A man accused of decapitating a seagull earlier this month at a New Jersey pier has sparked outrage among those disturbed by the brutality of the incident.
Franklin Zeigler, 29, faces third-degree animal cruelty charges after eyewitnesses reported the alleged act on July 6 at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey, according to a release from the North Wildwood Police Department.
According to WPVI-TV, citing court records, Zeigler reportedly killed the bird after it snatched French fries from his daughter.
The story quickly circulated on social media, where many users expressed their disgust and condemnation of Zeigler’s alleged actions.
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A man who decapitated a seagull earlier this month at a New Jersey pier has disturbed many with the violent nature of the attack. (Hauke-Christian Dittrich/picture alliance via Getty Images)
“What is wrong with people?” questioned one commenter on Facebook, while another deemed him a “danger to society.”
“It ultimately comes down to how we view acceptable treatment of non-humans in our society,” the commenter added.
A third individual labeled Zeigler a “Sicko.”
A fourth noted: “A seagull in Circular Quay, Sydney, took my reading glasses off my face while I was holding Maccas chips and dropped them at the Opera House, thankfully not in the harbor, but I would never harm it for that. Such a horrible man.”
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The decapitation incident transpired at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Another user on X commented: “That is unacceptable. The man took his child into the seagull’s habitat and expects the birds to understand human expectations. SMH.”
“It’s a frightening world we live in,” another user added.
In the wake of his arrest, a petition amassing nearly 45,000 signatures has emerged, demanding that Zeigler receive mental health counseling and be prohibited from owning pets in the future.
The petition garnered close to 45,000 signatures by Thursday evening. (Thepetitionsite.com)
“If he is permitted to proceed without serious consequences or accountability, who can predict what his next outburst might target?” the petition questioned. “Another animal? A human? A child?”
It added, “The sheer brutality he demonstrated must have been frightening,” noting that Zeigler reportedly requested a trash bag from a nearby business while still holding the decapitated seagull.
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Zeigler was “agitated and uncooperative with officers during an unrelated inquiry,” police stated, leading to his arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, with animal cruelty charges added following a subsequent investigation.
