Animal advocates continue to express outrage towards a Jackson, Wyoming hunter who paraded a wounded wolf in a bar with its muzzle taped shut before taking it outside to shoot it. And if that’s not revolting enough, a family member later reenacted the scene about the tortured wolf mocking the public’s outrage.
According to WyoFile.com, the shocking photo of Cody Roberts, 42, smiling while raising a can of beer holding the live wolf taped up around his mouth, shocked both the community and the country. Roberts allegedly had struck the wolf with his snowmobile, and instead of putting the animal out of its misery, taped the wolf up by its jaws and took it to the local bar.
Clayton Melinkovich, the Sublette County attorney and prosecutor is continuing his investigation and promises to then make a decision. The public outrage grew after the Wyoming Game and Fish Department only charged Roberts with possessing a wild animal and fined him $250. Once the disturbing photo and alleged story of the wolf went viral, the Wyoming Game and Fish continued to receive thousands of calls and emails; some of the communication has wrongly threatened violence.
According to the Casper Star Tribune, thousands of people, welfare groups and wildlife supporters including hunters, want Roberts to face felony charges which could result in a $5,000 fine and/or up to two years in prison.
The Game and Fish laws do not apply to wolves in this part of Wyoming, and therefore predators can legally be killed and with very few restrictions. Melinkovich, however, has stated Wyoming’s law which includes the surrounding Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks, consider wolves trophy game animals.
The reply from Melinkovich’s office phone, acknowledges the messages from people asking for justice for the wolf and stated it is possible that “some or all of the allegations could ultimately be verified through a lawful investigation, they cannot be used as the basis for any criminal charge unless and until they are vetted.”
Pet Rescue Report will continue to report the news about this situation as the story develops.
Read the previous coverage here.
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