North Dakota – Move Forward With Felony Charges for all Forms of Animal Abuse & Cruelty

Offenders of animal abuse and cruelty should not be given second chances in harming an animal but menial charges in many cases allows for just that.  Anyone with a conscience, compassion and respect for life, humans and animals alike, should know right from wrong and unless laws, charges and penalties are tougher, the crimes will continue and animals be common victims.  You can read more on animal cruelty laws in North Carolina and other states nationwide at http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/PDF/AnimalCrueltyLaws.pdf, http://greatdreams.com/eeyore/anmlws.htm,

In order to protect animals and make a huge impact, it is important to implement stiffer animal cruelty laws, charges and penalties.  Any and all offenses against an animal needs to be implicated as a felony charge, from the first offense, with penalties such as longer jail sentences, higher fees, possible acts of community service hours and also being placed on an animal cruelty registry to be shared nationwide with anyone within the animal sales, care, breeding and treatment business. Additionally, such abusers need to be placed on an animal cruelty registry and be banned for a lifetime working with, caring for or owning animals for the rest of their life. There shouldn’t be any second chances because it should be common knowledge that abusing an animal, just like abusing a human is wrong and unjust.

It is disturbing that most states nationwide fail to require pet owners and those that work with or handle animals provide basic animal care such as adequate food and water, no requirement for mental health evaluations or counseling for those convicted of animal abuse and no restrictions on future ownership of animals following a conviction. Additionally, most crimes against animals are only considered a misdemeanor or if a felony, met with minimal repercussions.  The effort in this petition is to urge North Dakota State Legislators to step up and stiffen current animal cruelty laws, charges and penalties so that any and all offenses against animals be classified as Class B animal cruelty felonies.  You can help and voice your stand by signing and sharing this petition.  Strict measurements need to be taken and fully enforced in order to put an end to such animal cruelty.