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"Be the change you wish to see in the world" ~Mohandas Gandhi
"Our lives begin and end the day we become silent about things that matter" ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Originally Posted: April 3, 2013
FROM The National Humane Education Society (NHES)
ACTION
NHES urges the citizens of the nine states listed below to contact their legislators and encourage them to support a felony animal abuser registry in their state.
The following states have legislation pending:
Arizona –
SB 1161
Connecticut –
HB 5205
New York –
A 2905
Hawaii –
SB 0528
Oregon –
HB 2394
Pennsylvania –
HB 0265 and
SB 0320
South Carolina –
HB 3045
Vermont –
S 0009
Virginia –
HB 2242
INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS
Several states have legislation pending that would create animal abuser
registries similar to child abuser and sex offender registries. An animal
abuser registry would list individuals convicted of felony animal abuse or
who committed certain violent offenses against animals.
Intentional animal cruelty is of particular concern as it is a sign of
psychological distress and often indicates an individual may be predisposed
to committing acts of violence toward humans. Since animal abuse is often an
early sign of potential human abuse, tracking animal abusers would help
protect not only the animals of a community but also the people. Therefore,
creating and maintaining a registry of individuals convicted of felony
animal cruelty can be an asset in identifying potential criminal behavior.
Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology have demonstrated
that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of
serious and repeated animal cruelty. Additionally, mental health
professionals and top law enforcement officials consider the blatant
disregard for life and suffering evidenced by all forms of cruelty to
animals to be an unquestionable warning sign. In fact, the American
Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the
diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders; and the FBI uses reports of
animal cruelty in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known
criminals.
In addition, such registries could be valuable in tracking people who engage
in illegal animal fighting, such as cockfighting and dog fighting; hoarders;
and those who run puppy mills.
Thank you for everything you do for animals!
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