It’s easy to be complacent about animal abuse, imagining that only ignorant and depraved people would hurt animals. Many imagine that animal abuse is something only those who grow up to be serial killers would do. The abuse of animals is seen as a rare and unusual crime, and the problem of animal abuse could not possibly be something that hides in plain sight.
Unfortunately, the vulnerable position of animals in society makes animal abuse almost inevitable. Such is the case of Steffen Baldwin, who was charged with 42 felony indictments connected to the death and abuse of 18 dogs.
Steffen Baldwin was the last person you would suspect of animal abuse: described as charming and confident, he was a former leader of the Union County Humane Society in Marysville, Ohio. He founded a non-profit and set himself up as a hero for dogs that were difficult and traumatized.
Justice for Remi
One particular dog, Remi, became a victim of Baldwin’s scam and was murdered by Baldwin. His former owners wanted him re-homed and trained. They loved Remi but could not care for him. Baldwin took their money to re-home and train Remi, and instead of caring for him, he had him euthanized. Baldwin, like many abusers, was manipulative and had no problem lying. He filed a false report with Union County officials claiming Remi was a dangerous animal. Remi had been in perfect health. This was a cold-blooded killing in which Baldwin used the system’s inherent weaknesses against an animal who had no one to advocate for him.
The couple, who battled for justice for Remi, explained that their story often fell on deaf ears. The life of Remi, and the mysterious way in which he died is something beneath the interest of most people.
Baldwin’s scam claimed the lives of many other pets than just Remi. Somehow, just by presenting a pleasing demeanor, Baldwin was allowed to infiltrate the lives of animals, abuse and kill them. Justice won’t be done for Remi until abuse against animals is acknowledged as a common problem. The systems that place a low value on animal life and allow an animal to be officially murdered must be dismantled. Animals must be protected from humans who could harm them, and a human good-will towards animals should never be taken at face value.
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