Senate passes animal cruelty bill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Senate voted to stiffen fines for animal cruelty and ban animal abusers from living with pets for at least five years on Thursday.

The House is set to pass an identical bill on Tuesday.

Senator Rhonda E. Perry and House Speaker Tempore Elaine A. Coderre sponsored the bill and aimed to prevent known animal abusers from striking again.

"Animal abuse is a horrible crime where the victims are both defenseless and unable to speak for themselves,? Senator Perry said. ?We should be treating it more seriously than we are, and if someone is convicted of criminally mistreating an animal, we certainly shouldn't think another animal would be safe with him or her. Letting abusers have other pets puts those animals in imminent danger.?

A fine of up to $1,000 for anyone convicted of animal cruelty was added to the legislation. A judge would also be allowed to prohibit the individual from owning or living with animals for five years if the abuse is considered a misdemeanor; 15 years if it is a felony.

The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals supports the bill.

While Perry and Coderre said while the legislation is an important step toward preventing animal abuse, it is also necessary for animal abuse laws and penalties to be fully enforced. Animal abuse may go unreported but when it is investigated, those who carry it out escape criminal prosecution or get little to no punishment.

For example, in March, a Providence woman was ordered to pay $50 after she pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of animal mistreatment for starving her dog nearly to death. According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, when rescued in December, the dog was severely underweight; his fur was falling out in clumps in addition to suffering from dehydration, anemia, lethargy and hypothermia. Although she said the dog would not eat, investigators witnessed him attempt to consume trash. At that time, the Labrador mix weighed 21 pounds but he quickly gained 22 pounds after his rescue. The judge for her case would be expunged in a year is she had no further infractions.

"Rhode Island must take animal cruelty more seriously. It's said that a society is measured by how it treats its weakest members. Maybe animals aren't exactly 'members of society,' but that doesn't mean those who abuse them should get away with a slap on the wrist or less. They should be penalized, and no other animals should be left at risk for their abuse," said Representative Coderre.

Now, Senator Perry?s bill will be forwarded to the House of Representatives for their approval. Representative Coderre?s bill will appear in the House on Tuesday for a vote and then proceed to the Senate.

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