HomeAnimal abuse cases seem to be making headlines more frequently today than ever before. It ranges from simple neglect to unspeakable acts of sadistic cruelty. But through the efforts of humane organizations through out the country, the legal system is starting to take these offensives more seriously by imposing stricter penalties. Oregon, for example, now has the largest maximum fine ($100,000) for animal cruelty while Louisiana has the longest prison term (10 years.)
"I'm very impressed with the attitudes of the judges when these (animal abuse) cases are brought before them." said Thomas Palmer, Collier County's Assistant Attorney. "They don't treat them lightly at all."
One of the more highly publicized cases Palmer is working on happened earlier this year in Naples when a golden gate couple was found to have accumulated over 100 dogs on their property. It is a case of neglect more than anything else. The animals were found infested with various parasites and living in filthy conditions. Almost all the animals had to be euthanzied because of their sickly condition.
The court could have allowed the couple, Walter and Regina Ignell, to keep a few pets but instead has prohibited them from ever owning animals in Florida again. Currently they are appealing the decision but Palmer thinks it's weak. "The law is so against them I would be amazed if the decision of the trial court is overturned." he said. The court should determine the matter in another 4 or 5 months.
Most cases stem from ignorance more than anything else, says Sean Luedtke, Animal Cruelty Investigator for Collier county's Domestic Animal Services. As was the case recently where a woman kept two dogs tied up to a fence without any water or shelter. One of the dogs was hers and the other belonged to her daughter. But the daughter's dog wasn't use to being outside all the time and ended up dying from heat exposure. Even though the woman didn't intentionally mean for the dog to die, says Luedtke, the judge still cited her $500 per dog.
Luedtke, who investigates five or six cases a week, says during this time of year he receives a lot of phone calls concerning dogs left in cars at shopping centers, mainly by Northerners. They don't realize how quickly it can get hot inside the car, he says, "even if their just running in for a gallon of milk." Leaving an animal inside a car is against Collier County ordinance and offenders can be fined.
Besides neglect and ignorance, which hopefully can be corrected through educational efforts, is the brutal physical abuse. Sometimes it occurs to control others. As was the case when a husband poured lighter fluid down the family pet's throat and then as his wife and children watched he lit the animal on fire, threatening to do the same to them should they ever leave him.
"Men who abuse their wives abuse their children and abuse their pets." said Kathy Herrmann, executive director for the Shelter of Abused Women in Collier County. "If a woman has a bond with a pet, she's not going to leave the pet with him. He'll kick it, he'll kill it."
According to the American Humane Society, the link between violence towards animals and violence towards people has been documented over the last two decades by scientists, psychologists and criminologists.
They've found that many violent offenders like Jeffrey Dahmer, David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) and Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler) all have a history of excessive and repetitive cruelty to animals.
This past July, the AHA filed a formal petition with the Department of Health and Human services that called for a full federal investigation of the link between animal and human abuse, which is a step in the right direction.
But to fight against the many levels of abuse, everyone must play a part. If you see animal abuse or neglect, report it to Collier County Domestic Animal Services who will go out and investigate (you don't have to give your name). Luedtke suggests following up on the report a week later with a phone call.
Changing local and state laws to make them stricter is another avenue to take. The AHA has a booklet, Protecting Animals from Violence through Legislative Activism ($5), that shows you how to make those changes. For parents and teachers, another AHA booklet called the Agenda for a Non-Violent Future ($5) includes professionals from a variety of disciplines discussing the effects of, and possible solutions, to violence against children and animals.
American Humane Association 303-792-9900 Collier County Domestic Animal Services 597-4880