PETA targets Blair Spanish teacher

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) researcher Dan Paden targeted Blair Spanish teacher Maria Yordan-Torres in a letter sent to Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler on Monday, Jan. 30 concerning her upcoming trial.

The letter, authored by Paden, noted the 32 charges Yordan-Torres faces after the removal of 20 "malnourished" dogs and eight puppies from her Clarksburg home. If convicted, PETA requests that Yordan-Torres be "prohibited from owning, possessing or caring for animals" and undergo "a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at her own expense" in addition to serving any jail time. Paden noted that animal breeders tend to receive more lenient punishments than do violent animal abusers.

John McLane, Communications Director for the State's Attorney, stated that Gansler will consider the letter from PETA and takes the "crime of animal cruelty very seriously."

Paden estimated that, in the event of a conviction, Yordan-Torres could face up to a year in prison, but asserted that, "a year in jail for neglecting animals is a bargain."

Yordan-Torres would not comment for this article.

Additionally, Paden stated that Yordan-Torres's career as a teacher should be called into question, noting that animal abusers have no place in the classroom. "The disregard for life that is seen in [animal] cruelty is not a value America needs," he said.

Jenny Beutler, who adopted two of the dogs taken from Yordan-Torres's residence, stated that when she brought the two Coton de Tulears home, both dogs were underweight and needed veterinary attention. Additionally, Beutler reported scars on the body of one of her adopted dogs "from being shot at [with BB pellets]."

Blair French teacher Arlette Loomis, said that Yordan-Torres expressed only compassion towards her animals and would regularly talk about her Coton de Tulears. "She kept the dogs that had infirmities and would not sell them until she could find someone to take care of them," said Loomis. "She never abandoned dogs."

According to Paden, PETA will not be directly involved with Yordan-Torres's trial, scheduled to begin March 3. On average PETA sends out more than 50 such letters nationally on a weekly basis, he said.