Date: October 22, 1998. Here is the latest update on the Brookline case. The case went to the Grand Jury at Superior Court in Dedham, MA yesterday, October 21. We heard back from the Detective on the case who stated that they will be returning to court next week (no day was given) to bring more evidence to the Grand Jury. We will update everyone as soon as we hear which day this will occur and what happens. Jim Walker over at The Brookline Tab has written a follow-up article on this case which appeared today. Mr. Walker wrote the original story about this crime. To view this article online, go to: http://www.townonline.com/brookline/ If you are on America Online, go to keyword: townonline then hit Brookline. Many of you have asked what you can do. As you can see from the article, people from all over who wrote to the Tab got their views published. We are asking that people do the following: Please continue to write to the Tab and also the other two Boston newspapers. When writing to them, remember to include your name, address, and phone number. Tell everyone that you know about this case and have them do the same. This issue crosses all thresholds. Contact local animal welfare groups in your own community, contact local domestic abuse groups, anyone you can think of that would be willing to write a letter. We are hoping that in the case of other grassroots campaings, that by writing to these newspapers, it will bring this case into the forefront and get the media attention it deserves. Ronnie Dicomo has supplied us with the info on the following addresses: Boston area papers: The Boston Globe 135 Morrissey Blvd PO Box 2378 Boston, MA 02107-2378 http://www.boston.com/extranet/contact.stm globe The Boston Herald PO Box 2096 Boston MA 02106 hrrp://www.bostonherald.com The Brookline TAB is the only paper so far to report on this crime and they are also doing a follow-up story: Letters to the Editor Brookline TAB 254 Second Avenue Needham, MA 02494 Jim Walker's E-mail: [log in to unmask] Letters of sympathy to the owner can be sent to: Massachusetts Ferret Friends, Inc. c/o Brookline Ferret Case PO Box 3123 Wakefield, MA 01880 (to protect the owner, his name is being withheld at this time) For information on the case, please check out Sam's website at http://users.1st.net/hammock/ferrets/ http://users.1st.net/hammock/ferrets/brookline.htm When writing, I would give a brief explanation what your letter refers to; some people may not remember the story, may not have seen it, etc. Also, newspapers always check to see if you are the author so an address and phone number must be included for publication (they won't publish your address/number, but they will confirm). Other useful sites on the link between cruelty to animals/humans: HSUS First Strike Campaign http://hsus.org/strike.html Animal cruelty: a sign of other abuse? http://www.cd.columbus.oh.us/news/newsfea2/nov97/anim1117.html Pets: Animals suffer domestic abuse, too http://www.detnews.com/1997/metlife/9711/05/11050030.htm AHA calls for investigation into animal/human abuse link http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/oct97/s101597b.htm Acts of Animal Cruelty Can Point to an Offender's Potential for Violence Against Humans http://www.arkonline.com/violence.html HSUS is co-sponsoring a conference Nov. 9 in Lebanon, NH on the link between violence to humans/animals. For info call 603-448-1878 or 802-368-2790. [Posted in FML issue 2470]