PETITION TARGET: Texas Governor Greg Abbott
A beloved turkey named Tom George, who served as the unofficial mascot for the town of Argyle, Texas, is dead after someone grabbed him by the neck and choked the bird to death. He threw the lifeless body into his car and drove off, according to an onlooker who saw the horrifying scene.
Sadly, wild turkeys are not protected under Texas’s animal cruelty laws, and the maximum sentence the perpetrator can receive is a Class C misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500. These charges are for unlawful hunting without a license and possession of a “game animal” taken on a public roadway, according to Cross Timbers Gazette.
This must change. All animals deserve to be protected under the state’s animal cruelty laws.
Residents and authorities alike are deeply saddened by the loss of Tom George, who roamed the local streets for years, harmlessly impeding traffic and curiously approaching bystanders. Tom George’s Facebook page received an outpouring of grief from mourners, who hope to see the turkey’s killer brought to justice.
Tom George’s death could serve as a launching pad for animal cruelty law reform in Texas. Make sure a horrible situation like this never happens again without consequences.
Sign this petition urging Gov. Greg Abbott to push for the expansion of animal cruelty laws to all animals, including innocent turkeys like Tom George, throughout the state of Texas.
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