An animal rights organization known as the Coalition for Animal Justice is working for a federal law that protects companion animals from violent crimes. People who deliberately torture, maim, mutilate and kill pets often receive nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
"This is a serious problem in our country but most people are not aware of it," said Barbara Woodcox, the group's founder. "Probation, community service, fines, suspended sentences and concurrent sentences are not appropriate punishments for these violent crimes."
Eric Lee Ford of Cape Girardeau County pled guilty to throwing a cat against a wall and stomping on him. The crime carries a maximum of four years in prison but the prosecutor's office recommended supervised probation. Another suspect, Robert Bailey, confessed to slitting a dog's throat and leaving her to die in a drain pipe under a vacant house trailer. His crime carries a maximum of five years in prison but he was sentenced to time served (about 3 months) and outpatient counseling.
"This is why we need mandatory prison sentences for these kinds of crimes", Woodcox said. "Too many prosecutors are acting like defense attorneys in animal cruelty cases. A slap on the wrist only sends the message that it is okay to torture, rape, mutilate and kill other people's pets. Statistics prove a strong correlation between animal cruelty and violent crimes against people. Most serial killers started their murder sprees with animals. This is more than just an animal rights issue. The people who commit these kinds of crimes are a real danger to society."
The Coalition for Animal Justice is collecting signatures for a petition calling for a federal law that imposes a mandatory, minimum five year prison sentence for violent crimes against companion animals. "There are federal laws to protect farm animals and wildlife", Woodcox said. "The Animal Welfare Act only protects companion animals when they are research subjects. Right now, it's practically legal to commit horrible acts of violence against companion animals. That has to change!"