Harsher Penalties For Animal Victimizers

Dear Environmental Protection agency, The Congressional branch, The Executive branch, The Judicial Branch , The House of Representatives, and The US Senate

         We the signers believe harsher punishment regarding animal cruelty has become a necessity to diminish the volume of animal abusers. In a lot of these cases the disturbed individuals will abuse animals because they are easy victims. These people are predators and the animals need to be protected. Animals and humans share many of the same emotions including anxiety, fear, depression and anger. We must imagine how we would feel in their situation to fully understand the suffering they endure. The repercussions of long term/short term abuse can cause temporary/permanent psychological damage. These animals need to be spoken for; they deserve justice, freedom, love and a healthy home.

          Animals are easy victims for violent predators. They lack the tools or physical ability to defend or stand up for themselves, and in some cases when they do the animal is deemed violent itself and euthanized. When a person becomes abusive toward animals, it is a prominent warning sign that the person committing the act has (a) serious psychological disorder(s). We should fear these people not only for the animals but for our selves as well. These predators should be required by court to attend psychotherapy to determine if they have a mental disorder, the extent of the disorder, and whether the individual should be allowed to own/care for an animal. The offender should also be examined to determine if it is safe to allow them into general society without causing harm to themselves or others (others including animals). In most animal cruelty cases the abuser is consciously allowing the animal to suffer. In extreme cases a person may not know what they are doing is wrong but that is exactly why their mental state needs to be examined and resolved by a professional. These are not simple acts of violence. These are very serious situations that need to be dealt with.

        In major metropolitan areas the laws against animal cruelty can be harsher than more rural areas or states. The laws in all states need to be uncompromising. The most common punishments for animal cruelty (which differentiates from state to state, and depending on the severity of the crime) can include Misdemeanor/Felony charges $1,000-$150,000 fines, incarceration from one to ten years, restitution, care for the abused animal, and/or loss of ownership privileges. These punishments are stern but in order to diminish the current volume of animal abuse cases we need to inflict longer lasting incarceration and probation, higher fees (paid to volunteer rescue associations), promised care/restitution, permanent loss of ownership privileges (if needed), mental evaluations by professional psychotherapists (for all intentional/sustained abuse cases), and if necessary to be removed from general society if deemed dangerous to themselves or others. These persons are violent and malignant. They do not cease these behaviors after a short stay in jail or a small fee.