abusers stay away from animals & NEVER adopt again — the depraved indifference & abuse inflicted on trusting, vulnerable dogs is telling of unconscionable, irrational, sadistic, depraved & hateful humans –PUNISHMENTS & PENALTIES MUST BE SEVERE — We do NOT want repeats of these crimes –EVER!
Prosecute to the fullest extent these monsters!
Thanks to the protestors this mindless cruelty will be kept in the public eye.
Thank you protestors
Thank you to the protestors for showing up. This poor dog like so many that needs people like you to defend her as much as possible. Also more thanks to everyone that has been involved in her survival.
Thanks for the fight to save sweet little lucy
These people are heartless and think only about their own comfort. Why do people keep animals when they do not go all the way by looking after them properly and taking care of them? Aren’t they also members of your family?
These people are heartless and think only about their own comfort. Why do people keep animals when they do not go all the way by looking after them properly and taking care of them? Aren’t they also members of your family?
This is getting out of hand with these ‘SICK” animal abusers now a days. Punishment MUST be SEVERE and SWIFT! NO more BSing around. Throw the book at any animal abuser!