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by NinevehDinha from Salt Lake City, UT

Last Post 21 hours Ago


Henry's Law vs. SB 117
Feb 7, 2008 | 7:30 AM
Category: Political
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Good Morning...time to blog me your thoughts about an issue people are very passionate about. Animal cruelty. This dicussion stems from a story about a couple's dog (Sadie) that was brutally attacked with a butcher knife. Sadie's nose was sliced from top to bottom by 28 year-old Joshua Macfarlane. She is expected to make a full recovery, but now the dog's owners say they support Henry's law, which would make animal cruelty a felony in Utah. It's currently a misdemeanor. Henry's Law failed in the Senate last year.

That's where SB 117, sponsored by Sen. Allen Christensen (R-Ogden) comes in. The Human Society along with the Animal Advocay Alliance of Utah will be holding a presser  at noon on Capitol Hill today. They claim SB 117 is a watered down version of an animal cruelty bill. Cruelty to livestock along with circus and rodeo animals are excluded from the bill. There are other definitions in the bill that also concern the animal rights activists. Another concern for them: SB 117 would only prosecute a person with a felony offense if he/she committed two animal cruelty acts within a 5 year period.

I will be talking to the Senator who drafted the bill, if he's available for comment this afternoon.

In the meantime though, the stipulations of this Senate Bill are not sitting well with the Humane Society. Is it sitting well with you? Let me know what you think...and if you blog me in time, I can use your thoughts live on the air!

 

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 28
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bogue100 read my blog
Feb 7, 2008 | 7:57 AM

I am VERY passionate about animals and I firmly believe that there needs to be more than just a little slap on the wrist to those who feel that it is ok to hurt, torment, and violate an animal!

A third degree felony for an act of torture on an animal should be the MINIMUM. Animals are like little children; so innocent and look to us for protection. If we don't who will?

This "watered down" version of only making it a felony if there are two cruelty acts within a 5 year period is ludicrous! Most of the time people who are torturing animals are/have done it more than just the time that they got caught! And if they get caught once they will just be more careful next time unless something drastic like a felony and jail/prison time is done!

People need to fear the consequences of their actions.
missdawn read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 8:51 AM

Hello ninehva(sorry if i spelled your name wrong)I would like to see henrys law passed. I am from wisconsin an I was surprised to hear that utah does not have a law to protect animals.I have a friend whos dog was poisioned from a neighbor feedin the dog antifreeze an killin the dog he went to trail an got a felony an a fine and jail time as well. If people do that to animals what is not to say they wont do that to a child or someone else.I feel that is so awful that people do things like that an they should be prosicuted just as if it was abuse against a child. Thanks Dawn
codromystro read my blog
Feb 7, 2008 | 8:53 AM

I am also very passionate about life! These
are not ours to play with. We have been given the care and responsibility of all of the breathing living creatures.
Animals have just as must right to be here as we do and they do much less damage than humans
I hate animal owners! I love animal lovers!
Give them a chance at a good life.
Animal cruelty must be Felony the first time.
NinevehDinha read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 9:14 AM

The general feeling, according to the most recent poll is that more than 70 percent of Utahns want an animal cruelty law that would make it a felony.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me this morning...Unfortunately, I won't be covering the press conference this afternoon as I had originally thought. I will instead be talking about the possible Delta Merger, which is also an important issue that could affect Utah's economy big time. Stay tuned for that...In the meantime, we'll continue to keep you updated on SB 117. It first has to pass the Senate and then go to the House...keep it here.
And on one last note, no need to apologize about spelling my name wrong! :-)
codromystro read my blog
Feb 7, 2008 | 9:19 AM

I felt I needed to say more about animal cruelty. It isn't always the things that we are doing to the animals as much as the things we are not doing. Landlords won't let us empty the homeless shelter with love and care for a sure to die life. There are so many farel kittens and cats and the only answer we can come up with is death.
I am ashamed of us as a selfish greedy race.
Lerxst2 view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 9:19 AM

I saw this story last night. How can a grown adult throw rocks and shoot a BB gun at a dog?? I like the bill personally. I understand why the Humane Society would like it extended to circus and rodeo animals, but it’s a good first step. Animal cruelty should be a felony. People that perform these acts usually don’t stop at harming and/or killing animals. They need serious psychological help. I’m not sure if my comments are “air” worthy, but it’s an interesting topic.
gcwoody read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 9:24 AM

Why water it down. Pass a bill that has 'teeth' if you will. Cruelty to all animals should be a felony from the first offense. I know, what about slaughter houses and all, the key is maintaining humanity. One thing the lady said last night that stood out. If a person will be cruel to an animal they're probably not too far from cruelty to a human. After all humans are just another type of animal here on the big blue marble, IMHO.
akiame read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 10:02 AM

I'm sad to say but the REALITY is that our Civilized Society Condones the Torture of Human Beings (at least "specific" forms as long as certain "safety measures" are taken... humm isn't that an oxymoron - Safely Torturing?)

So Animals probably won't get any protection under the law as long as Human Torture is Excused...

~References~ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23030663
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23012160/
http://www.newsweek.com/id/108719
UtahxViewer read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 10:45 AM

Animal cruelty makes me mad. How could someone do something so horrible to a helpless animal? I just love house hold animals and to see them hurt and such bothers me. I definitely think there should be a stiffer law on it.

No one should get away with that, ever. How would you like it if people were beating you, swearing at you, etc? It's so mean. Poor animals.

-- Allison
NinevehDinha read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 11:52 AM

well this is a story that we will most definitely revist...and unfortunately, people (especially adults) who engage in animal cruelty, are repeat offenders...or have a criminal history. I think you have to start educating kids at a young age in schools about animal cruelty to prevent it. We've done news stories (the cases are ususally national)...where kids engage in animal torture.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts...I value your opinions!
:-)
codromystro read my blog
Feb 7, 2008 | 12:16 PM

Nineveh
Our Spring is actually quite nice, if you can deal with the winter. I would like to thank you and Fox 13 for following this story.
We have a very large animal problem however most of it is human induced. I'm hoping fox will continue in an effort to solve this problem, which is actually a human problem.
Welcome to Salt Lake
-Rich
MandaBear815
Feb 7, 2008 | 4:40 PM

I was wondering if there was any way I could get in contact with the Reynolds. I do pet sitting and I would be more than happy to watch thier pup durring the day so that there is a very minimal chance of having the abuse happen again.
I have a dog that was abused for almost 2 years. When I found her the vet said that she would have died in a few days had I not saved her. I wish that people like that could get what they deserve. I feel that there is no difference in hurting an animal and hurting a child.
I hope that Henry's Law is passed finally.
MrShankley
Feb 7, 2008 | 7:24 PM

Current penalties for animal cruelty are a joke. They need to be stiffer as it is proven that many people that abuse animals often turn that behavior to humans. If we can head the problem off with stiffer penalties that involve time in prison and even a little therapy, perhaps we can save the lives of our two-legged friends along with the lives of our four-legged friends.
Mariposa_Xochipilli read my blog
Feb 7, 2008 | 10:00 PM

Granted, this is an important issue, but what about disabled children who schools treat as criminals because the child can't lower themselves to subhuman expectations? Schools are above the law, but nobody else is?!
bogue100 read my blog
Feb 8, 2008 | 9:50 AM

I accidentally started a blog of my own concerning this issue yesterday when I saw this story on the news and was trying to find where to comment on the story.

It is titled "Animals are People too", I invite you to visit and read some of the comments there. However, I also wanted to clearify that I mean that phrase in a prospective sense and not a literal one, for those of you that feel it devalues human lives!

There absolutely needs to be stiffer laws we are responsible for the animals' protection just like we are responsible for the children's protection; able and disabled alike.
codromystro read my blog
Feb 8, 2008 | 10:30 AM

We have been abusing animals on every level for a very long time. And I am suprised more of us haven't sat and wepted over this problem befor now. The question is what to do and what level to start at.
And there is no more time for questions it is time for answers
peace!
NinevehDinha read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 10:36 AM

And if anybody was watching the news this morning...yet another case of animal cruelty. This time a couple's dog is shot to death and they don't who did it and why.
codromystro read my blog
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:15 AM

I would like to say how very sorry I am for Burts loved ones. I myself had a burt named cody who lived to the ripe old age of 14 and
I know how much of a space it can leave in your heart.
Mariposa_Xochipilli read my blog
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:44 AM

Not to diminish the animal cruelty story, but how about when schools ignore and/or critical medical needs of disabled students? If a parent took the same action, it would be child abuse.

Why are we outraged with talking about this violence happening to animals, but not our own children if it would be embarrassing to be made public?
UtahxViewer read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:52 AM

I saw that! What a cruel person. Poor Burt.

-- Allison
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NinevehDinha

I start off every morning waking up our viewers, and it's always a pleasure! I'm happy to be part of Fox 13's Good Day Utah team. I anchor bright and early from 5 to 6 a.m. You can also catch me on the streets reporting for both GDU and Live at 11.

Member Since: 2/20/2007


 

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