We all have the same questions. Why? How? And most importantly, is there anything we can do to help angels like Max from these miscarriages of justice? This is going to be a two part piece, with the second part being published tomorrow. But bottom line is... I think I know what the problem is, and I have an idea as to what the answer may be. Today, the focus is on the problem. To that end, I think I know what the problem is with our governmental and our not for profits treatment of our animals. The problem is...Everything. But these two things are the root of all the problems that befall our animals today, whether we are focusing on puppy mills, dogfigthting, cops shooting dogs, squalid shelters, etc. 1. Weak and obscure laws. To this day, one can get 4 years in PRISON, as a FIRST time offender for POSSESSING a $1,000 television. One can only receive two years in local jail... at a maximum...for the most heinous and barbaric torture on the most vulnerable puppy in this state, whomever that may be. Think on that for a minute. What does say about us a society? What does that say about our leadership? All animals related laws are governed by the Ag+Markets Laws. All crimes against humans are governed by the Penal Law. Police only receive training in the Penal Law when at the academy. See a problem here? 2. Lawmakers (politicians). Case in point, see above. Our senate, assembly, Attorney General, and governor, cant do better? Really? In 2014? It starts from the top. Lack of compassion and care for the most vulnerable amongst us, and coming from the most powerful amongst us, our elected officials, instills a culture that devalues the life and well being of our animals. Millions go to grease special interests and comfy bureaucratic positions while municipal shelters, housing our lost angels, receive peanuts. Who typically runs our shelters? Whoever the mayor thought needed a political handout and he didnt want to put them anywhere else. Lets think on this for a minute. Lets say, the brutal abuse committed against Max was a violent felony and carried a MINIMUM prison term of 3.5 years. Would Max still be alive? Lets say the statute Tortorici was charged under, Aggravated Cruelty read simply... One is guilty of aggravated cruelty if one intentionally and unjustifiably kills a companion animal. That reads very similarly to a murder statute. Short, simple, and easy to understand. Instead, the statute has ambiguous and confusing terms in it such as sadistic and torture. Would the jury have rendered the appropriate verdict if they actually could understand the charge? Not letting them off the hook... the verdict is unfathomable. But what can render help to tens of thousands animal at a time as opposed to individual animals? That answer is easy. Laws. And who can impose laws? Lawmakers, otherwise known as politicians. Many of my close friends devote vast amount of resources to helping animals, as do I and many of you that will read this. But as hard as we work, is the big picture changing? Are animal still being brutally abused, seemingly in even more heinous ways, every single day? Are animals still being killed en masse at shelters that receive peanuts from municipal and county governments, while government greases itself and the special interest groups that they cater to? Do we not so frequently feel like King Solomon, pushing a boulder up up a hill, inch by inch, over the course of decades? So what is the status quo, of us as advocates if we are to do an honest self assessment of itself? We are a lobby group that is far too fractured to bring about drastic reform, with poor leadership. Who are our leaders? The big boys like the ASPCA and the Humane Society? They sit on the sidelines for the contemporary and gutcheck issues of today. Cops shooting dogs, Cops showing complete disregard to the watered down laws that are in place designed to protect our animals. While on the sidelines, they find time to send brochure after brochure, email after email... all soliciting funds. The few politicians who do advocate for animals? Some are good... but quite honestly, they generally do not share the passion we have. So what do we end up getting when a favorable bill is actually passed? Usually, some watered down, diluted bill that has little, if any, practical effect. Case in point, this years puppy mill bill. Of course, the politicians passed it without much of the language requested by advocates hail these bills as the best thing since the internet was invented. But this isnt about casting stones. Nor is it about me. No, I am not running for anything. But it is about an idea I have that is soooo much bigger than me or any one particular case or cause. Its about a movement... more on that tomorrow.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 23:35:41 +0000