Post by nixy69 on Jan 23, 2008 23:53:11 GMT 1
Please forward this on to as many people as you can, its a very worthwile law and its time they realised it.
Henrys Law
There have been 3 attempts to make intensional animal cruelty in Utah a felony. All 3 have failed. The Utah State Legislature had it's opening session on Tuesday, the 21st. Once again the bill known as Henry's Law has been introduced.
Henry's Story
On April 26, 2006, Marc C. Vincent chased Henry with a leaf blower blinding him in the left eye. The eye later became infected and had to be removed. He then put Henry in a 200-degree oven for 5 minutes permanently scarring him on the paws and chest. Under current Utah law, intentional animal cruelty or torture is a Class A Misdemeanor with the maximum penalties being up to 1 year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.
Marc Vincent was convicted of intentional animal cruelty and was sentanced to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine. He was released after serving just 4 1/2 months due to "good behavior".
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, in a report released in November of 2007, stated that
"Utah has the weakest laws in the country when it comes to animal abuse.
The report says animal abusers get off in Utah too easily. Animal torture is not a felony in
Utah.
Along with Utah, Alaska, Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Dakota round out the report's list
of the five 'best states to be an animal abuser.'
Besides no felony animal cruelty provision, the report says Utah has inadequate animal
fighting provisions, and no provisions to help offset costs of caring for abused animals."
We came closer than ever before in 2007 when the bill passed both the House and the Senate but due to a last minute proposed amendment, was defeated by the clock. Due to public outcry, we did get the bill on a Special Legislative Session agenda during which the bill was then tabled for further study.
Senator Gene Davis of Salt Lake City, sponsor of last years bill, has pre-filed Henry's law and he is working with Senate leaders to ensure that a strong and enforceable piece of legislation passes during the 2008 session. The bill number for 2008 is SB102
There is strong support for the bill in the general population. In the past there have been some pretty powerful lobbyist fighting the passing of any legislation. "Critics, particularly lawmakers, worry that elevating animal cruelty to a felony could be misapplied to include accepted animal husbandry practices, activities that go on zoos, veterinarians' offices and interactions among hunters and game."
Please lend your support and efforts in getting this critical piece of legislation passed. If you live in Utah, please contact your representatives and urge them to support this bill. If you do not know who your representatives are you can find your Senate representatives by going to www.utahsenate.org/perl/spage/roster2007.pl and you can find a complete list of the House of Representatives by going to le.utah.gov/house/members2005/membertable1add.asp. To find which district you reside in, you can use a map found here www.le.state.ut.us/house/DistrictInfo/newMaps/State.htm If you do not live in Utah but know others who do, please forward this information to them. If you have no affiliation with the state but are an animal lover and advocate, let the state know that the nation is watching. The main home page for the state can be found at www.utah.gov/. For up to date information on Henry's Law you can go to www.henryslaw.com/. You will also find a list of who voted for and against the bill last year at that link.
Thank you for your support of Henry's Law.
Henrys Law
There have been 3 attempts to make intensional animal cruelty in Utah a felony. All 3 have failed. The Utah State Legislature had it's opening session on Tuesday, the 21st. Once again the bill known as Henry's Law has been introduced.
Henry's Story
On April 26, 2006, Marc C. Vincent chased Henry with a leaf blower blinding him in the left eye. The eye later became infected and had to be removed. He then put Henry in a 200-degree oven for 5 minutes permanently scarring him on the paws and chest. Under current Utah law, intentional animal cruelty or torture is a Class A Misdemeanor with the maximum penalties being up to 1 year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.
Marc Vincent was convicted of intentional animal cruelty and was sentanced to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine. He was released after serving just 4 1/2 months due to "good behavior".
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, in a report released in November of 2007, stated that
"Utah has the weakest laws in the country when it comes to animal abuse.
The report says animal abusers get off in Utah too easily. Animal torture is not a felony in
Utah.
Along with Utah, Alaska, Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Dakota round out the report's list
of the five 'best states to be an animal abuser.'
Besides no felony animal cruelty provision, the report says Utah has inadequate animal
fighting provisions, and no provisions to help offset costs of caring for abused animals."
We came closer than ever before in 2007 when the bill passed both the House and the Senate but due to a last minute proposed amendment, was defeated by the clock. Due to public outcry, we did get the bill on a Special Legislative Session agenda during which the bill was then tabled for further study.
Senator Gene Davis of Salt Lake City, sponsor of last years bill, has pre-filed Henry's law and he is working with Senate leaders to ensure that a strong and enforceable piece of legislation passes during the 2008 session. The bill number for 2008 is SB102
There is strong support for the bill in the general population. In the past there have been some pretty powerful lobbyist fighting the passing of any legislation. "Critics, particularly lawmakers, worry that elevating animal cruelty to a felony could be misapplied to include accepted animal husbandry practices, activities that go on zoos, veterinarians' offices and interactions among hunters and game."
Please lend your support and efforts in getting this critical piece of legislation passed. If you live in Utah, please contact your representatives and urge them to support this bill. If you do not know who your representatives are you can find your Senate representatives by going to www.utahsenate.org/perl/spage/roster2007.pl and you can find a complete list of the House of Representatives by going to le.utah.gov/house/members2005/membertable1add.asp. To find which district you reside in, you can use a map found here www.le.state.ut.us/house/DistrictInfo/newMaps/State.htm If you do not live in Utah but know others who do, please forward this information to them. If you have no affiliation with the state but are an animal lover and advocate, let the state know that the nation is watching. The main home page for the state can be found at www.utah.gov/. For up to date information on Henry's Law you can go to www.henryslaw.com/. You will also find a list of who voted for and against the bill last year at that link.
Thank you for your support of Henry's Law.