Max's Law: impose stronger penalties for animal abuse in NY

On March 23 2011 a Harlem man, Irving Sanchez, was captured on tape viciously beating a small puppy in an elevator.  Under the current laws for animal abuse this man will most likely face a fine, and at most minimal prison time.  Animal abusers rarely stop there, and if their abuse is not addressed with the seriousness it deserves at the animal level, studies show that these people are likely to go on to commit further violent crimes.  We are aware that, under our current laws, a person convicted of animal abuse only faces up to 2 years in prison and a $5000 fine -- a maximum penalty which is rarely imposed.  In the case of Max, the more likely penalty Mr. Sanchez will face is merely having to pay a fine.  This needs to change.  We the undersigned are calling on our elected officials to protect our society from violent criminals by imposing harsher penalties for those convicted of animal abuse, and requiring all abusers to pay for and attend a treatment program to prevent future abuse.