Back in 2013, national and even international media reported on a terrible case of animal abuse. Norfolk, Massachusetts investigators, discovered a pit pull on a playground. For the time being, they called her Puppy Doe. She was very close to death.
Later on, a police report indicated that Puppy Doe was, in fact, Kiya, named by Radoslaw Czerkawski, who had adopted her. Kiya’s case has since led to new, stronger animal welfare laws for Massachusetts.
Kiya was malnourished, tortured and abused, terrifying. She weighed half as much as she should have. Her owner’s abuse is unimaginably severe. Investigators found many fractures and stab wounds on Kiya.
Further, for whatever sick reason, Czerhawski had sliced her tongue. A representative of the Animal Rescue League said that “she appears to have undergone some kind of crude cutting to create a serpent-like split to her tongue.”
Somehow, the torture she’d received didn’t end there. Czerkawski had burned her nose and stabbed one of her eyes.
These extensive injuries were too much for little Kiya. There was no way to save her, as much as the rescuers wanted to.
Justice system prevails
The District Attorney of Norfolk indicated concern about the number of other potential victims Czerkawski may have had. He said, “It is highly unlikely that this level of sadistic cruelty could be shown to one animal and not be part of a pattern involving other animals or perhaps vulnerable people.”
Czerkawski was familiar with law enforcement – he had previously served three to five years for stealing $130,000 from an elderly woman. He was supposed to be caring for this woman but had failed to do so.
Thankfully, the judge was not kind to this animal abuser. The judge sentenced him to eight to ten years in prison, with an additional two years of probation.
However, it didn’t end there. The judge banned Czerkawski from ever having contact with animals again. Further, after his sentence, he will not remain in America. Officials will deport him to his homeland, Poland.
Kiya, “Puppy Doe,” has become the face of animal abuse. Many people have taken a stand and begun to pay more attention to instances of animal abuse. People are not more inclined to say that enough is enough, and it’s all thanks to Kiya, despite her tragic story.
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