Americans share a common value of protecting animals from cruelty. Congress made animal cruelty a federal crime in 2019, and laws to protect animals exist at every level of government. It’s important to enforce these laws because animal cruelty can lead to violence against people. Animals and children are often targeted because they can’t speak for themselves. In Connecticut, they have a law that lets lawyers and law students help protect animals in court, and Florida should do the same. This could be a model for other states to follow. President Trump signed a law called the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, which makes animal cruelty a federal offense. This law was proposed by two Florida congressmen and was supported by many people and organizations. It was a big step in protecting animals, but more needs to be done. Before this law, another law called Desmond’s Law was passed, which allows judges to appoint advocates to help prosecute animal cruelty cases. This was done to increase the number of convictions in these cases, as many cases were dismissed or not prosecuted in the past. A mother in New Haven left her abusive home with her kids and dog, Desmond. The abuser, Alex Wullaert, adopted Desmond from a shelter and tortured and killed him. Despite confessing, Wullaert only received a light punishment, angering the community. Desmond’s Army fought for stricter animal cruelty laws and, in 2016, Desmond’s Law was enacted. It created “animal advocates” to monitor and prosecute animal cruelty cases. Just like advocates for abused children, these volunteers ensure that crimes against animals are taken seriously. Research shows that there is a strong connection between people who are cruel to animals and those who are violent towards other people. Abusers often hurt or threaten pets to control their victims, making it difficult for them to leave dangerous situations. In Florida, a new law allows domestic violence victims to keep their pets with them, and many shelters now accept pets too. This law received a lot of support, and it’s a big step in protecting both people and animals. Law enforcement also takes animal cruelty seriously, as it can be a warning sign of future violent behavior. Several notorious serial killers started by hurting animals before moving on to people. So, taking animal cruelty seriously can help protect everyone. Florida should build on Desmond’s Law, which holds animal abusers accountable, by addressing its limitations and expanding its scope to all types of animals. For example, in 2015, a man in South Florida purposely ran over and killed nine ducklings with a lawnmower, but under Desmond’s Law, the ducklings would not have received an advocate. Florida can work to prevent animal cruelty for all animals by expanding upon Desmond’s Law. Florida is a big state for horse ownership and the horse industry brings in a lot of money. There have been cases of neglect and abuse of horses in the past, which led to the creation of the Horse Protection Association of Florida. This organization helps with cruelty investigations and provides training to law enforcement. It’s important to take animal cruelty seriously, regardless of the type of animal involved, because people who hurt animals often hurt other people too. Desmond’s Law was created to stop people who abuse animals from getting away with it. In Florida, there have been attempts to create a list of people who have hurt animals, but these attempts have failed. This means that abusers can still get animals and hurt them again. It’s important to keep records of animal abusers so that everyone can be informed and animals can be protected. Desmond’s Law only allows lawyers and law students to be advocates, but it should be open to anyone. Florida has a lot of retired people who could help with animal cruelty cases. They already volunteer for other court programs, so they could do this too. It’s time for Florida to follow Connecticut’s lead in protecting animals from cruelty. Florida should adopt a law similar to Desmond’s Law, which allows advocates to help prosecute animal cruelty cases. This law should also include a statewide registry for animal abuse cases and a list of certified volunteer advocates to help with these cases. This would make Florida a leader in animal protection and could inspire other states to do the same. By enlisting the help of thousands of volunteers, Florida can make a big impact in the fight against animal cruelty.
Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/americas-unifying-banner-erasing-animal-cruelty/
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