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You, Animals and The Law

© Pat Williams

From the death of Diane Whipple in California after being attacked by two mastiff type dogs to the brutal attack by Russell Watson on a pit bull in a Laundromat in Philadelphia, reports of animal abuse and dog attacks seem to be on the rise. The increased incidents of these crimes have prompted the cable television network Animal Planet to air a series called Animal Cops showing actual animal cruelty investigations and rescues in cities such as Detroit, New York, Miami and Houston. The segments are graphic and sometimes difficult to watch but they drive home a very critical point; animal abuse is alive and a fact of life in the United States.
Animal Planets Animal Cops link

http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/ani...

The latest research shows that most criminals involved in violence against humans have committed similar crimes against animals. The Federal Bureau of Investigation began to see a connection between cruelty to animals and other violent behavior in the late 1970s, according to agent Alan Brantley, who works in the bureau's behavioral science unit. Agents conducted a study of serial killers and found that most had killed or tortured an animal as children or adolescents. The FBI now uses animal abuse as one of the indicators of possible violent behavior against humans.

Stricter laws and better law enforcement are the primary methods needed to control these crimes. In the state of Pennsylvania most animal cruelty offenses are considered a misdemeanor, slightly more offensive than a traffic ticket with fines that vary from $50.00 to $1500.00 and imprisonment from 90 days to one year.

Though the penalties for such crimes are very low, residents must be willing to report them when ever possible sending a clear message that these acts will not be tolerated. Law enforcement begins in the community.

Thankfully, some states are getting the message, raising their fines and penalties to those more consistent with the crime.

Think animal abuse doesn't happen where you live?
Think again... http://www.pet-abuse.com/ourstory/

There is a large segment of society that is unaware of the laws pertaining to animals in this country. Some are misinformed, while others, coming from different countries, have never heard of such laws. In many parts of the world, dogs and cats are not considered pets but livestock. Changing these attitudes is difficult but not impossible with education.

There are many forms of abuse and not everyone is aware of what constitutes abuse. Some everyday practices, which people have done for years, are actually abuse and the reason so many animals end up in animal shelters or worse.

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