New & unfinished animal business

In an important first for animals in the US, a federal ban on animal cruelty, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT), was signed into law on Nov. 25.  From the Washington Post:

“The bipartisan bill, which passed the House and Senate earlier this year, will outlaw purposeful crushing, burning, drowning, suffocation, impalement or other violence causing “serious bodily injury” to animals. Violations could result in a fine and up to seven years’ imprisonment.

“Advocates say the Pact Act . . . will fill crucial gaps in national law, which bans animal fighting as well as the making and sharing of videos that show the kind of abuse the Pact Act would criminalize.

“All states have provisions against animal cruelty, said Kitty Block, president of the Humane Society of the United States, but without a federal ban, it’s hard to prosecute cases that span different jurisdictions or that occur in airports, military bases and other places under federal purview . . . ”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/11/25/most-animal-cruelty-isnt-federal-crime-that-changes-monday-when-bipartisan-bill-becomes-law/   

2^nd chance dogs were catalysts

                  Oliver        WP pic

In my Oct. 7 post, I cited a Washington Post article that had traced all the dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fight ring 12 years ago.  Since then, some of the organizations that had favored euthanizing all such dogs changed their views because of how well the Vick dogs did after rehab.   

So I invited specifics on just how animal organizations have changed their stand on this topic.  Here’s the response from Brian Hackett, HSUS-New Jersey State Director, State Affairs (bhackett@humanesociety.org):

Regarding dog fighting victims: The Vick case created an opportunity for organizations like Bad Rap in CA to evaluate each dog individually and make determinations based on their behavior.  They then were allowed to pull the adoptable dogs and work to find them homes.

                            Audie                                 WP pic

 It was a groundbreaking time both in terms of an organization advocating for the placement of the adoptable dogs but also in terms of law enforcement and prosecutors being willing to allow them to be transferred.  Until that case, it was the policy of many shelters and national orgs, including HSUS, to euthanize all dogs from fighting cases.

This was partially a lack of education about their behavior, partially that there were so many other dogs being euthanized at the time for space, and partially liability concerns.  Now, HSUS and many other orgs assess each individual from these cases so that the adoptable dogs can be placed.

We also now advocate for changing state or local laws that require euthanasia of dogfighting victims – I did just that by working hard earlier this year with Best Friends to repeal that law on our books and revise the dangerous dog law, so now only 8 states remain to do so and NJ is no longer one (Gov. Murphy signed this bill into law earlier this year) . . .

Senior pets may be the neediest

So it’s December, and even though “national adopt a senior pet month” has ended, it’s hard for me to stop pitching the idea -- no, the need! -- to adopt older pets.  I didn’t hear from anyone who did so last month so I'll just hope it happened.

As for me, I followed my own advice and visited the Trenton Animal Shelter, where I volunteered for a few years a while ago.  Cats in residence were older than 2.  I’ll check on dogs’ ages next time, gather more info and then report in.

“My face may be white but my heart is pure gold. There is no shame in growing old.”  That quote tugs on the heart strings, doesn’t it?  So does this sad, sad story of Cinnamon, a cat abandoned at age 17, then fostered in a loving place where she ever-so-slowly forgave and came to trust humans again. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq2dn5R1p7I

#

Your comments are always welcome.  Just go to 1moreonce.blogspot.com.