Target: Antonio Delgado, President of New York State Senate
Goal: Advocate for imposed bail in aggravated animal cruelty offenses.
A New York police lieutenant came upon a horrific scene when he discovered a dog’s badly burned remains in the street. Surveillance footage later reportedly showed a man dragging the unconscious dog, pouring oil on the animal, and setting the dog on fire. A suspect apparently confessed that he had beat the dog to death and then burned the animal to cover up the crime. While the brutal incident stirred outrage and shock, the man accused of this heinous act walked free until his court appearance months later.
Under current state law, individuals accused of animal cruelty – even the worst aggravated offenses – are not subject to the bail system. They are simply released back into their communities, where they could very well commit similar or worse offenses. In the past, lawmakers have tried to change this dangerous loophole, to no avail. A renewed effort is under way to make aggravated animal cruelty charges bail eligible.
Sign the petition below to support this import safeguard against unchecked animal abuse.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Lieutenant Governor Delgado,
“Animal cruelty has been established as a gateway crime to child abuse, domestic violence and even school shootings. Despite these facts, New York State does not recognize aggravated animal cruelty as a bail eligible offense, which only allows offenders to repeat these terrible crimes and to escalate their actions and create new victims.” A state assemblyman made this blunt assessment in his ultimately unsuccessful attempt to include the worst animal abuse cases under the state’s bail system.
Two years later, a man was charged with setting a dog he had allegedly beaten to death on fire in the middle of a New York street. He walked out of jail shortly after his detention. State senators have co-sponsored new bail eligibility legislation…and a new opportunity to make things right for the state’s vulnerable animals. Let this be the moment that New York State stops turning a blind eye to horrific violations of animal welfare standards.
Bring this important bill up for a vote immediately, and support its efforts at holding suspected abusers to full account.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Kindel Media
