“Our
laws are woefully outdated regarding the subject of punishing those who abuse
animals,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “As a
society, we need to stand up against those who would inflict pain so ruthlessly
and coldheartedly, and tell them these actions cannot and will not be
tolerated.”
The
legislation, which is titled “An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety” or
the “PAWS Act”, raises fines and penalties, and creates an animal abuse
registry. Highlights of the bill include:
• Establishing an anonymous animal abuse tip hotline;
• Expanding the use of the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund to include
the rehabilitation and care of abused animals, and increasing the size of the
board that administers the fund to include a special state police officer from
an animal humane organization, and a member of local law enforcement;
• Imposing a fine of up to $1,000 on any veterinarian who knowingly and willfully
fails to report a suspected act of cruelty to an animal;
• Increasing the penalties associated with cruelty to animals, or maliciously
killing, maiming, disfiguring, or exposing them to poison from $2,500 to
between $2,500 and $10,000 (current law also includes imprisonment in the state
prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for
not more than 2 ½ years);
• Increasing the penalties for a second or subsequent offense from 5-10 years
state imprisonment and a fine between $5,000 to $20,000;
• Increasing the penalty for a hit and run conviction on a cat or dog from a $50
fine to up to $2,000 fine and/or up to 60 days in a house of corrections;
• Creating a statewide registry of convicted individuals of animal abuse crimes,
and requires all animal shelters, pet stores or animal breeders to check the
registry prior to offering, selling, delivering, or giving an animal to any
individual; and
• Creating a 9-member commission to review the state’s animal cruelty laws, many
of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“Abusing
or torturing an animal is a heinous crime and those who commit these crimes
need to be held responsible for their actions,” said Senator Robert Hedlund
(R-Weymouth). “As a state and as a society, we need to ensure our laws
are designed to adequately punish those who choose to abuse animals.”
“This
long overdue legislation will provide vital updates to the Commonwealth’s
animal cruelty laws,” said Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham). “It is imperative
that we take a stand to protect all those living in the Commonwealth. By
sending the message that these atrocious examples of abuse will not be stood
for, we are reinforcing the safety of our communities as a whole.”
The
bill, which includes a key provision from H.1243 sponsored by Democratic
Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen), allows district attorneys to
file a petition to the courts ordering a defendant to post a security or bond
for the care of animals that have been impounded as a result of abuse or
cruelty.
“Sadly,
many of the animals seized by the MSPCA and other humane organizations require
extensive rehabilitation and sometimes a lifetime of treatment, which can
become extremely costly,” said Representative Campbell. “I am thankful to Senator Tarr and his caucus for working so
diligently to offer this legislative measure, and it is my hope that as a
legislature we can pass this commonsense bill expeditiously.”
