ANIMAL ADVOCACY

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ANIMAL ADVOCACY
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TOPIC ISSUE

• Providing humane and kind treatment of all
  animals
  
• Law researched is Maryland CODE ANN. art. 27,
  59 et seq. last amended in 2001
  
• Law protects all animals in Maryland and helps to
  prevent their suffering and abuse

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REASON FOR CHOSING TOPIC

• Because I love animals
• We have six dogs, two horses and a pet swan
• I want to choose a career working with animals
  someday
  
• I want to make sure that people are educated in
  animal safety and care and that all animals are
  protected by laws to prevent abuse

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STUDY ISSUES

• Implementation of current laws
• New laws to secure animal safety
• Making sure current laws are enforced

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STUDY ISSUES

• Implementation of current laws
• MD. CODE ANN. art. 27, 59 et seq. In
  2001 Maryland against Aggravated Cruelty to
  Animals law made it a felony to mutilate, kill or
  beat an animal or do anything of or relating to
  those acts.
• Because of this law pet abusers can be charged
  and punished for their offenses. Number of cases
  went from 16 in 2003 to 7 in 2004.

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STUDY ISSUES

• Implementation of current laws
• The Statute Summary is that a person commits the
  crime of cruelty to animals if the person
  overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary
  sustenance, tortures, torments, or cruelly beats,
  inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon the
  animal, or fails to provide necessary veterinary
  care, proper drink, air, space, shelter, or
  protection from the weather, intentionally
  mutilates or cruelly kills an animal. The
  punishment involved in cruelty to animals would
  be a misdemeanor fine up to 1000 and
  imprisonment up to 90 days. Aggravated cruelty to
  animals would result in a felony fine up to 5000
  and imprisonment up to 3 years and forfeiture of
  animal and seizure.

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STUDY ISSUES

• New laws to secure animal safety
• U.S. Humane Society is promoting over 100 bills
  in Federal and State legislatures.

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STUDY ISSUES

• Examples of legislation being promoted by the
  U.S. Humane Society
  
• Ridding America of Animal Fighting
• Protecting Horses from Slaughter
• Cracking Down on Puppy Mills
• Outlawing the Keeping of Primates as Pets
• Ensuring the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals

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STUDY ISSUES

• Making sure current laws are enforced
• More public education on animal welfare is
  needed
  
• Animal Control must be notified if you suspect
  that an animal is being abused
  
• Pets and can be confiscated if it can be shown
  that abuse has occurred

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INTERVIEW RESULTS

• Interviewed three Animal Advocates
• All supported the legislation
• Many of the concerns of these three people were
  similar but there were also differences based on
  their specific focus
  

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INTERVIEW RESULTS

• Focus of Persons Interviewed
• Reduction in Euthanasia
• Elimination of factory farming of livestock
• Legislative action to create laws to reduce
  animal abuse
  

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INTERVIEW RESULTS

• Possible Solutions to Animal Abuse
• Educate public about animal care
• Set up Animal abuse hotline
• Promote legislation to penalize abusers
• Educate people about neutering of pets
• Talk to friends and family members about issues
  affecting animals and let them know specifically
  how they can help
  

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Letter to Public Official

• Letter was sent to Congressman Elijah Cummings
• Regarding bill number H.R. 2966
• Bill pertains to allowing animals on public
  parkland
  
• Congressman Cummings supports the bill and has
  co-sponsored legislation to protect wild horses

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Response from Public Official
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Conclusion

• In Order To Protect Animals From Abuse, We Need
  To
  
• Ask our representatives to pass new laws to
  secure animal safety
  
• Make sure current laws are enforced
• Work to educate everyone about proper animal care
  and safety
  
• Work to educate pet owners about neutering
• Support organizations that work hard to protect
  animals