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Stop Animal Cruelty in North Dakota In North Dakota an Stop Animal Cruelty in North Dakota In North Dakota an

Stop Animal Cruelty in North Dakota In North Dakota an - PDF document

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Stop Animal Cruelty in North Dakota In North Dakota an - PPT Presentation

We depend on animals and treating them well is a part of our value system Yet our animal cruelty law is one of the weakest in the nation A group of North Dakota citizens is organizing to fix this problem through a ballot initiative that would make i ID: 78231

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Stop Animal Cruelty in North Dakota In North Dakota animals are a part of our livelihood . We depend on animals and treating them well is a part of our value system. Yet our animal cruelty law is one of the weakest in the nation. A group of North Dakota citizens is organizing to fix this problem through a ballot initiative that would make it a Class C felony to eng age in some specific forms of aggravated cruelty to dogs, cats or horses. This proposed change to the North Dakota Century Code would allow for felony penalties to be imposed on any person who maliciously and intentionally burns, poisons, crushes, suffoca tes, impales, drowns, blinds, skins, bludgeons to death, drags to death, exsanguinates, disembowels, or dismembers any living dog, cat, or horse . Existing law is inadequate. North Dakota is one of only two states with no felony penalties for even the most extreme acts of animal cruelty . Current protections for companion animals are simply too weak. It is a felony to spray paint a building if you cause $2,000 in damages , but only a misdemeanor to set a puppy on fire . The current animal cruelty law is e xtremely weak and completely out of sync with North Dakota values. This measure is reasonable and balanced. This measure is focused on the most extreme and de liberate acts of cruelty to dogs, cats and horses . The initiative would not affect the North Dakota heritage of hu nting, fishing, farming and ranching . The law would provide appropriate penalties for the type of cruelty described above , but would not alter the existing misdemeanor law for less serious offenses such as unintentional neglect. Viola tors of the proposed law could be found guilty of a class C felony. At the discretion of the court, violators could be ordered to undergo mandatory psychological or psychiatric evaluation and counseling, including counseling in responsible pet ownership or animal cruelty prevention; and ordered not to own or possess a dog, cat, or horse for up to five years after the date of the sentencing. The public wants a stronger animal cruelty law. A November 2011 poll by Lake Research Partners showed that North Dak ota voters approved of this sort of law by a nearly 4 to 1 margin with 63% saying they would vote yes on such a ballot measure while only 17% opposed. Some state legislators have tried to enact such a law through the legislative process but have been block ed at every turn. That is why North Dakotans are turning to the ballot process to enact a meaningful animal cruelty law that is consistent with our values and heritage. Studies linking animal cruelty to violent crimes, domestic violence and child abuse. In a 20 year study, 70% of animal abusers were found to have then committed other crimes and 44% went on to harm people. (Arluke, A. & Luke, C. 1997). State and national surveys of domestic violence victims consistently find that as many as 71% of batte red women report their partners threatened, or killed, the family pet (Ascione, 1995). Researchers found that there was animal abuse in 88% of families who were under State supervision due to the physical abuse of their children (DeViney, Dickert & Lockwood, 1983). North Dakotans to Stop Animal Cruelty 701.235.2269 P.O. 5376 , Fargo, ND 5810 5 www.NDStopCruelty.com Paid for by North Dakotans to Stop Animal Cruelty , Karen Thunshelle, Chairman