Animal Cruelty Bill....

[maxcam]

SB 58/LM/CI (BR 1101) - T. Buford, E. Scorsone, B. Smith, D. Thayer
AN ACT relating to torture of a dog or cat.
Amend KRS 528.135 relating to torture of dog or cat, to provide that the first offense, as well as subsequent offenses, is Class D felony.
Jan 8-introduced in Senate
Jan 9-to Judiciary

Im going to have to oppose this bill for a couple of reasons. You decide in your conscience what is best for you.......

1.) It is being heavily supported by the HSUS.....They need to know the Kentucky is not any place for them to play their games.

2.) The HSUS is planning on attaching alot of admendments to this bill in the House and that could be very very ugly for us.......

If you feel so inclined then make the call......This bill is very vague and could be amended to do great harm to dog owners, many of which are sportsmen!


Call the Legislative Message Line and let your senator/representative, along with Senator T. Buford, know that we DO NOT WANT SB 58!!! This bill is in committee and needs immediate attention!



Legislative Message Line 1-800-372-7181

[bobbyjewell]

Thanks for the heads up!!

[Multidigits]

AN ACT relating to torture of a dog or cat.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
âSection 1. KRS 525.135 is amended to read as follows:
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "torture" means the intentional infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain of the animal.
(2) A person is guilty of torture of a dog or cat when he or she without legal justification intentionally tortures a domestic dog or cat.
(3) Torture of a dog or cat is a[ Class A misdemeanor for the first offense, and a] Class D felony[ for the second and subsequent offenses].
(4) Nothing in this section shall apply to the killing or injuring of a dog or cat:
(a) In accordance with a license to hunt, fish, or trap;
(b) For humane purposes;
(c) For veterinary, agricultural, spaying or neutering, or cosmetic purposes;
(d) For purposes relating to sporting activities including but not limited to training for organized dog or cat shows, or other animal shows in which a dog or a cat, or both, participate;
(e) For bona fide animal research activities, using dogs or cats, of institutions of higher education; or a business entity registered with the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act or subject to other federal laws governing animal research;
(f) In defense of self or another person against an aggressive or diseased dog or cat;
(g) In defense of a domestic animal against an aggressive or diseased dog or cat;
(h) For animal or pest control; or
(i) For any other purpose authorized by law.
(5) Activities of animals engaged in hunting, field trials, dog training other than training a dog to fight for pleasure or profit, and other activities authorized either by a hunting license or by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources shall not constitute a violation of this section.
(6) The acts specified in this section shall not constitute cruelty to animals under KRS 525.125 or 525.130.

[maxcam]

So Tom you think you shouldnt be able to put a lame horse down? Or how about a dog that has been hit on the side of the road......?

[barney]

We don't need anymore animal cruelty laws. PERIOD!!
Once several years ago, I was interrupted from breakfast, when a stray beagle, came to my yard. He was chasing my chickens with everthing in him,I had every right to shoot him on the spot.....but I hollared at him and he stopped, I caught him and put the boot to his @$$, and he went on his way......problem solved, I thought?
Seems a neighbor saw me do that....and he did not like it, to him it was cruelty, he called the law, long story short........ everything was worked out.
But I just can't Imagine, something like this, being a felony......punishable with prison time!:confused: And the whole time I thought I done that dog a VERY big favor?

[buckfever]

So Tom you think you shouldnt be able to put a lame horse down? Or how about a dog that has been hit on the side of the road......?

Max - I don't think either of them qualifies under this bill, which specifies that ""torture" means the intentional infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain of the animal."

In your examples, the animal would not be subjected to the pain of a bullet to "increase or prolong the pain". Also you can still kill a dog for "humane purposes" under Section 4(c).

I've got no strong feelings about the bill as written other than I think Mr. Osborne is spending a lot of taxpayer resources using his office to propagate the HSUS agenda (see Barney's post above. . . i.e. we don't need any more animal rights bills) and I'd have to see the final version.

In any event, I'm happy that I can still shoot Art's cats while hunting though. . . :D

"(4) Nothing in this section shall apply to the killing or injuring of a dog or cat:
(a) In accordance with a license to hunt, fish, or trap;"

[maxcam]

On its face the original piece of legislation is good as it stands....

When you read the recommendations from the Corrections Impact Study it suggest that this ammendment would have an impact on the opperating and administrative budgets of our prisons system.

Now one has to ask since this bill already addresses animal torture as a class a misdemeanor for a first offense and a class d felony there after what is the purpose of the HSUS trying to beef up this piece of legislation......Ill be the first to admit that I have no earthly idea how many folks are convicted of animal torture and that probably because there arent that many cases that make it to court in Kentucky each year. So what is the agenda here? From the email intercepts that I have read the HSUS is trying to pull a fast one and hopes to get a broader definition of animal cruelty passed at a later date......There is where the rub will be I am affraid......

The HSUS is an expert at manipulating the law and for that reason I strongly urge folks to make the call and oppose this piece of legislation......

Ballard you know first hand how Pam Rogers and her group work......This is just another attempt by them to manipulate the system IMO.....

[buckfever]

The HSUS is an expert at manipulating the law and for that reason I strongly urge folks to make the call and oppose this piece of legislation......

Ballard you know first hand how Pam Rogers and her group work......This is just another attempt by them to manipulate the system IMO.....

I don't disagree with ya, Max, I'm certain you're right that the HSUS wants to use this a stepping stone for something a little more sinister.

We sportsmen need to keep our eye on the ball, and I love the fact that you're watching for this stuff with an eagle eye.

Laws, in some instances however, make sense and can benefit the public. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater every time you see HSUS. I think that we do more harm to our cause than good if we try to torpedo every law touted by the HSUS without first examining whether the substance of the law has merit or detriment. :)

[Auk1124]

Now one has to ask since this bill already addresses animal torture as a class a misdemeanor for a first offense and a class d felony there after what is the purpose of the HSUS trying to beef up this piece of legislation......Ill be the first to admit that I have no earthly idea how many folks are convicted of animal torture and that probably because there arent that many cases that make it to court in Kentucky each year. So what is the agenda here? From the email intercepts that I have read the HSUS is trying to pull a fast one and hopes to get a broader definition of animal cruelty passed at a later date......There is where the rub will be I am affraid......


You'd be surprised - there seems to be more and more animal cases cropping up in my area. Usually the cops around here use the animal torture charge as a bootstrap charge, to throw the book at a piece of filth who was caught in some sort of domestic meltdown (y'know, breaking windows, threatening the ex, stomping her kitty cat to death in the yard).

Our Judges have zero tolerance for animal cruelty around here and are slamming these guys when the charges come up. If it doesn't go beyond enhancement of the offense to a felony, I see no problem with it, myself. I think a jury would come closer to putting some of these creeps away for the maximum if they stomped a cat than if they'd beat their ex-wife to death.

[redneck1377]

You'd be surprised - there seems to be more and more animal cases cropping up in my area. Usually the cops around here use the animal torture charge as a bootstrap charge, to throw the book at a piece of filth who was caught in some sort of domestic meltdown (y'know, breaking windows, threatening the ex, stomping her kitty cat to death in the yard).

Our Judges have zero tolerance for animal cruelty around here and are slamming these guys when the charges come up. If it doesn't go beyond enhancement of the offense to a felony, I see no problem with it,

myself. I think a jury would come closer to putting some of these creeps away for the maximum if they stomped a cat than if they'd beat their ex-wife to death.

it do not had be to a cat or dog but can also include wildlife if you kick it out of your way , the animals are worth maybe $ 200 ---what is the price of a ex wife

[Multidigits]

So Tom you think you shouldnt be able to put a lame horse down? Or how about a dog that has been hit on the side of the road......?


Nothing in this section shall apply to the killing or injuring of a dog or cat:
(b) For humane purposes

I'm still in support.....this will serve the sportsman in a negative way to oppose this bill as it's written.

[maxcam]

You guys can feel good about it all you want......If this thing makes it to the house I can promise that you wont like what we are going to have to deal with at that point.....

And who the hell is going to stand up and say the sportsmen defeated this amendment? The HSUS.....? Whooptie dooo.....

The federal government just reduced penalties for crack heads and now we should say that if a guy walking his dog with a pinch collar is accused of cruelty he should be charged with a felony? Get real!

[maxcam]

Here is another caveat to consider.....

If we allow the HSUS to have any significance what so ever in this state, it is going to make each and every issue going through the legislature dealing with hunting and fishing that much more difficult.

So think about the battle that would ensue over a black bear season........

At what point are YOU willing to take responsibility for that!

[turk2di]

I think that there are probally enuf cruelty laws on the books now. A trojan horse move by the HSUS in my opinion with other riders on the bill to come!