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http://www.thedailycamera.com/opinion/editorials/06eedit.htmlBoulder Daily Camera
August 6, 2001Avenge the animals
It's difficult to imagine what goes through the heads
of people � mostly male, mostly young � who engage in
acts of horrific animal cruelty. Do they think the
suffering of sentient beings is funny? Does it somehow
make them feel more "in control" of their own lives,
or "tough"?Usually, perpetrators of animal torture and mutilation
aren't caught, so we don't have a clue about what they
were thinking � or if they simply were not thinking.We mention this distressing topic in the wake of a
grisly July 23 discovery of two grossly mutilated dead
cats in the Rock Creek neighborhood of Superior. One
was beheaded, the other disemboweled. Both had broken
bones. Veterinarians who performed autopsies said this
is one of the ugliest cases of animal torture they
have ever seen. No suspects have been identified or
arrested.And earlier this summer, "Westy" the cat was set afire
and hurled from a car. Two young men � no surprise �
have been arrested in the case.We don't know what goes through the heads of animal
torturers. But we do know there is a demonstrable
crossover between kids who abuse animals and those who
will grow up to be criminals. According to a 1997
study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University
(among many others,) animal abusers are five times
more likely to commit crimes of violence against
people, four times more likely to commit property
crimes and three times more likely to become involved
in drug abuse.So you'd think public officials would take the problem
of animal abuse very seriously. In a majority of
states they do: certain kinds of animal cruelty are
felony crimes in 31 states, with nine other states
seriously considering enacting similar laws.But not in good ol' Colorado. Here, no matter how
heinous the nature of the abuse, it's never more than
a Class I misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of 18
months in jail and a $5,000 fine (but in practice,
most offenders usually get nothing worse than
probation or community service).A 1998 addition to the law requires that perpetrators
of animal abuse undergo a mental health evaluation.
Sadly, there is no treatment program or protocol, so
the process usually stops there.And every time a legislator tries to make some kinds
of animal cruelty a felony offense, the bill is
quickly shunted off to an agriculture committee, where
it dies with a whimper. Why anyone � even those who
raise livestock for a living � wouldn't support
tougher penalties for egregious abuse is baffling.
It's likely because they want to ensure that animals
are never viewed as anything more than "property."But this year, thanks in large part to the media
attention to Westy's case, animal advocates are
cautiously hopeful of passing a felony cruelty bill.
Several lawmakers have hinted they will offer such
legislation, and Gov. Bill Owens is rumored to support
some kind of measure. We strongly urge lawmakers to
craft a sensible, tough bill on the matter.Stiffer penalties won't deter all animal abusers. But
the threat of prison time and a permanent criminal
record might just stop a few dumb kids from doing the
wrong thing. And even if it didn't, surely the crime
of torturing innocent creatures deserves more than a
figurative slap on the wrist.
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