Peta Call For DMX To Be Jailed

DMX

Animal rights organisation PETA has written to Maricopa County Attorney Andrew P. Thomas urging him to "vigorously prosecute" rapper DMX over those previously reported animal cruelty charges.

As we reported yesterday, a seven month investigation into the rapper, real name Earl Simmons, led to him being charged with several counts of animal cruelty and drug possession, after a police raid on his home recovered five, apparently mistreated, pitbull puppies and various weapons and drugs.

PETA are now calling on others to contact Thomas, requesting Simmons be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law". A spokesperson for PETA told AllHipHop.com: "Simmons appears to be either unable or unwilling to provide even the most basic care for animals. People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to all animals - including humans - with whom they come into contact".

In the letter, signed by Peter Wood, a Cruelty Caseworker in PETA's Cruelty Investigations Department Emergency Response Team, the organisation says: "Mental health professionals and top law enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag. ... Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior - not the species of the victim - that matters. ... We respectfully urge your office to prosecute Simmons to the fullest extent of the law. ... We implore your office to take every measure necessary to ensure that Simmons, if convicted, is barred from owning or harboring animals for as long as possible. We ask also that if convicted, he serve a meaningful period of incarceration and be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counselling at his own expense".