An 8-week-old German-Shepard mix puppy that was choked with a rope, stoned and then buried under a pile of heavy boulders, wouldn't die, and was thus named "Miracle" by its rescuers.

William Peoples, 62, was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony in New York since November 1999 when Buster's Law took effect. Under that law, named for a Schenectady cat that was set on fire, those convicted of excessive animal cruelty now face up to two years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Peoples has a previous arrest for animal cruelty, police said. He was arraigned Wednesday and held in Sullivan County Jail without bail.

``When Miracle came in, he had no use of his back legs, he couldn't walk and his neck was very swollen,'' said Ann Roth, a veterinary assistant at the animal hospital where Miracle was taken for treatment. ``And he was so scared. Anytime we went near him, he'd urinate.'' Roth added that the puppy was very thin, had a bump on his head, and had swollen, bloodshot eyes.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please write to the District Attorney of Sullivan County urging him to vigorously prosecute this egregious act. Please contact Stephen F. Lungren, District Attorney via facsimile at 914-794-3646 (***SEE SAMPLE LETTER BELOW***)

SAMPLE LETTER: 

As an animal lover and a concerned citizen, I am writing to urge the vigorous prosecution of Mr. William Peoples who was arrested last week and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for brutally beating and choking an 8-week old puppy. Inhumanity of this kind must not be tolerated by our society. We must send a clear message to perpetrators of violence that their abhorrent behavior will not be condoned nor allowed, and will be severely punished. The fact that Mr. Peoples could commit this kind of horror against an innocent and defenseless creature proves that he is unfit to live amongst decent, law-abiding citizens. In addition, Mr. Peoples has a previous arrest for animal cruelty, displaying a disturbing pattern of immorality and brutality. His punishment should consist of nothing less than the maximum for this felony - a $5,000 fine and two years in prison.

Please use the authority of your position to prosecute Mr. Peoples to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you for your consideration of this serious matter.

Sincerely,

Christina J. Johnson

123 Main Street

Los Angeles, CA 90001

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