Target: John Boozman, Chair of U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee
Goal: Provide enhanced legal protections for animals and stronger punishments for animal cruelty offenders.
Horrific acts of animal cruelty take place in America every day. A large percentage of these crimes will never result in identification or arrest of a suspect. Compounding this outrage is when the criminal justice system fails in its responsibility to hold perpetrators who are discovered to account.
Fifteen dead dogs were reportedly found in a Texas creek. When suspects were identified, Fred John Riess and Rafael Cantu Baez-Riess, investigators rescued ducks that had allegedly been abandoned on the suspects’ one-time property. They also apparently discovered a freezer containing more dead animals. Despite this information being known months ago, only recently were the suspects charged with any offenses. But the animal cruelty-related charges they received only constituted misdemeanors. Their one felony charge was reportedly unrelated to animal cruelty.
In another testament to the failure of America’s animal cruelty statutes, a woman in Kansas — Desiree Therrien – received a two-week jail sentence. What were this woman’s reported crimes? Authorities apparently received multiple tips from concerned citizens regarding animals on Therrien’s property. Officers eventually rescued 91 animals from her household. The animals reportedly endured deplorable living conditions in which they had almost no access to food or water. Nearly 20 of the animals had apparently died. Therrien still retains access to animals as part of her sentence. Although the ruling stated that this woman showed no remorse for her actions and although a plea deal in which she would have gone completely free was rejected, the judge in this case still handed down a slap on the wrist punishment.
The slaps need to end, and the real justice needs to begin. Sign the petition below to demand lawmakers advocate for and strengthen the nation’s sorely lacking animal cruelty laws.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Boozman,
Animals are among the most exploited victims of America’s violent criminals. They are often used as sick experiments before an individual escalates to violence against human beings. And because they do not have a voice or agency, they cannot defend themselves. In many respects, they are legally like children.
While this nation prides itself on its strict laws regarding crimes against children, it is lackadaisical in its approach to horrific violence and abuse inflicted upon equally vulnerable animals. Too often, law enforcement spends months building a case only to have the suspect walk out of the courtroom with a plea deal or a minimal punishment that does not reflect the gravity of crimes that have notoriously high rates of recidivism. And too often, prosecutors’ hands are ultimately tied because the spotty and lacking nature of regional animal cruelty statutes gives them no legal recourse.
An unequivocally strong and stringent standard for animal cruelty is not just a wish but a necessity. The example must come from the top. Please do everything in your power to ensure animals across the country are fully protected and represented within the legal system.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Diana
6 Signatures