Create a National Animal Abuse Registry in the United States!
Update #1 6 hours ago
WOW!! We've already gotten over 107,000 signatures and still getting more by the hour! Thank you for your support...with any luck, our passion about animal rights will get legislators to make it a law.
About This Petition
As of January 1st, Tennessee became the first state to have an animal abuse registry. Legislators in a number of other states, including Connecticut, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are also considering their own statewide registries.
Although the specifics vary between the states, the basic way that an animal abuse registry works is that anyone convicted of animal abuse would have their name, address and photograph put on a computerized list. First-time offenders would be on the list for two years and second-time offenders for five years. This list would then be available to breeders, shelters, and stores so that they can check it before sending an animal home with someone. If a merchant does not check the list before a sale or knowingly gives an animal to someone on the list, they would be held responsible.
It is wonderful that these states are taking action to help ensure that animals are kept out of known abusers' hands, but what will stop an animal abuser from traveling to a state without a registry? The only sure way to keep our animals safe is to make sure that a known abuser can't buy or adopt an animal in any state. So please sign this petition urging Congress to create a national animal abuse registry. Click Here To Sign!
Friendly Elk Killed and Beheaded for Trophy Deserves Justice.
IDA Adds to $8,000 Reward to Convict Killer(s). On December 22, we acted in conjunction with our Mississippi based Justice for Animals Coalition in announcing a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who fed as many as 63 dogs hot dogs containing sleeping pills and then callously shot them with a .22 caliber weapon.
It was on Thursday, Oct. 17th that foresters entering a remote forested area of Searcy County, Arkansas happened on the grim scene of 57 dead dogs, an injured dog, and six other dogs cowering in fear. This heinous crime took place off of Hwy. 254 in the Chimes-Trace Ridge Area south of Marshall, where the dogs were believed to have been brought to be massacred.
Arkansas was the 46th state to pass a felony anti-cruelty to animals law, which hopefully will allow a substantial punishment to occur, should the perpetrator(s) be apprehended . The penalty is up to a $10,000 fine and up to six years in jail. While sadly this law only protects dogs, cats, and horses, it is at least a start in the right direction, and can help in this instance of extreme animal cruelty.
Our new Justice for Animals Coalition is taking root in Mississippi. Through our Hope Animal Sanctuary, IDA has been a leader in investigating hundreds of cruelty reports, rescuing thousands of abused and neglected animals, and successfully seeing scores of abusers prosecuted in our 24 years in the region. Read our press release here.
WOW!! We've already gotten over 107,000 signatures and still getting more by the hour! Thank you for your support...with any luck, our passion about animal rights will get legislators to make it a law.
About This Petition
As of January 1st, Tennessee became the first state to have an animal abuse registry. Legislators in a number of other states, including Connecticut, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are also considering their own statewide registries.
Although the specifics vary between the states, the basic way that an animal abuse registry works is that anyone convicted of animal abuse would have their name, address and photograph put on a computerized list. First-time offenders would be on the list for two years and second-time offenders for five years. This list would then be available to breeders, shelters, and stores so that they can check it before sending an animal home with someone. If a merchant does not check the list before a sale or knowingly gives an animal to someone on the list, they would be held responsible.
It is wonderful that these states are taking action to help ensure that animals are kept out of known abusers' hands, but what will stop an animal abuser from traveling to a state without a registry? The only sure way to keep our animals safe is to make sure that a known abuser can't buy or adopt an animal in any state. So please sign this petition urging Congress to create a national animal abuse registry. Click Here To Sign!
Target: Nate King, Tahlequah Police Chief
Goal: Punish the murderers of the beloved and protected elk “Hollywood” to the fullest extent of the law.
An almost nine-year-old elk was brutally murdered and mutilated for sport on the J.T. Nickel Preserve nature conservancy in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. Hollywood and a small herd of fellow elk were reinstated to this preserve in Ozark mountain country over ten years ago after their species was previously stamped out over 150 years ago due to an excess of hunting and environmental degradation.
Hollywood was an exceptional elk because of his trusting nature, as most elk tend to be quite secretive and standoffish. He even earned his name by appearing to be consistently unafraid of humans and very camera-friendly.
Of course, game hunting is illegal at the J.T. Nickel preserve, as it is on most nature conservancies across the country. For this reason, the killing is thought to be planned and Hollywood, due to his extremely tame behavior, was unfortunately used as an easy target. Also, since only the head and a minimal amount of meat was taken, the murder is considered a trophy kill.
The public opinion expressed on news networks and social media about Hollywood’s murder is of great anger and sadness. Signing the petition below will add national strength to the demands of Cherokee County’s already outraged citizens, to ensure that justice is served for Hollywood the friendly and peaceful elk.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here To Help!
Recently, Hollywood the family-friendly elk, was brutally decapitated and mutilated on the J.T. Nickel preserve. Hunting on this nature conservancy is, as you know, illegal, and this murder was an unmistakable trophy kill, with only the head and a small amount of meat taken from the body. Hollywood and his fellow herd of elk were reintroduced to the Ozarks just over ten years ago due to their prior endangerment of extinction.
Since the nature preserve exists to protect the animals, the killers who intentionally brutalized Hollywood need to be not only held accountable for disregarding and violating the law, but especially for the vicious, callous and cowardly aim–the premeditated murder of a tame and trusting animal.
This trophy kill is not only a violation of nature conservancy protection policies, but it is also a direct threat to the survival of this species of bull elk that were only recently replenished. We urge you to take swift action in the investigation, pursuit and indictment of the cruel monsters that perpetrated such a crime on a docile, nature conservancy elk.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Larry Smith
Justice for Hanged Dogs.
Target: Hon. Patrick L. Carroll III, Chief Court Administrator
Goal: Demand harshest possible punishment for woman who allegedly hanged her two dogs in drug-induced fit.
Two dogs were allegedly hanged from a tree by their owner, who claimed to be in the throes of drug-fueled hallucinations. Veronica Reyes, the owner of two female pit bulls, admitted to taking prescription pain killers as well as smoking marijuana that she claimed may have been laced when she says the dogs “told her to kill them.” She later buried the two dogs in the backyard of her rental property.
The dogs’ corpses were discovered by police after Reyes’ landlord talked to a neighbor after being unable to find Reyes or her dogs. The neighbor claimed to have seen Reyes hanging a dog using a leash slung over a tree branch. According to a statement Reyes made to police, she had arrived home after a night out and her walls and dogs began talking to her. She then claims that she asked the dogs if they wanted to be hanged and they became very “excited and hyper.”
Several inconsistencies exist with her testimony, including once when she said that she simply hung the dogs because she was under extreme emotional stress after a breakup. An activist outside the courthouse also pointed out that while Reyes claims the dogs were talking to her, she never actually quoted anything the dogs said. Even if Reyes’ testimony is completely truthful, the irresponsible use of drugs is not an excuse for the brutal murder of an animal.
So far, Reyes has been ordered to obtain mental health care and has been banned from owning pets in the future. She will return to court shortly where the judge will hand down a sentence for the two counts of animal cruelty she faces, which could amount to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine per count. Sign the petition below to demand that a harsh punishment is sought against this cruel and remorseless offender.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here To Help!
Dear Administrator Carroll,
A Bristol woman was recently arraigned for the hanging of her two pit bulls in her backyard. The woman, who later put the dogs in garbage bags and buried them in her backyard, first claimed to be hallucinating but later claimed that she was simply under stress.
Regardless of her motives, the cruelty of this crime is shocking and the woman must be punished accordingly. We, the undersigned, demand that she is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Hugo A. Quintero G
Justice for Chunky - stop people who abuse animals from owning ever again. Click here To Help!
This petition is for Chunky the Chihuahua who was attacked for hours in one of the most disturbing cases of animal abuse seen by the RSPCA. Myself an animal lover found this story highly upsetting and I decided that chunky needed justice. What I'm asking for is signatures for Chunky who was over a period of hours was beaten, drugged, his neck was broken, he was started on fire and finally dumped and left for dead. However chunky survived and defied all odds. Please give chunky the justice he deserves. What I'm asking for is that anyone who abuses animals, regardless of their age should never be allowed to own an animal again. These offenders should then be placed on a Animal Cruelty Register, which would follow them around for life. Animal abuse is serious, and the laws must change. The teens who committed this atrocity, were banned from keeping animals for five years. This is not sufficient, our legal system should ban these kids or anyone who commits crimes against animals from owning animals ever again!! Please sign this petition to help dogs like Chunky. Telegraph article about chunky:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12015100/RSPCA-Chunky-the-Chihuahua-set-on-fire-and-fed-drugs.html Why we need an animal abuse register in the UK: http://www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk/features/Why-We-Need-Animal-Abuser-Registry More on chunky - recent news article from ITV news http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2015-11-25/chunky-the-dog-set-on-fire-and-fed-drugs-is-safely-back-with-owners/
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron MP
Anyone who commits animal abuse should be placed on a register for offenders Animal abuse is serious and the laws must change. Crimes like this against innocent animals should follow the person around for life.
Justice for Cat Shot to Death By Cop. There are plenty of people who dislike cats, but you’re not allowed to shoot them, even if you’re a cop. A police officer in the aptly named Pennsylvania town of North Catasauqua, responded to a call in early December 2015. The caller told police a lost cat was in his backyard and requested assistance after failing to capture the animal himself.
Officer Leighton Pursell then arrived at the home and reportedly immediately told the homeowner, “it may not be politically correct, if it’s wounded, I’m going to have to put it down.” The officer and the homeowner then went to the backyard where the cat was hiding under a barbecue grill.
After the cat reportedly hissed at the officer, Pursell allegedly shot and killed it. The orange tabby was no stray, however, Sugar was the darling companion of Crystal and Tom Newhart, who lived five doors down.
The Newhart’s had been searching for Sugar after he bolted out the door that morning, but had no idea their beloved pet was hanging out in a neighbor’s backyard.
After a day of fruitless searching, Tom eventually called North Catasauqua’s non-emergency police hotline and was informed his pet had been shot to death by a police officer.
Adding insult to fatal injury, the officer reportedly also tossed Sugar’s corpse into a trashcan after ‘executing’ it. Pursell says he had to make a judgment call and decided to put the injured animal down.
Tom and Crystal Newhart hired a lawyer and a vet who examined Sugar’s body and determined the animal was not injured in any way — aside from the gaping gunshot wound.
A Facebook page, Justice For Sugar, has been set up while over 2000 people have signed a petition demanding the officer be fired. The Newhart’s lawyer also questioned Pursell’s decision to fire a weapon in a residential neighborhood, at we shouldn’t forget, a cat.
If the district attorney determines the case has legs, officer Pursell will be tried on animal cruelty charges.
Target: North Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas F. Kish
Goal: Punish police officer who reportedly shot and killed someone’s escaped pet cat for no reason.
An escaped indoor pet cat was allegedly shot to death by a police officer who was called to help safely catch her and bring her home. Mike Lienert, the owner of the home where she was found, called the police because he was afraid she was injured. Instead of assisting the citizen, Officer Leighton Pursell reportedly told him to his face that “it may not be politically correct, but if it’s injured we’ll put it down.”
The cat, Sugar, was not injured, merely cautious of the officer, as many cats are of strangers. The officer poked at her when she was found hiding under a grill until she came out and walked over to some steps, then sat down. Other than hissing at him a little, Lienert reports that she was not aggressive and did not seem to be injured at all. Moments later, Officer Pursell blew the innocent cat away and told Lienert that he’d have to “clean up the mess.”
Nothing in this story makes any sense. If most dogs are no threat to armed police officers, then an eight-pound house cat should never be treated with deadly force. These reports paint a picture of a police officer who simply wanted to shoot a defenseless animal. To make things worse, this officer is still on the force and no animal cruelty charges have been filed. Sign our petition to demand that Officer Pursell is fired if these allegations are found to be true.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here to Help!
Dear Chief Kish,
I cannot understand how Sugar the cat ended up dead at the hands of one of your officers when he was simply called to help catch her safely in case she was injured. Officer Leighton Pursell told the man who called the police that he would have to “put it down” if the cat was found to be injured, which doesn’t make sense. Worse, even though it did not appear that Sugar had sustained injury, he shot her at point blank range anyway, killing her.
If it’s your department’s policy to shoot and kill any small domestic pet that appears to be injured, that needs to change immediately. However, no injuries or lacerations were found on the cat’s body other than the gunshot wound. Either way, it certainly seems like any full grown man should be able to handle an eight-pound domestic cat without reaching for his gun.
I understand that an investigation is underway, but there doesn’t seem to be any reasons that an officer should have to resort to gun violence when dealing with someone’s pet cat. Now her owner is stricken with grief because of what Officer Pursell did. I demand that if the investigation finds him guilty, he be immediately removed from the force for unnecessary cruelty.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Leveetated
Cat Bound With Tape and Stuffed in Backpack Deserves Justice.
Target: Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp
Goal: Pursue maximum penalty for man who allegedly wrapped a cat with electrical tape and stuffed the animal inside a backpack.
A 24-year-old male reportedly had a cat in his backpack with electrical tape tightly binding its legs, neck, face, and nose. When the police found the man behind a Walmart, they removed the tape from the cat’s face but assumed it was dead because of the horrific shape it was in. The cat, thankfully, began breathing again and was taken for treatment while the man was arrested on animal cruelty charges.
The cat was taken to a veterinarian who reported that the poor cat would’ve been dead if the officer hadn’t rescued it. It had a microchip, so they’re looking to return the cat to its owners. To bind an innocent cat in such a manner and carry it in your backpack is cruel. Anyone who could commit such heinous acts of animal cruelty is a danger to society and animals. Demand that this man be sentenced to the maximum extent possible, if found guilty of animal cruelty.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here to Help!
Dear District Attorney Smittcamp,
A cat was found inside a man’s backpack with its face, nose, and legs tightly bound with electrical tape. Thankfully, police found the cat and was able to remove the tape from its nose before the cat died. The person who did this is appears to be a demented, cruel individual with no regard for an animal’s life.
We urge you to help display a zero tolerance stance against animal cruelty and see to it that this violent man is sentenced to the maximum extent the law will allow, if found guilty.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Clovis Police Department
Justice for Starved Poodle.
Target: Prosecuting Attorney, Brian L. Mackie
Goal: Demand thorough investigation into the death of starved poodle and prosecute owners to the full extent of the law.
An emaciated poodle named Brownie died under suspicious conditions after being turned into the Huron Valley Humane Society last summer. Results of the necropsy show that the poodle endured serious starvation for long periods of time. Now the humane society is seeking charges against the owners for negligence.
The shelter acknowledges that there must have been a time when Brownie received exceptional care. The poodle had a registered pedigree, and the owners shared that, before her illness, she knew how to sit, stay, and would often beg for people food. But the only explanation they offered for her poor state was that she had eaten a sock.
By the time the Humane Society met Brownie, she was so skinny and weak that she could not walk or stand, and could barely sit comfortably. When the Society attempted surgery to save her life, she was too weak and frail to survive it. Volunteers working with her at the time say that her bones were protruding against her skin and that she didn’t have an ounce of fat on her body.
The owners should not have waited until Brownie’s health deteriorated so horribly to seek medical attention. By law, they should have taken this action much sooner. Sign this petition to urge Washtenaw’s Prosecuting Attorney to ensure a full investigation is done and that the responsible party (or parties) are punished to the fullest extent of the law.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here to Help!
Dear Prosecuting Attorney Mackie,
Last summer, a poodle by the name of Brownie died under suspicious circumstances at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. The emaciated poodle was brought in by Ann Arbor residents who said the dog had swallowed a sock. By then Brownie was so ill she could not walk or stand and even sitting on a blanket had become uncomfortable.
The laws of your state provide that pet owners should seek medical attention for pets in need. It is clear that this was not done until it was far too late. Though the Humane Society rushed Brownie to surgery in an attempt to save her life, the poodle was too weak and fragile to survive the operation. A recent necropsy further showed that Brownie had endured severe starvation for long periods of time.
We support the Humane Society’s move to seek charges against the owners and urge your law enforcement officers to do a full and thorough investigation into the case. We also urge for prosecution of the responsible parties to the full extent of the law to stem this kind of negligence before it becomes a more common practice in your county.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Greg Westfall
Ban Couple From Owning Animals After Dogs Suffered Illness and Starvation.
Target: Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter
Goal: Increase five-year ban for couple convicted of animal cruelty crimes when their dogs were found emaciated, infested with worms, and living in horrific conditions.
A couple reportedly received a five-year ban from owning animals after being convicted of what authorities called “abhorrent” animal cruelty. Some of the animals, according to the veterinarian report, were emaciated, suffering from starvation, and had severe illness from worms, all of which the owners failed to treat. The numerous dogs were kept on short leashes to keep them from fighting and many of them had random wounds. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) seized five of the couple’s pets and said that their living conditions were appalling and filthy. The judge agreed, saying the dogs were in a deplorable state.
Unfortunately, the couple didn’t receive any real punishment despite the conviction. They were given a slap on the wrist, community service, and a five-year ban from owning animals. Considering one of them had an alleged criminal record of “threatening behavior,” it’s a shame they weren’t actually punished. Animals deserve better protection from monsters like these, and a measly five-year ban is not sufficient. Demand that the judge make the ban permanent.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here To Help!
Dear Special Magistrate Hunter,
A couple was reportedly sentenced to community service and given a five-year ban from owning animals when their dogs were found emaciated and living in abhorrent conditions. The veterinarian report stated that the dogs were starving and suffering from illness, thanks to the owners neglecting their duties to treat the dogs’ worms. These poor, innocent animals suffered endlessly before being rescued. They were chained up and left to slowly die in the worst way. Five years and a slap on the wrist is not punishment; it will not protect animals from being abused by these careless people.
It’s disappointing that you didn’t find this worthy of actual punishment. The least these animals deserve is a promise that no animals will ever land in the hands of these wicked people again. I demand that you increase the five-year ban to a permanent one to ensure that no other animal suffers at the hands of these wicked people again.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: ninnlane
Prosecute Man Who Allegedly Slaughtered and Burned Dogs for Trespassing.
Target: Jasper Country Prosecuting Attorney Christine M. Haskell
Goal: Charge man who allegedly shot three dogs and burned their bodies because they were outside of his property fence.
A woman’s dogs were reportedly shot to death and their bodies burned up by a man who spotted them outside of his property fence and decided to kill them instead of driving them off or calling animal control. According to the accused, Randy Wall, he had to shoot the dogs because they were a threat to the deer he breeds on his property. He says that he saw them trying to get under his fence and drove them away, but when they came back, he shot all three of them as a “last resort.”
According to police, Wall’s conduct was within the law on killing domestic animals, which states that it’s legal as long as the person who killed the animals “reasonably believes” it was necessary to “protect the property of the accused person from destruction or substantial damage.” Police are apparently interpreting this vague language to side with Wall even though the dogs weren’t even technically on his property.
The dogs’ owner, Dana Drew, lives in a subdivision and says that her dogs would have been afraid of the deer since they would have never seen such an animal before. It seems unlikely that the dogs would have been able to hurt the deer, especially from outside the fence. It also seems suspect that Wall did not try to take additional action to avoid having to shoot the dogs such as calling animal control to round up what he correctly identified as domesticated dogs that clearly belonged to somebody.
Furthermore, Wall’s neighbors allege that he got on a four-wheeler and chased the dogs down for 20 minutes, firing dozens of shots at them as they fled before he killed the last dog. This sounds more like a brutal hunt than an attempt to protect one’s property.
Thanks to the fact that Wall burned the bodies for some unstated reason, Drew can’t even have a proper burial for her deceased companions. Because police decided not to investigate, she may never find justice if we don’t speak up for her and for Storm, Lola, and Buster. Sign this petition to demand that the incident be investigated and that Randy Wall be changed for the unnecessary slaughter of these dogs.
PETITION LETTER: Click Here To Help!
Dear Ms. Haskell,
Three dogs were recently shot and killed and their bodies burned by Demotte resident Randy Wall. Wall claims that they were threatening the deer he raises on his property yet admits that he only tried to drive them off once before killing them and that they had not yet breached his property fence.
According to his neighbors, Wall spent 20 minutes on a four-wheeler hunting the dogs down. This seems like a completely unnecessary action to protect animals that are quite a bit larger than most dogs. He didn’t even call animal control for help.
The details of this case do not add up. Now, a woman has to grieve her companion animals without justice because the police declined to even investigate. This kind of deadly cruelty cannot be allowed to go unpunished. We demand that you look into the case and charge Randy Wall in the death of Storm, Lola, and Buster.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Dave
57 Dogs Brutally Slain in Arkansas
IDA Adds to $8,000 Reward to Convict Killer(s). On December 22, we acted in conjunction with our Mississippi based Justice for Animals Coalition in announcing a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who fed as many as 63 dogs hot dogs containing sleeping pills and then callously shot them with a .22 caliber weapon.
It was on Thursday, Oct. 17th that foresters entering a remote forested area of Searcy County, Arkansas happened on the grim scene of 57 dead dogs, an injured dog, and six other dogs cowering in fear. This heinous crime took place off of Hwy. 254 in the Chimes-Trace Ridge Area south of Marshall, where the dogs were believed to have been brought to be massacred.
Arkansas was the 46th state to pass a felony anti-cruelty to animals law, which hopefully will allow a substantial punishment to occur, should the perpetrator(s) be apprehended . The penalty is up to a $10,000 fine and up to six years in jail. While sadly this law only protects dogs, cats, and horses, it is at least a start in the right direction, and can help in this instance of extreme animal cruelty.
Our new Justice for Animals Coalition is taking root in Mississippi. Through our Hope Animal Sanctuary, IDA has been a leader in investigating hundreds of cruelty reports, rescuing thousands of abused and neglected animals, and successfully seeing scores of abusers prosecuted in our 24 years in the region. Read our press release here.
