The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Animal Abuser The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Animal Abuser
Showing posts with label Animal Abuser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Abuser. Show all posts

Saturday, October 13, 2018

This Clever Judge Turns The Tables On Animal Abusers With A Dose Of Their Own Medicine


Those who love animals find it hard to imagine why anyone would ever inflict pain on our furry friends. A judge named Michael (Mike) Cicconetti from Ohio is the proud owner of a beautiful Bernese mountain dog and an overall animal enthusiast.

He is committed to helping end animal abuse and neglect in his community and has set about to combat the problem in an unexpected way. He uses his sentencing power as a judge to choose sentences that he hopes will help the abusers understand why their behavior is so harmful. His ultimate goal is to get these people to stop treating their pets in such heartless ways.

For example, one local woman got in trouble with the law for allowing her dog to live in a filthy environment. She ended up in Judge Mike's courtroom. So when it came time for him to hand down her sentence, he decided to allow her to have a brief glimpse into what the poor pooch's life had been like under her abuse and neglect. He sentenced the woman to have to spend eight straight hours sitting in a stench-filled dump.

To read more on this story, click here: This Clever Judge Turns The Tables On Animal Abusers With A Dose Of Their Own Medicine


FOLLOW US!
/

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Chicago, Illinois - Bail Was Set at $100,000 for a 25-Year-Old Man Caught Beating a Dog


Bail was set at $100,000 Sunday for a 25-year-old suburban man whom Chicago police arrested after he was seen on a police camera punching and whipping a dog in the city’s West Englewood neighborhood.

The city-issued camera in the 6100 block of South Ashland Avenue captured the man, Isaac Goodlow, punching, kicking and choking the dog around 3:40 a.m. Saturday, prosecutors said.

Officers in Chicago police’s Strategic Decisions Support Center alerted district officers who arrived in time to see Goodlow whipping the dog with an extension cord, which he also used to drag the animal down the sidewalk, Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Knight told the court at the Leighton Criminal Court Building during a brief hearing.

The dog’s breed wasn’t discussed during the hearing, but Goodlow’s arrest report indicates the dog was a pit bull terrier.

Goodlow, of the 4000 block of Bonhill Drive in Arlington Heights, was arrested and later charged with aggravated animal cruelty, while police reached out to a veterinarian to assess the dog. Officers observed the dog to be “scared, shaking, injured, emaciated and dehydrated,” Knight told the court. In fact, after one of the officers gave the dog water, the animal vomited it up, authorities said.

A veterinarian examined the dog and determined that it had signs of prior abuse/torture based on numerous earlier injuries, authorities said. Prosecutors didn’t state whether they suspected the dog of participating in dogfighting, but Goodlow’s arrest report stated that after his arrest, he threatened to kill the dog and admitted to being in a street gang.

Judge John F. Lyke Jr. ordered Goodlow to pay $10,000 for release and to undergo electronic home monitoring if he was able to post bail.

FOLLOW US!
/

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Torturing 7 Dogs


Jason Brown will be locked up behind bars for 28 years; for four years on each count of torturing seven dogs.

He was arrested in July 2014 after a maid at a Super 8 Motel found a dog’s head in the bathtub. The room was covered with blood and dog limbs, and police found severed skin and heads.

The police finally arrested him, and was accused of five felony counts of willful torture of an animal. And once count of possession of a controlled substance. A close family friend testified that he felt rage, and killing dogs

People who sold dogs to Brown broke down crying when watching videos of skinning and torturing the dogs. But Brown refused to watch the video.

Although he was a drug addict with one of the worst addictions ever, the judge did not allow that to get him off of the charges. And was sentenced to 28 years in prison. In 11 years, he will be eligible for parole.

We are just glad that this cowardly monster is finally where he belongs – behind bars. There he can no longer hurt any innocent animals.







FOLLOW US!
/

Friday, September 9, 2016

Convicted Animal Abusers Will No Longer Be Able to Adopt Animals in Hillsborough County, Florida


Tampa, Florida - County commissioners on Thursday approved a new registry for people convicted of harming animals. Individuals on the registry won’t be able to adopt or work with animals, and retailers and shelters will be required to check the registry whenever someone wants to adopt.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner has pushed the issue for months but it was continually pulled back to fix kinks. For example, retailers had objections that their staffs would be in charge of confronting people with violent pasts.

Beckner said the issue was resolved. Instead of checking people against the animal registry at the point of sale, potential adopters would have to sign an affidavit affirming that they have never been convicted of animal abuse. Then, retailers would verify after and notify the county to send animal control officers to seize the pet.

Shelters would run the background check immediately.

If retailers had any lingering objectives, Beckner said, the retail industry would prefer to have no obligation whatsoever.”

“We as a committee believed that there had to be some obligation to protect animals and protect the public safety,” Beckner said.

While groups like the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and their volunteers lobbied for the ordinance, animal advocates in the community weren’t unanimous in their support of the registry.

Lisa Hutches, chair of the county’s citizen Animal Advisory Committee said the ordinance was “ill written” and would prove costly to the county. She asked for commissioners to send the proposal back to the committee for further review.

“It is not going to save one animal in the county,” Hutches said. “What you have right now is not sufficient at all. This is an animal rights driven activism.”

It seemed that commissioners at one point considered obliging Hutches. Commissioner Stacy White made a motion to delay action until October and await a recommendation from the advisory committee and several commissioners expressed that it would be their preferred option.

“I don’t think the ordinance right now is exactly ready for us to vote on. I am in favor of an animal abuse registry,” Murman said. “Personally I believe this is a state issue.”

But Beckner said the state Legislature has repeatedly killed bills to create an animal registry. The registry, he and supporters said, would also allow law enforcement to keep tabs on violent individuals, noting that a history of harm to animals often proceeds violence toward people.

He defended his proposal against objections from the Animal Advisory Committee as politically motivated.

“They seem to have a problem with them not being approached to begin with to draft this ordinance,” Beckner said. “Their intention is to get this thrown back to them so they can get the credit for trying to bring this forward.”

Ultimately, the board voted 6-1 to approve. White was the “no” vote.

The ordinance will go into effect on November 1, 2016.

FOLLOW US!
/

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Michael Earl Hill, The Man Who Taped Dog’s Snout: Gets Two Years in Federal Prison


Michael Earl Hill was supposed to drop a family’s dog off at a shelter, but instead, he bound his muzzle and legs with tape, and left him to die in a field.  But the dog, Justice, was rescued (thanks to two other dogs) and is now thriving.  Hill has been sentenced to two years in a federal penitentiary and is banned from even living with animals for 25 years.

Jessica Hems and Adam Esipu gave Hill the $60 surrender fee to take their seven-year-old Patterdale terrier, Nos, to the humane society because their newborn daughter was allergic to him.  But for reasons unknown, he chose to make him suffer and die slowly and painfully.

Thankfully, he was found in a field next to a Canadian Tire in Windsor, Ontario.  On December 17th, Dean Cresswell was walking his dogs when they discovered him.

“I had gone shopping at the Canadian Tire, came out and the dogs were in my vehicle, so I thought I’d give them a little walk,” said Cresswell, referring to his huskies, Bandit and Phoenix.

“For some reason they went down further than they normally do … so I went to see where they were at and I saw the little head poke up. That’s when I saw the little dog.  I don’t want to say too much because I’m going to get all upset again,” he explained to the Windsor Star.

The poor thing had electrical tape bound so tightly around his snout that the swelling almost stopped him from breathing.  Cresswell didn’t have a knife or scissors with him, so he got him to the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society, where he was renamed Justice.

It’s definitely disturbing to see it,” said Melanie Coulter, executive director of the WECHS. “This is just such incredible cruelty for absolutely no reason. This dog suffered a lot and almost didn’t survive.

”Had it been much longer before someone found him, he certainly would have died.  He appeared to have not been well cared for, as he was found to have heartworm and a growth in his mouth.  But WECHS has been working to get him the medical and behavioral treatment he needs.

After Cresswell got Justice to safety, he took to Facebook to find the dog’s abuser.  Within a few days, former owner Adam Esipu was at WECHS to turn in Hill. The man was arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.  He was denied bail, and was placed in solitary confinement at South West Detention to protect him from potential retribution from other inmates.

Cresswell also started a petition, asking for Hill to be sentenced to the maximum 25 years in prison and given a lifetime ban on pet ownership.  It was presented to the court with over 65,000 signatures.

On Monday, February 1st, Hill entered a surprise guilty plea.  Ontario Court Justice, Micheline Rawlins, who owns a dog given away because of allergies, sentenced him to two years in federal prison, with an additional three years of probation.  He is not allowed to own, or even live with, animals for the next 25 years after his release.

Hill has a long record, including convictions for robberies, assault with a weapon, and domestic assault.  He was last released from jail in 2011.  A few months ago, he found work with Esipu’s father.  Co-worker Fred Doughty said he and the Esipus helped Hill settle into the area.

He had legged it out of the courtroom just moments before.  In spite of the judge’s warning to the teeming courtroom, Doughty lost control and swore at Hill.  He undoubtedly was not alone in his feelings.

“There is no other way to describe this act; it’s a despicable act of depravity,” assistant Crown attorney Craig Houle told the court. As for Justice, he is slowly recuperating.  Because of all the hubbub, hundreds of people have flocked to adopt him.
  
“The earliest would be summer,” said Coulter. “He hasn’t even started his heartworm treatment and that’s a three-month process. We’re not even taking applications at this point because we would end up with this huge list and probably half the people in four months would not be able to take him, or the home might not work.

”He doesn’t get along with cats right now, and he is not “reliably house-broken.”

“We hope that will be resolved by the time he’s ready for adoption,” Coulter said. “But if he’s not, that’s going to eliminate potential adopters. Once we’re at the point where he’s medically ready for a home, we’ll basically look at what issues he may have and what homes will be able to meet his needs.”


                          Jessica Hems and Adam Esipu exiting the courthouse.



                                  Justice in the field where he was found.



He needed treatment for the lacerations caused by the tape becoming embedded in his skin.



                Dean Cresswell outside the courthouse with Phoenix and Bandit.



“It’s a family business. We’re all family. We treated him like family. For him to do this…” Doughty said outside the courtroom, trailing off as tears of rage filled his eyed.



Hopefully some of the hundreds of people who want to adopt this survivor will adopt another dog in need.



                             Justice, anticipating a treat in his foster home.



FOLLOW US!
/

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Daytona Beach Police Are Investigating a Photo on Facebook of a Dog with His Mouth Taped Shut


A picture posted to Facebook showing a dog with its mouth taped has sparked an investigation with the Daytona Beach Police Department, according to a news release.

A man who lists his name on Facebook as Bryan Futur Gomez posted the picture to his page on Sunday. The dog is seen lying on the floor seemingly between two people with blue tape wrapped around its muzzle. Also on the floor is an orange box and bits of paper scattered around.

In the photo caption, Gomez claims the dog is his, although that hasn't been verified. He writes that taping a dog's mouth is the wrong way to punish the animal and that he wanted to demonstrate that.

He claims the dog's mouth was taped for "emergency purposes only" using a stretchable tape with the adhesive portion folded inward so it could come on and off. He added that if his post gets 400 shares he'll post a video showing tricks the dog has been trained to do.

Gomez has not returned the Orlando Sentinel's request for comment.

Hundreds of people have shared and commented on the Facebook post to criticize the actions seen in the photo. Many of those same users contacted the Daytona Beach Police Department urging them to investigate the photo.

The department released a statement saying that animal control officers are currently working to identify the person who taped the dog's mouth shut so they can determine if any charges should be filed.

A spokesman said Wednesday that the Daytona Beach Police Department is trying to locate a suspect but no other information or updates were available.

Daytona police investigated a similar incident in November when a woman named Katharine Lemansky posted a photo to Facebook of a chocolate lab-mix with its mouth taped shut. The woman was from South Daytona but was in Cary, N.C. when she made the post.

In that case, animal control officers in Cary found that the dog seemed to be well taken care of with no signs of injury, so Lemansky was able to keep the canine but she was charged with animal cruelty.
  
You may be interested in reading:






FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, January 11, 2016

Beginning Today, the FBI Will Initiate a New Program Targeting Animal Abusers


Beginning today, the FBI will initiate a new program targeting animal abusers.  Cruelty cases will be categorized and tracked, with the aim of cracking down on abusers.

Back in 2014, we told you about the FBI’s plan to make it harder for animal abusers to continue committing such crimes with minimal punishment.  Animal abuse has previously been considered a lesser crime, but now it will be a Group A felony with its own category, the same way homicide and arson are listed.

“It will help get better sentences, sway juries and make for better plea bargains,” said Madeline Bernstein, president and CEO of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles and a former New York prosecutor.

The FBI will now be better able to keep statistics on where cruelty is occurring, how frequently, and if incidents are on the rise.  Youthful offenders will be identified to help them curb their behavior.

The FBI says law enforcement agencies will have to make reports of incidents under four categories:  simple or gross neglect; intentional abuse and torture; organized abuse, including dogfighting and cockfighting; and animal sexual abuse.“

The immediate benefit is it will be in front of law enforcement every month when they have to do their crime reports,” said John Thompson, interim executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association who helped establish the new animal cruelty category. “That’s something we have never seen.

”Crimes will be tracked nationwide, and will hopefully ensure tougher sentences for abusers.“

Regardless of whether [or not] people care about how animals are treated, people — like legislators and judges — care about humans, and they can’t deny the data,” said Natasha Dolezal, director of the animal law program in the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

Police agencies must now report all incidents and arrests.  The FBI will levy federal charges according to the offense – anything from fines to lengthy stays in prison.




FOLLOW US!
/

Sunday, June 7, 2015

A Georgia Man Who Put a Cat Inside a Ferocious Dog's Cage Just to Watch it Die Will Spend Eight Years Behind Bars for the Cruel Act


An Athens man was recently sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charges that he placed a cat in a dog’s cage to watch it be killed.

In addition to aggravated animal cruelty, 21-year-old Jahmal Anthony Swaby pleaded guilty to threatening a witness who had called police to report the cat was being killed at Swaby’s home on Conrad Drive. He also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and theft by receiving stolen property.

Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge David Sweat on May 28 sentenced Swaby to eight years in prison and 12 years on probation. The sentencing order signed by the judge indicates that Swaby’s penalty did not result from a negotiated plea agreement.

Codefendant Trevaughn Miquan Thomas, 21, previously pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges. His case is still pending in Clarke County Superior Court. According to Athens-Clarke County police, Conrad Drive residents reported Sept. 30 that they were in their home and heard a cat in distress. Going outside to investigate, they told police, they saw the cat in a cage outside Swaby’s and Thomas’ home being chased around by a dog.

One of the witnesses described the cat as “running around inside the dog cage screaming for its life,” according to police, and said Swaby and Thomas were urging the dog to “get it.” The suspects reportedly laughed each time a witness yelled for them to stop.

One of the witnesses said that after calling 911, she saw the cat was “running for its life while injured,” according to police. Police said when officers arrived the cat was dead and the dog was still biting the carcass. One officer noted in an incident report that the caged dog appeared to be “angry” and “was biting and jumping towards me.”

The officer further noted that there were several other young cats in the yard that appeared to have come from the same litter of kittens.

According to police, one of the witnesses reported that when Swaby later walked past her home, he pointed two fingers “similar in shape of a gun.” The woman told police she believed Swaby meant to “threaten or intimidate her.”

During the subsequent investigation, police said Swaby was found to be in possession of a stolen revolver. He was not supposed to have firearms under the terms of his first-offender probation from a 2013 burglary conviction.

FOLLOW US!
/

Thursday, April 9, 2015

You Have Good Intentions, and You List Your Pet on Craigslist, as 'Free to Good Home' - Find Out Why That is Not a Good Idea: Things You Should Consider First


For whatever reason, you have found yourself in a situation where you can’t keep your beloved furry family member and you want to find them a really good home. Money isn’t important – you just want them to be loved and cherished the way they deserve to be and you’ve run out of family or friends who are willing to take them. There are no shelters with no-kill policies nearby and you refuse to gamble with fate and hope that they get adopted in time.

So you put an ad up on Craigslist or Facebook and advertise your dog or cat under “free to a good home.” Sounds innocent enough, right? You’re just looking out for your dear pet and trying to find them a new forever home.

However, as good as your intentions may be, there are some very serious reasons why you might want to reconsider.

During a recent study, it was discerned that 41 percent of all owner-surrendered animals at shelters were obtained via “free to good home” ads. Not to mention, when you forfeit your pet to someone you’ve never met nor know anything about, there’s a potential that Fluffy’s new happy ending could really be a horror story wrought with neglect, cruelty, and abuse.

While we wish this weren’t the case, here are a few things that you might want to consider before submitting that advertisement.

1. Cruelty

It can be difficult to discern the true motivations of the person to whom you are giving your pet. While they might appear to be the perfect candidate on paper, is that a risk you’re really willing to take?

In 2012, Patricia Hervey was found guilty of scouring Craigslist for animals listed as “free to a good home,” and contacting guardians claiming that she ran a shelter. Hervey would then charge the pet parents a fee for “rehoming” their animals, house the claimed pets in filthy conditions and then shoot them.

2. Test Subjects

People known as “Bunchers,” collect groups of pets to sell to Class B dealers. These dealers are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy and sell animals “from random sources” into research trials. Often times the dealers take the animals and transport them out of states. According to Save our Shepherds, “Almost every cosmetic, household, and chemical product is tested on animals, including former pets obtained from shelters and Class B Dealers. Veterinary schools and medical schools, and even some engineering schools use dogs and cats in classrooms and ‘research.’ Textile manufacturers who make products for medical use test and demonstrate on dogs, frequently retired racing greyhounds.”

3. Breeders

Animals not spayed or neutered are often obtained by puppy mill owners to serve as breeding dogs. They are kept in cramped kennels, often outside, and human contact is minimal. There is often no regular veterinary care and they are used purely as baby-making machines.

4. Bait

Dog fighters will often target “free to good home” ads to find cats, kittens, puppies and submissive dogs that they will use as bait to train other dogs to be aggressive killers. Some larger dogs are trained to be fighters, as well, and if they lose a fight they are brutally punished and left to die. In a tragic recent incident, a female Pit Bull, Cabela, was purchased to serve as a fighting dog but was “too sweet-tempered” so her owners shot her and left her tied to the train tracks. Luckily, Cabela was rescued and is now in recovery.

5. Flippers

These people collect animals from freebie ads to resell for profit in flea markets and online ads. Their care is minimal are they are not vetted; they are seen as money-makers and nothing else. Additionally, these sellers take little interest in where they animals they “flip” end up, meaning another potential disaster for former pets.

6. Food

Free animals are sometimes obtained as food for pet snakes and even, at times, to be eaten by humans. Earlier this year David Williford was arrested for getting free and low-cost pets from Craigslist, torturing and killing them, and then eating them. Some of the animals were starved to death and there were bones found all around his home. He was charged with twelve counts of animal cruelty against rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and dogs.

Finding a Better Option for Your Beloved Pet

It can be easy to be tricked by people who reply to “free to good home” ads. They often arrive as a family, complete with children in tow. They put on a good front and have a wonderful story about how they are all animal lovers and are looking for a new addition to the family. They will tell you whatever they think you want to hear.

When you are considering re-homing your pet please consider whether or not you absolutely need to do so. Upon adopting a pet, you take on the responsibility to provide that animal with love and to see to his or her needs for life. If you are having behavioral issues with your pet, perhaps a trainer or veterinarian can help. If you don’t have as much time to spend together as you used to, hire a pet sitter to come visit during the day.

If there absolutely is no option to keep your pet and you truly must re-home her, please do so responsibly. There are a few things that are absolutely required to help ensure her safety.

Charge a re-homing fee. Show the animal is worth something to you and anyone who really cares will understand. This will help discourage those who prey on free and cheap animals.

Use an adoption application and adoption contract. You can find them online or you can ask to use one from your local animal rescues.

Get a copy of their driver’s license to verify their identity. Be sure to check public records for any criminal history.

Do a vet check. This simply entails calling their veterinarian and asking if their pets are all current on vaccinations and are spayed or neutered. If they are, that’s a good indication they will take proper care of your pet.

Ask for two or three personal or professional references.

Do a home visit. Go to their house and make sure it is safe. Is the backyard fenced in? Are there outer buildings that look like they may have housed breeding animals at one time? You don’t have to require a meticulous home that would pass a white glove test, but you want to make sure the home is safe and that your pet will be treated like part of the family.



FOLLOW US!
/

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

The FBI Has Now Named Animal Cruelty as a Top Tier Crime Along with Arson, Burglary, Kidnapping, and Homicide


Memphis, TN - The FBI has now named animal cruelty as a top tier crime along with arson, burglary, kidnapping, and homicide.

The new federal category for animal cruelty crimes is expected to root out pet abusers and give a boost to prosecutions.

Animal advocate Cindy Sanders, who co-founded the Community Action for Animals organization, is happy about the changes.

"Animal cruelty is a huge problem," said Sanders. "Honestly, it's big everywhere but the Mid-South and the Deep South show some of the highest concentrations.

When the changes go into effect, federal law will regard animal cruelty as a crime against society.

"If it's a dog fighting case where it's taking part in a couple of states, that's a federal law," Sanders explained. "If it is an animal abuse case of a puppy mill that is shipping across the country that makes it a federal type thing."

For years, the FBI has filed animal abuse charges under the label "other," along with a variety of lesser crimes. This categorization made cruelty hard to find, count, and track.

Since animal cruelty is considered a more serious crime under the new rules, reports will now be documented in the National Incident-Based Reporting System. This action will advance how law enforcement officials understand how to prevent these often violent crimes.

Sanders says the collected information could be used as an early warning sign to help identify people who start out abusing animals and end up abusing humans.

"We see almost every defendant accused of a level of animal cruelty has had child abuse, spouse abuse, violent assault arrests," Sanders explained. "They have a history."

Sanders says cities and states will still have their own criteria for animal cruelty charges, but she sees the new laws as a level of enforcement regarding people who hurt animals. She hopes the federal changes will motivate state legislatures to put more laws on the books to protect animals.


FOLLOW US!
/

Saturday, February 14, 2015

The FBI Is Classifying Animal Abuse As A Top-Tier Felony To Stop It Once And For All


Abuse an animal, and you’ll be considered among the ranks of murderers and cannibals.

Earlier this week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that animal abuse will be prosecuted as a “crime against society,” making it a Group A felony equal to arson and murder in the eyes of the law.

The AP reports that the FBI will prosecute intentional abuse and torture, gross neglect, sexual abuse and organized abuse, which includes dog fights.

To read more on this story, click here: The FBI Is Classifying Animal Abuse As A Top-Tier Felony To Stop It Once And For All FOLLOW US!
/

Friday, October 17, 2014

Finally, the Federal Government is Treating Animal Abuse as a Serious Crime: FBI Will Crack Animal Cruelty Cases


Last month the Federal Bureau of Investigation quietly changed its policy by agreeing to add animal cruelty as a distinct offense in the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The new policy followed proposals from the National Sheriff’s Association and the Animal Welfare Institute.

Until now, the FBI classified animal abuse under the "other" category, with a group of less serious offenses. That made it difficult for law enforcement agencies and animal welfare groups to monitor, and fight, the unlawful harming of animals across the country. Now the crime will have its own felony classification similar to other violent crimes such as murder, assault and rape. "It will be a Group A offense and a Crime against Society," the FBI said in a statement provided to The Dodo. "Criminal activity and gang information will be expanded to include four types of abuses."

The four categories are: simple/gross neglect; intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse (ie, dog and cock fighting); and animal sexual abuse.

What constitutes cruelty? "Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly taking an action that mistreats or kills any animal without just cause, such as torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, or abandonment," the FBI statement said.

Examples of such abuse include failure to provide food, water, shelter or needed veterinarian care, confining an animal in a way that is likely to cause injury or death, and inflicting excessive or repeated pain and suffering.

"This definition does not include proper maintenance of animals for show or sport; use of animals for food, lawful hunting, fishing or trapping," the FBI statement added.

While disappointed that the new policy will not cover industrial animal production and does nothing to reverse so-called "Ag-Gag" laws — which ban the taking of photos or video inside a factory farm without permission — animal welfare advocates applauded the move.

"It's an excellent thing and it has two immediate effects," said John Goodwin, director of animal abuse policy at the Humane Society of America (HSUS). "First, the fact that the FBI is taking animal cruelty crimes seriously enough to track them sends a message to all law enforcement agencies that this is a serious concern and they need to take it very seriously." The second result will be real-time tracking of animal abuse in all 50 states, as compiled in monthly crime reports by local law enforcement. Data reporting will begin in January 2016.

"Accurate data will give people information on what needs to be done about the problem," Goodwin said. "It can tell us the geographical range of the crimes and which individuals are committing them." That information could help alleviate the problem. "There are different ways to tackle different types of cruelty," Goodwin said. The answer to neglect, for example, may be better education, acts of torture will require stronger penalties and serious psychological counseling, while animal fighting data will show where gambling profits need to be addressed. The new classification could also put more teeth into the enforcement of animal cruelty laws on the state level, according to Madeline Bernstein, president and CEO of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. "It will help get better sentences, sway juries and make for better plea bargains," she told the Associated Press. The new classification will also help identify juvenile offenders, who sometimes go on to harm or kill people. “We’re very, very pleased. A lot of good things are happening in law enforcement now, and we can continue to make the world a better place for animals,” said HSUS’s Goodwin. “But a lot of policy making still needs to be done before we reach the point of referring to ourselves as a completely humane nation.”
FOLLOW US!
/

Violence Against Pets Must Be Taken Seriously


In response to the editorial "Man's best friend" (Oct. 13), I am disappointed that The Baltimore Sun turned people's reactions to reported abuse into a competition as to which victims of violent crimes are more worthy of sympathy or outrage. Violence is violence, and none of it is good for our communities.


To read more on this story, click here: Violence Against Pets Must Be Taken Seriously


Man's best friend [Commentary]








(To subscribe to The Pet Tree House, click on this icon
in the black drop-down menu on your right. Thank you.)


on Twitter @thepettreehouse

Visit my blog! The News Whisperer, An informative blog of what's going on in your world today!
 at: www.whispersoftheworld.com



FOLLOW US!
/

Friday, October 10, 2014

FBI Turns Animal Cruelty into Top-Tier Felony


Los Angeles - Young people who torture and kill animals are prone to violence against people later in life if it goes unchecked, studies have shown. A new federal category for animal cruelty crimes will help root out those pet abusers before their behavior worsens and give a boost to prosecutions, an animal welfare group says.

To read more on this story, click here: FBI Turns Animal Cruelty into Top-Tier Felony








(To subscribe to The Pet Tree House, click on this icon
in the black drop-down menu on your right. Thank you.)


on Twitter @thepettreehouse

Visit my blog! The News Whisperer, An informative blog of what's going on in your world today!
 at: www.whispersoftheworld.com



FOLLOW US!
/