Ask Montana to Implement and Enforce Stricter Animal Cruelty Charges & Penalties

Most offenses of animal cruelty in Montana with misdemeanor charges, depending on the circumstances and repeat issues.  As a result, penalties are very minimal and certainly aren’t enough to make an impact to stop the abuse.  Read more at https://www.animallaw.info/statute/mt-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes, and information on some stricter laws nationwide at http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/cruelty_laws.html & http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/PDF/AnimalCrueltyLaws.pdf

The premise is that if laws and penalties are of a stiffer nature, possible offenders would think twice in harming animals.  It is also a documented fact that those who abuse animals will also be violent with humans. There is never a reason or excuse for harming an animal. Of course there could be occurrences or accidents and possible need for self-defense involving an animal and such needs to be proven when it comes to repercussions for harming an animal.  These defenseless creatures need and deserve humans to step in and ensure that abusers be held accountable for any and all forms of intentional animal cruelty.

The proposal I have been asking state-by-state nationwide is to stiffen animal cruelty laws and subsequent penalties.  Each and every offense against an animal needs to be a felony charge, whether it is a first assault or more.  It is common knowledge that animals do not deserve to be mistreated so why give an abuser a second chance.  With each felony charge, the offender would be listed as a registered animal abuser that would prevent future mistreatment, ownership and encounters with any animals for a lifetime, guaranteed. Penalties and repercussions should also include longer jail sentences, higher fees, possibly acts of community service hours. Strict measurements need to be taken and fully enforced in order to put an end to such animal cruelty.

The effort in this petition is to urge the Montana State Legislators to implement and strictly enforce the above mentioned stiff felony charges for any and all forms of animal cruelty along with some serious penalties.  You can help with this issue by signing and sharing this petition, adding your own comments and thoughts in favor of the protection of animals.