BWF Featured in LA Times Again! "Let's get illegal vendors of bunnies and turtles off L.A.'s streets"

Sentencing Set for Tuesday after Guilty Verdict for Illegal Animal Traffickers in LA

For immediate release:

WHO: Bunny World Foundation (BunnyWorldFoundation.org)

WHAT: The sentencing hearing for Juan Mena and Norma Pluma, illegal animal traffickers prosecuted and found guilty by LA’s City Attorney office, is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10 at 9:00 am.

On December 6, Norma Pluma was convicted for battery against a person, animal cruelty, and illegal animal sales. Juan Mena, was convicted of illegal animal trafficking. Because of his repeated criminal activities and his lengthy criminal record, he was taken into custody on the day of the verdict and currently sits in jail.

“After over five years of investigations, we are satisfied,” says Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder and president of Bunny World Foundation, “I was personally assaulted by these animal traffickers just for coming to the aid of dying animals who they were abusing. This is a giant leap forward and the cries of un-weaned baby bunnies have finally been heard. This conviction sends a strong message to other illegal animal traffickers that our city will no longer tolerate this abusive behavior.”

Santee Alley, in the Los Angeles Fashion District, is the city's number one haven for illegal animal sales where underaged rabbits, kittens, salmonella infected turtles, parvo-infected puppies, and exotic birds are sold illegally on a daily basis. The purchase of animals on the streets of LA is also a crime. These convicted criminals defrauded buyers, telling them that the bunnies were a dwarf breed when, in fact, they were 7–10 day old babies. 

 “After years of trying to stop illegal animal trafficking and the abuse of so many underaged animals, we are pleased that the court finally convicted,” said Susan Tellem, founder of American Tortoise Rescue.  “Baby turtles were sold illegally by the thousands in small plastic bags and while they are supposed to live 25 years or more, most died within days.”

“Finally, our city officials are taking action against illegal animal sales,” said Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. “Un-weaned baby animals of all kinds are horribly mistreated by these criminals on a routine basis.  Downtown LA is enjoying a cultural renaissance and we are happy that the city is kicking these criminals out and we hope that they get the maximum sentence.”

“These convicted criminals, Pluma and Mena, aren’t even in our country legally. They ought to be deported immediately after serving their time. As we move forward in our battle against illegal animal traffickers in LA, we hope that the authorities will see to it that the appropriate felony convictions will apply to other animal traffickers who dare to abuse animals on our public streets.  These criminals are not only a danger to animals, as this conviction proves, they are a danger to the public as well. Violent people such as these belong in prison,” says Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder and president of Bunny World Foundation.

WHERE: Los Angeles Superior Court

Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center

Floor 7 / Division 54

210 West Temple Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

213-974-6141

Judge Lia Martin

WHEN: Tuesday, December 10 at 9:00 am.

#      #      #

Media Contact:

Lejla Hadzimuratovic

T (310) 498-8600
E lejla@bunnyworldfoundation.org

Bunny World Foundation (BWF), is a non-profit 501(c) 3 animal welfare organization founded in 2008 in LA, California. Its mission is to combat animal cruelty, illegal animal sales, exploitation and neglect of all animals, through rescue efforts, public education, research, investigations, legislation, special events, and media attention.  BWF has rescued over 3000 un-weaned baby bunnies from Santee Alley. For more information, please visit www.bunnyworldfoundation.org.

Photo Courtesy: Ed Fuentes

GUILTY VERDICT FOR ILLEGAL ANIMAL VENDORS AT SANTEE ALLEY, LOS ANGELES FASHION DISTRICT

“PEOPLE VS JUAN MENA AND NORMA PLUMA” CASE 3CA05336-01

JUAN MENA WAS FOUND GUILTY FOR ILLEGALLY SELLING ANIMALS UNDER 53.42 (a) LA MUNICIPAL CODE.

Due to his previous offenses, Juan Mena (who also had the restraining order from Santee Alley at the time of his arrest) is taken to jail. We had a pleasure of seeing him HANDCUFFED AND TAKEN AWAY.  The Judge ordered that he remain in jail for 5 days, until the sentencing on December 10.  Bail amount: $40.000!

NORMA PLUMA WAS FOUND GUILTY FOR BATTERY UNDER PENAL CODE 242, ANIMAL CRUELTY UNDER PENAL CODE 597.1(A), ILLEGAL ANIMAL SALES (RABBITS) UNDER 53.42 (a) LA MUNICIPAL CODE AND ILLEGAL ANIMAL SALES (TURTLES) UNDER LA MUNICIPAL CODE 53.42 (f)

For detailed information on Trial, please visit our Facebook Page.

This said, the SENTENCING for both JUAN MENA and NORMA PLUMA is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10 at 9:00 am at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, 210 W. Temple Street (Between Broadway & Spring), 7th Floor, Division 54, Judge Lia Martin.  

 

Get this ring FREE when you purchase hay or pellets from Small Pet Select!

To raise money for rabbit rescues, Small Pet Select is giving away these Bunny Wrap Rings (retail value $15.95) with purchase of any hay or pellet product from http://smallpetselect.com/. In addition, when you use coupon code BWFRING in checkout, 10% of purchase will be donated to Bunny World Foundation!

Share with your friends to earn money for Bunny World Foundation!

Urgent Help Needed with Medical Bills

  

Dear BWF Supporters,

URGENT HELP IS NEEDED WITH BWF MEDICAL BILLS & SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES. DIRECT DONATIONS TO THE VET ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE & MOST APPRECIATED.

Bunny World Foundation (BWF) is an ALL-VOLUNTEER, NON-PROFIT 501(c)3 animal welfare organization with 150 volunteers/fosters working around the clock to save lives of Santee Alley (LA Fashion District) babies. Our volunteers are funding the care of their own fosters, providing supplies, and often paying for the surgeries and medical bills. BWF has NO staff. All of us have full-time jobs and are doing our very best to help the little ones. But our VET BILLS are piling up again and we need your help TODAY! 

Please consider donating DIRECTLY TO ANY OF THE VETS LISTED BELOW or donate to BWF directly.  The Santee Alley babies need you…

DIRECT TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS via Givezooks or Paypal

DONATIONS TO BWF VETS:

All Pets Medical Center (818) 883-2600

Northwood Animal Hospital (949) 559-1992

Additional Spay/Neuter Surgeries & Molar Trims

NB: will only accept $100+ over the phone

Exotic Animal Care Center (626) 405-1777

San Roque Pet Hospital (805) 682-2647 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!