by INFORUM
Grand Forks legislator aims for felony penalties for extreme animal cruelty
December 29, 2010 at 4:40 pm in INFORUM
State Stockmen’s Association, other farm groups consulted
Spurred by recent high-profile incidents of animal cruelty and criticism from national animal advocacy groups, a Grand Forks legislator and state prosecutors are drafting legislation that could give North Dakota its first felony penalties for “egregious” animal cruelty. Continue Reading
The big thing is how to define egregious. Is it letting an animal suffer or will it be killing an animal? We kill animals for food and if it is done in a way the animal does not suffer there should be no more thought about it. On the other hand there is a wide range of possibilities and that must be defined. I would personally consider the dog Star to have suffered an egregious mistreatment. This has to be defined in a way that is pretty much black and white.
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Glad to see there is some progress starting on this issue.
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This is getting ridiculous already…how many sessions have gone by and we still have no real animal cruelty laws? I understand why the rancher/farmer could be concerned about being included in such laws but all we have to do is make sure they are carefully worded. These animal abusers need to be punished. When we adopted our cat he had a blind eye, a broken tooth…which could have happened out on the street…but who burned his marbles with a cigarette? These are the types of crimes we need to address. Frankly, I could care less what going on out on the farm when it comes to livestock. It is animals meant to be pets that we need to protect. Cory…I am with ya…
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Lefty, I agree with you. My pets are all rescued animals. My thoughts on livestock are just make it humane. There is no need for extended pain.
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Domestic animals have absolutely no intrinsic value what-so-ever. To incarcerate someone for damaging their own property without the threat of harming another person is ridiculous. What is next, felony laws for cutting the grass too short; not watering the plants? It is property damage. Nothing more. No, I do not torture animals. No I do not think people should torture animals. No, the government has no place in this issue.
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Justin, I can’t agree with you. Animals have feelings and many people love them like family members. You can’t compare a companion animal to an inanimate piece of property like a chair. That is an absurd viewpoint, utilitarianism taken to the extreme.
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People love them like family members yes, but we have no idea if animals truly have feelings. We have enough trouble accurately interpreting what we call feelings in other people, let alone other species.
If we start regarding animals on the same level as humans then we start a slippery slope, especially in litigation cases. Right now, if you accidentally run over the neighbors dog, the liability is for the monetary value (is it a special breed?) and vet bills I suppose. If we start assigning them family status equivalent with a human then we open the door to punitive damages in accidents. Suddenly that dog that bolted out in front of your car just cost you $100K.
I have pets and have livestock, there’s no justification for the things mentioned in the article. However, I put a clear black line between people and animals, so it would have to be a serious abuse case (torturing the animal) to put felony status — reserved for individuals that may be more likely to move up to harming people.
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In the eyes of the law animals are property just like my car. Do I get get add extra penalities if my cars feelings are hurt in an accident?
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