Time for Texas to Get Tough on Animal Cruelty!
- by: Anita Solomon
- recipient: Attorney General
Mr. Abbott, as the Attorney General for the State of Texas your reputation is quite an impressive and successful one. You are to be commended on your accomplishments and hope that you will continue your vigilance in the great State of Texas.
Legal actions against inhumane treatment, and torturous acts, ultimately leading to violent death are quite inadequate, and certainly deficient of appropriate prosecution for offenders throughout the State, under the current Animal Cruelty Laws.
Notwithstanding these laws, torture has been extremely hard to prove under the current TX Penal Code, even when torture and death by torture were obvious. An amendment was made (Animal Cruelty Statute - Third Offense) in 2001, but this is totally absurd to wait until there is a THIRD offense. What constitutes torture or mutilation of one’s companion animal, on the first offense, so inconsequential that it isn’t indicted as the law states on the third offense?
In many Counties, it’s not even a misdemeanor according to some judges! Too many offenders have been, and continue to be acquitted, because the state laws governing cruelty to animals, such as they are, are NOT being enforced in every County.
(For those reading this petition and are not familiar with Texas Laws regarding animal cruelty, I’ve included a link to them below the signatures)
Petition for "Mercy's Law" for ALL States - click here
Torture and mutilation, regardless of whether the animal survives or not, should without question, be a felony, even on the first offense! Many of these cases were basically premeditated murder. If it is obvious to an Animal Control Officer, or a Veterinarian, after investigation, that an animal HAS indeed been tortured, then felony charges should be satisfactorily justified and brought to trial as such….not reduced to a misdemeanor only to have the offender set free!
SEC. 42.09. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - (Linked)
There is a strong correlation between violence against animals and violence against humans. Why not revise and enforce tougher laws on animal cruelty, thereby possibly averting future violence, perhaps on a human? Any act of cruelty or killing of a pet is a warning sign and should be heeded. Studies show that animal cruelty can be one of the earliest and most dramatic indicators that an individual is developing a pattern of inflicting suffering on others. In addition, statistics show that many violent criminal offenders had performed heinous and tortuous acts on animals in their early childhood/adolescent years.
Mr. Abbott, when was the last time you reviewed the Animal Cruelty Laws of Texas, and found they have been adhered to throughout the state?
Overview of Texas Animal Cruelty Laws
Click above to access
In four recent Texas cases, the Texas Humane Legislation Network (link) says defendants were acquitted for abusing dogs and cats.
Case in point: (link) Texas Animal Abuse Laws Allow Killing Of Pets
Mr. Abbott, It’s time for Texas to get tough on animal cruelty!
A copy of this appeal will be forwarded to the Texas Humane Legislation Network as will the appeal to legislators to pass “Mercy’s Law” Click to access Mercy's Law petition.
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