Tragedy in Mississippi – Project Hope Demands Justice!
January 7th, 2010 | 
Author: Canton, Mississippi Animal Control Officer, Alonzo Esco, has been fired for allegedly shooting to death over a hundred dogs that were in his care. It’s speculated that Esco had also been selling dogs he picked up for bait in dogfighting. What is clear is that after an investigation by the Canton Police Department was that Esco had shot and illegally dumped over 100 dogs in a Canton waterway.
Because the crimes were not a felony, the case would have to be taken up in a lower court. And the Mayor of Canton said that because it was a misdemeanor, the city would not take up the case.
“We will not let go of this,” said Doll Stanley, director of IDA’s Project Hope. “It is absolutely appalling and disgusting that an animal control officer working for any municipality would take it upon himself to violate city policy by shooting animals entrusted to his care. We know this goes on in different communities in Mississippi, and we’re hoping that when these same communities see that Mr. Esco is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law that they will wake up and smell the coffee.”
Esco is facing at least 100 counts of animal cruelty for shooting the dogs. IDA is also looking into the fact that he used city property to act illegally.
Sources revealed that Esco was let go from the Canton Fire Department for stealing gasoline and “demoted” to animal control.
“What is very disconcerting is that a city employee would be demoted to animal control. It is really disturbing is that an animal control position is not considered respectable. Sadly, here in the Mississippi, animal control is often viewed as a gateway to the police or fire department. As an auxiliary policeman, Esco did have a police weapon and this is the weapon he used to kill these animals.”
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for more information on this breaking case.
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How is this act not a felony??!! There needs to be stiffer penalties for animal abusers!
I am disgusted and he must be punished to the full extent of the law…the news channels must explore this story and make these animal injustices public.
Alonzo Esco has relatives and connections w/in his community including his cousin Mayor Fred Esco. What’s almost as sickening as what Esco did is it is apparent that authorities are being very quiet, cleaning up the bloody scenes left by Esco to get rid of evidence, hoping this will die down & everyone will forget the evil, senseless execution of these dogs by a city worker who was paid to keep these dogs safe.
The more I read, the more pathetic I realize so many humans are! Please don’t let this story die, along with these victims…..Please update us.
The more I read about humans, I am so glad I am not an animal. How can anybody, especially an officer, kill somebodies pet or any dog or cat for that matter?
This idiot needs to be exposed not his misdeamors covered up like the mayor is trying to do. Keep up the good work IDA and expose every person that is cruel or mistreats any animal.
What this animal control officer did was not to protect the animals but abuse and kill them. This is a crime against our society and it should be a felony! As I am someone who has taken care of, rescued and been with animals throughout my life, what this man did is a crime. There needs to be stiffer penalties for all animal abusers!
I hope and feel that he must be punished to the full extent of the law and Never be allowed to work in the care of any animals for the rest of his life.
I am discusted and horrified at this piece of human waste actions towards animals, who is next if wasn’t stopped. Is this person on drugs or drinking or something. He has issues obviously and the Mayor must have known about it hes is taking the laid back approach. what if it was one of his own family members.
That this man was taking these dogs and selling them as bait dogs is so disturbing on so many levels but to turn around and murder all those dogs on top of it is just beyond words. I am ashamed to be a human being. Animal cruelty has got to be accounted for and people prosecuted and get actual hard jail time. It just never ceases to amaze me how cruel a person can be to another living being. disgusted.
The killing of 100 dogs by an animal control employee is pathetic. This is just as bad as the BLM using helicopters to round up all those beautiful majestic horses on our ranges – the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act was supposed to protect these animals. Everyone at the BLM from Salazar down should be convicted of abusing these horses and burros as they are being injured( and shot to death as a mare was, leaving behind a foal in the Nevada Calico roundup on January 2nd). When are we going to see that these individuals, including the animal control officer, are convicted to the full extent of the law. Maybe a good place for all of them is out in the middle of Death valley, with no way to find their way back. Maybe then, they will realize exactly how the American people feel about their pet dogs, cats, and the wild horses and burrows.
Anybody who would think it appropriate to shoot animals, domestic animals or not, and possibly be selling animals that he picked up as bait should really be put in front of a firing squad. A person like that is not normal and has no empathy or caring for other living beings and may direct their cruelty in the direction of people though I don’t believe that violence towards humans is any worse than if it is directed towards animals. It is equally horrible and monsterous.
Killing, neglect, cruelty, fighting , any crime involving an animal being victimized should be made into a felony at least ,though I would say that the best punishment for a criminal would be to give him or her the same treatment and mercy they gave the animals they had. Which would be little or none at all. To victimize an animal is one of the most horrid things a person could do because animals can’t escape from it or tell anyone of abuse or neglect. They are helpless and it is up to us to be their protector.
This is the most terrible fact that I have ever heard. What is wrong with the officials? Why cannot the people speak up and do what is right? Someone that does this crime should be punished severely. This is “God’s” creatures and they deserve to be protected. Please do not let this die. We have to keep going and speak up!
All animal lovers must send as many letters as they can to those in the position to convict this piece of garbage. Only five people had a respons to this story. Come on people wake-up, if we stay quiet, then people like this idiot will think it’s ok to kill animals, and get away with it. If theres anything I can do please let me know. Is there an address where letters can be sent, or phone calls made? FOR THE LOVE OF ALL ANIMALS GREAT AND SMALL!!!!
if this is not a felony in that state/county then they seriously need to change the law. 1 dog a slap on the wrist (I don’t think so!) 100 dogs (I DON’T THINK SO) I find this whole thing disgusting.
ABSOLUTELY horrific!!!!!!!!!! The mare who “was shot
because she was old and thin” – (it was a “mercy killing”?). Shooting horses is not an option.
This shooting from a helicopter is very reminscent
of the Texas wild game hunter killings – which are
not fair or just. Absolutely CRUEL and should be
ILLEGAL! Shooting fish in a barrel doesn’t make
someone a “man”!
Hey – what if someone decided you were too old and thin, and needed to be killed? I call that EUTHANIASIA and the BLM should be eliminated during
the Obama administration. A proper corrective diet
could have helped her, given the right adopter. My
heart just BREAKS for that mare.
These sort of things seem to happen more and more. There really should be more serious consequences for this behavior. It is a well known fact that most serial killers were animal abusers at one time or another and it only makes sense that their thirst for power over innocent beings should escalate when the animals are no longer quenching their thirst for power over others. These things need closer scrutiny. Shame on all of us for letting these things go so easily.
McDonalds is guilty of buying Latin American beef, thus they are harming the American cow rancher – and
that only contributes more to their hatred for the wild horses, the mustang herds of the wild west.
McDonald’s should have it’s head on the government
chopping block for contributing to the demise of those poor mustangs, and for harming the American
cow ranchers. Cows were brought from Europe, and the horses were here FIRST. Land grabs are not acceptable. The Mustangs are being misplaced and
confined much like the Indians of long ago.
I do not believe that Mississippi has felony cruelty law so that may be why it was classified as a misdeamnor. Please IDA, don’t let this story die, tell us who to write to, who to contact and we’ll put the pressure on officials in that city to press charges against this redneck killer.
I am hopeful that the media will not let go of this story. The fact that this offender’s cousin is Mayor, should raise a red flag to the people of the community that in cases where his relatives break the law (any law)the Mayor will turn a blind eye. Maybe the next time it will not be an animal that pays the price. Studies have shown that people who will perpetrate abuse on animals usually move on up to bigger prey, usually the elderly or children. There has to be something mentally wrong with this A**hole and I hope that he gets some jailtime, he should at the very least lose his job, be banned from working for state or municipal government in the future and be fined steeply for each of the counts of animal cruelty that he committed.
IDA must make an example of this jerk! There must be animal lovers in Mississippi! Hope they get behind you on this issue and PUSH!
Those men all involved in this hell act will pay for what they have done whether it be in this life or the next. God sees all and these animals were innocent animals and they took apon it to decide how they die and did it in a horrible way.
You go IDA and we will all help to write letters you just give us the go to do it and we will stand behind these poor helpless animals.
How would these men fill if they died this way?
I have decided that I in anyway will not ever do anything to support that state unless it is to protect the innocent people and animals.
This is a very sick/twisted individual. Even those who are not sympathetic towards animals should realize that this sort of mentality is dangerous to other humans. The man obviously has no conscience. I, feeling great sympathy for the dogs, think this guy should be locked up and the key thrown away.
We need justice for those cruel acts around the world.
Animals must be respected!
This is simply appalling!
I cannot fathom the “state” just letting this go…
Where do “these” people come from?
I just have no words to express my distain for such behavior that are printable.
Please keep up the pressure to have this “person” prosecuted.
Thanks,
ginny
Jinny….you ask where do these people come from….mississippi…they would still have slaves if they could…remember the 3 civil rights workers that were hunted down and killed….they have no respect for human life…so where do you think that leaves a defenseless animal…the good ole’ boys are alive and well and sticking together….they have the mentality of a slug….i hope they all rot in hell….
Donna, I am a Mississippian AND an avid animal lover. You have a horrible attitude about my state and those who live here. Please don’t judge everyone who lives here based off some uneducated heartless bastard. I am sick about this! I think jail is too good for this idiot. He should be treated just as these animals have been treated. His ignorant mayor cousin should be given the same treatmnet if he is covering this up. it is my opinion that we need strict laws to help put an end to cruelty all together. Our whole nation has gotten to a point that abuse against the innocent is just acceptable. If I am contacted with information on who to write or contact in regards to this horrible crime I will do it. I live near Canton and I am ashamed of people like those we are reading about. It is stupid people like these that gives our wonderful, hospitable state the bad name people like you call us. By the way we don’t have a desire for slavery! Please don’t talk abput what you know nothing about. However, thankyou for your love of animals and your concern.
this person should be put away for a long time. let the boys in jail take care of him. he will be sorry
how can anybody let this felon on the streets when he is disgusting
Are there any violations related to water safety/hazards, or county dumping policies, that could elevate the charges?
Shameful. Justice must be done. IDA I strongly support any effort to press charges against that evil.
God, this is almost reminiscent of what happend in one of the parishes in Louisiana after Katrina hit. Folks that were evacuating this parish were told to leave their dogs at a school where they would be safe and cared for. The two police officers who were charged to protect the animals decided they would use them for target practice and another type of ‘abuse’, which I will not delve into. I’ll leave that up to your imagination. Each and every animal was killed. The two police officers involved both got off, citing that the stress of the situation caused them to behave badly.
You folks in Mississippi must pressure the press into revealing that this cretan is the Mayor’s relative. Since this indirectly involved the mayor’s office and those who report to him, maybe the mayor should be on trial.
I believe and eye for an eye, but that will never happen, first this so called man should loose his job for going against his job requirements, he should never be givena licence for a gun he doesnt know how to use it obviously, he is not a man for killing these dogs who are defenseless with his gun, i hope he never gets a job again, he should be put in jail for murder of these poor defenseless dogs, SOB he is
This man has no respect for life. He is out for only himself and obviously had no qualms about killing dogs. Please let’s continue to press the powers that be to give this man a lesson in what it should mean to be a good citizen and human being. To let him get away with this slap on the wrist is a joke.
Please Mayor: Do make justice in the name of those 100 dogs.
The man that was demoted to Animal Control should be
in jail.
I agree with all those above, don’t let this die.
I am an animal healer and speaker, I hear a great deal from the other animals regarding incidents of this nature.
Freedom, for one, knows he is going to die by human hands: hideous knowledge. Yet he goes on, trying to make himself a target that is very visible.
NO MORE DEATH FOR ‘PUBLIC MONEY’
Lynn Porter
This man needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
This is horrible, if they don’t think that shooting 100 dogs is bad enough, maybe they should consider the pollution of the waterway to the health of the community, prosecute him by any means available!
Cruelty to animals is rampant in the South. Add to this that in Latin countries, animals “have no soul” therefore don’t feel anything and can be abused without further ado. Alonzo Esco is a result of both those cultures,and not worthy of being called a human being. Cruelty to animals should be a Federal offense where States have no choice other than to punish a sorry excuse of a man like this, to the full extent of the law.
What an ass- how insensitive- why work with animals if u don’t like/care about them, or their well being. Why are animal abusers given a slap on the wrist? In my eyes it is the same thing as murder, and this guy is an murderer,a killer. What is the difference if it involves a human or an animal. He should get a stiffer penalty, just because it is “an animal” he gets off. The way I see it is an life is a life no matter what species it is, and he should recieve the same fate. Why crowd our prisons with murders. In the olden days, they hung people or in other countries they face other punishments- maybe we should start to use some of these.
Sadly abuse goes on in most animal control facilities. Governments don’t care about animals and don’t want to pay for them. Instead of preventing overpopulation with free or low cost spay/neuter clinics and education their answer is to destroy the animals. They don’t investigate cruelty they perpetuate it with horrific types of deaths for the victims in their prisons. Their answer is that they are animal CONTROL not rescue or no kill shelters. They deserve to have the same done to them that they do/allow to be done to the animals. Unfortunately a large percentage of the population agrees with them. I don’t know how we came to be called humans because their is nothing humane about most people.
As I sit here looking at my three rescued doggie children, through the tears in my eyes, I realize that in another 20 years there will be no more pain; no more needless suffering. Because, by then, people like this “man” will have killed everyone off.
I am from Mississippi and I can tell you that the standards set to protect animals here in MS are very low. I am not at all suprised that this man was charged with a misdemeanor, but I am suprised that he was actually charged at all. Until laws in Mississippi change, men like him and countless other animal control officers will not be held accountable to their actions or lack there of when it comes to animal welfare.
Luckily, there are those who are looking out for animals here in MS. If you would like to know ways that you can help to prevent this problem from occuring again and again please contact Senator Billy Hewes at (601)359-3209.
Says alot for the Mayor of Canton Mississippi doesnt it. He does not Give A Damn. What a hypocrate bastard.
This guy obviously has no respect or compassion for the defenseless and it is not just animals. We know the relationship of animal abuse to serial killers and all abusers. If he does this to animals at his job, just think what he does to defenseless kids and the elderly on his free time!! Very scarey. Don’t let him associate with your family members or babysit your kids because this guy is armed and dangerous.
Keep your cats inside!