The Journal

Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial

Angie Zielinski

A month ago in Missouri, a dog was shot and left in a box for two weeks in below-freezing weather. This is a perfect example of how far animal abuse can go.
   

The two-year-old beagle-shepherd mix, Mel, was shot with a rifle and left on the side of the road wounded and bleeding. He was taken to a shelter and is now being cared for by the co-founders of that shelter, at their home. Mel is being fed every four hours because he is very underweight. Luckily, Mel is being treated and will be OK.
   

Animal abuse is common and the penalties aren’t as serious as they should be. According to the Missouri Cruelty to Animal Statutes, a person is guilty of animal abuse for three reasons: If they intentionally or purposely kill an animal in any manner, if they purposely or intentionally cause injury or suffering to an animal or if they have ownership and custody of an animal and knowingly fail to provide adequate care or control.
   

In 2007 there have been 77 reported neglected and abandoned animals and 10 reported mutilated and tortured animals in Missouri, according to http://www.pet-abuse.com. I don’t understand what could possibly trigger someone to abuse an innocent animal, which may even be his or her pet. Many of the abused animals are sacrifices to the owner’s anger problem, and it’s very serious.
   

These abusers need to be punished as severely as if they had hurt or killed another human being. Thirty-two percent of domestic violence victims who owned pets reported that one or more of their children had hurt or killed an animal, according to the Humane Society. Animal abuse is a lot like any other abuse­ in that the abuser likes to be in control of the victim.
   

Animal cruelty is a class A misdemeanor. As a second offense, it’s a felony. A class A misdemeanor is only punishable by a fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. That is hardly a punishment for abuse. The abuser needs at least one year in jail, plus counseling, and then maybe be let out if they have improved.
   

It is considered a class D felony if the person has tortured and/or mutilated the animal while it is alive. This is a bit harsher punishment with a $5,000 fine and up to five years in jail. But it should be at least five years in jail, plus counseling. These would be better punishments. These people killed or tortured an animal for no reason.
   

In Atlanta, there was a disturbing case of abuse where two teenage brothers, ages 17 and 19, cooked a puppy to death in their oven. The puppy’s snout and paws were duct taped. The boys threw paint on the dog and cooked it alive. How sick are people to even think about doing this? The puppy was tortured and mutilated, and scratch marks in the oven proved it. The boys also invited neighbor kids over so they could show off the dead dog.
   

KMOV reported the boys were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, but they should have gotten double that. This was an innocent puppy killed for the boys’ pleasure.
   

Hopefully in the future there will be harsher laws for people who inflict this kind of pain on animals. I would hope the proper authorities would realize animal abuse could sometimes be a path to human abuse and even murder. Every time I think about these animals that have been hurt or killed, it makes me sad. But it makes me even sadder that the abusers will be back on the street in no time.

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