SENATE PASSES BILL TO PREVENT ANIMAL CRUELTY

Animal abusers banned from owning animals post-conviction

AUGUSTA—Earlier today the Senate voted in a party line vote of 19-15 to protect animals from abuse, neglect, and cruelty. All 15 Republican Senators voted against the bill.

“Animals provide comfort to those that are not well, help children to build self-confidence, and are loyal friends during our times of need. For humans to neglect, abuse, or otherwise treat an animal cruelly is simply wrong, and there is no excuse for it,” said Senator Ed Mazurek of Rockland, the sponsor of the bill.

The measure would make it a criminal offense for a person convicted of cruelty to animals to own or possess an animal for a certain period of time, and make violation of this prohibition a Class D Crime, which carries a penalty of up to 364 days in prison.

Animal abusers convicted of Class D cruelty to animals crime would be prohibited from having animals for at least five years and those convicted of a Class  cruelty to animals crime could not have an animal for at least 15 years.

“No one who has abused animals multiple times deserves to have an animal ever again,” said Senator Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick, the Senate Chair of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

In Maine the Animal Welfare Program receives anywhere from 500 to 800 complaints of animal cruelty each year.  Other agencies, including municipal Animal Control Officers, sheriffs’ departments, and the State Police also handle animal welfare complaints.

Just this morning, the Bangor Daily news reported that a man has been charged with aggravated cruelty after authorities found a dog riddled with BBs.

“The person who abuses animals has been proven time after time, year after year, and study after study to abuse people next,” added Senator Gerzofsky.

According to the Humane Society, a number of studies have made links between the abuse of animals and the abuse of people. Abuse of pets is one of the four predictors of domestic partner violence.

The bill, LD 703, “An Act to Make Post-Conviction Possession of Animals a Criminal Offense,” faces further votes in the House and the Senate.

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