Article: Humane Society offers reward after possum killed

April 29, 2010 - 6:36pm
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Kate Ryan, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - The crime scene is an alley. The victim, a young mother of ten.

But this is not your typical crime story.

The mother is a possum.

She was killed in an alley off 16th Street in Northeast D.C on Tuesday when someone smashed her over and over again with bricks.

The Washington Humane Society is out to catch her killer.

"On a personal level, it infuriates me, because this was a mother just trying to survive in our environment," says Scott Giacoppo, vice president of external affairs and chief programs officer at the Washington Humane Society.

Giacoppo says every cruelty case is upsetting, but admits this one got under his skin, particularly because possums are harmless.

"Even if you approach them, their instinct is just to shut down, and play dead."

This one was carrying her babies in her pouch, looking for food.

"Someone just decided, this is it. And just wanted to watch her die - in a very cruel, cruel, painful manner."

To those who may think, it's just a possum, Giacoppo says the species of the animal doesn't matter.

"To me, and to the Washington Humane Society, it's an animal. It's an animal that's protected by law, that has feelings, and didn't deserve to get what she got."

Ironically, the Washington Humane Society had just announced a new program designed to help D.C. residents handle wildlife situations, like bats nesting in attics, or raccoons carrying kits under porches.

Giacoppo also says studies show that "anyone who would commit an act of violence toward an animal is actually seven times more likely to commit an act of violence against people."

He cites a recent case involving a father who killed his son's pet lizard. Animals are often abused in cases of domestic violence -- used as leverage by the abuser, Giacoppo says.

Convictions are becoming easier to get when the humane society goes to court on a cruelty case, Giacoppo says.

The Washington Humane Society is offering a $1,000 reward in the case. If you have any information that could help solve this case, call 202-BE-HUMANE.