AR-News: (US MS) Bill seeks tougher penalties for animal cruelty

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

by Ben Beitzel
DM City News Editor
February 25, 2004 


Over the past summer the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society found a dog that had 
been left outside in airline crate for five days with no food or water: the 
dog was dead.
In Mississippi, the owner of the dog could only be charged with a 
misdemeanor, but the Humane Society is working with state senators to change the law and 
add stiffer penalties.
"As of now, cruelty to animals is only a slap on the wrist, a $10 fine," said 
Elizabeth Speed, director of the society. "There is no real incentive to 
change the behavior."
Mississippi is one of only a few states in the country that does not 
currently have a felony charge for animal cruelty. Included in other states that do 
not are Arkansas, Kansas, North and South Dakota, Utah and Idaho.
"It is important to have these laws, especially if it is a heinous act that 
results in death," Speed said. "There should be a stiffer punishment for the 
same reasons there are stiffer penalties in our penal code for more heinous 
crimes. A felony law serves to deter potential criminals from inflicting cruelty 
on animals."







full story:

http://www.thedmonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/25/403ca64cc83a6 







"The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing."
Albert Einstein    

                         /\   /\         
                        >' .' <                                
         There is no justice, just us!  
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