The Jack-Booted Thug(s) of the Week...

... are certain personnel who staff and run the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Big time.

In 2005, that particular agency (along with some Federal wildlife officers - isn't it curious how the Feds seem to be so omnipresent these days? Must be all of that stimulus money floating around.) seized around 500 turtles of various species from amateur herpetologist Steve Santhuff and subsequently charged him with keeping the animals illegally as well as endangering them (the relevant charge here).

Santhuff was acquitted of all charges in February 2008. According to this story out of Atlanta, only last week were his reptiles finally given back to him.

Minus, that is, the (the exact number is in dispute, but it's definitely over 300) turtles that died while in the state's custody. As if that weren't bad enough, Santhuff claims that the ones that were fortunate enough to survive their stay in the "care" of the state were returned to him in very poor condition.

"When asked about the turtle deaths and ailments, state DNR spokesman Rick Lavender said 'because of the pending litigation we can’t respond to questions about the type of quality of care of the turtles.'"

Yes, we would imagine you can't, Mr. Lavender. Why hasn't your organization been charged with "endangerment" (the much more serious charge of felony animal cruelty would actually seem to be a more appropriate indictment, from the sound of it), by the way? Immune from the laws that you so willy-nilly impose upon the common peasants down there, are you?

Does this turn of events mean that were your officers to abuse and kill dogs a la Michael Vick they would get go scot-free as well, or does your department's magical force field of protection from the laws applied to everyone else only extend to non-mammals, even if someone has devotedly cared for them for over 20 years, as in this case?

Santhuff was only given back 128 of his turtles, and he states that the DNR still has possession of 44 more, some of which are valued at up to $350 apiece. He has now filed both state and federal lawsuits seeking the return of the rest of his property as well as just compensation for his losses and "civil rights violations he claims to have suffered regarding the legalities of the search warrant."

As devoted pet owners ourselves, we are pulling for Mr. Santhuff to legally smack that abattoir of an agency (that supposedly is all about "animal welfare") up one side and down the other, and that he ends up shutting their incompetent doors for good.