​​Save Children and Animal Lives by Taking Animal Abuse More Seriously

Target: Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States

Goal: Demand stricter federal punishments for animal cruelty in the U.S.

Millions of animals suffer abuse—whether it be through physical harm, neglect, or abandonment—each year in the U.S.. In most states, cruelty towards animals is still classified only as a misdemeanor. Though there are variations by state, on average, anyone who intentionally tortures, mutilates, or kills a living animal is subject to a maximum sentence of three years in a state prison, or a $20,000 fine. In other states, abusers may only receive a maximum of one year in prison with a $1,000 fine for committing heinous acts against helpless animals.

It shouldn’t be all too surprising that many perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse also have a history of abusing family pets. Many serial killers and mass murderers—including the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Gary Ridgeway, and John Wayne Gacy—also got their wicked starts by intentionally inflicting harm upon animal victims. And, as if this all wasn’t enough, shooters behind the mass murders of defenseless children in Uvalde and allegedly the innocent supermarket shoppers in Buffalo had a reported history of abusing animals before moving onto human targets. Salvador Ramos, who killed 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, was said to have “loved hurting animals.” Witnesses had reportedly seen him publicly beat a dog senseless, and noted that he had posted videos of his crimes to social media. In some of these videos, Ramos was apparently seen putting cats in plastic bags and throwing them at the concrete ground and at people’s houses. Similarly, just weeks before he apparently murdered 10 Black people in a crime motivated by white supremacy, the accused Buffalo shooter had stabbed and decapitated a stray cat.

In the aftermath of all these crimes, it is clear that something needs to be done. Tightening legislation surrounding animal abuse would not only save thousands of animals from a morbid fate, it would also help protect innocent people. Had stricter penalties been dealt to mass killers, then perhaps the tragedies they went on to commit would have been evaded; the people who they murdered still able to do the things they love; the families of their victims not still grieving their loss. Sign this petition to demand stricter punishments towards animal abusers.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Biden,

Each year, millions of helpless animals are physically abused, abandoned, neglected, and killed across America. In most states, cruelty towards animals is still treated as only a misdemeanor. People who are found guilty of intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, or killing an animal may face somewhere between one to three years in prison, or a fine ranging from $1,000-$20,000. This sentence is by no means enough, and abusers typically go on to commit similar crimes once they are released.

Cruelty towards animals is correlated with violence against humans. An estimated 88% of perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse have also been reported to abuse family pets. Many infamous serial killers–including Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy–got their starts torturing animal victims before moving onto humans. In 2022 alone, America has had at least 314 mass shootings, where mass shooting is defined as a shooting incident killing three or more victims. Gunmen in two of these most deadly shootings–the Uvalde School and the Buffalo supermarket shootings–both had reported histories of harming animals. Ramos, who killed 19 elementary school children and 2 of their teachers, had been known to beat little dogs and posted videos online depicting him stuffing cats into plastic bags and throwing them against the ground and houses. Just weeks before he murdered 10 Black people shopping at a grocery store, the Buffalo shooter had stabbed and decapitated a stray cat.

Had these people been prosecuted to the full extent of the law, it is possible these heinous crimes could have been evaded. Animal cruelty is a serious problem, and should be dealt with as such. We are asking you, President Biden, to please take intentional abuse towards animals more seriously and enact stricter penalties against those found guilty of such crimes. Animals, and people, everywhere need your help.

Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Alex Hrek


44 Comments

  1. Again. Laws must be changed by PEOPLE. Like we did in Brooklyn. RECORD 7 YEARS FOR POS WHO PUT STRAY CAT ON FIRE. PEOPLE must look for politicians who care about animal abuse WE DID. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

  2. Andrea+Chisari says:

    I suppose the death penalty is too much to ask…..

    • Naila M Johnston says:

      Not at all!! Death to all murderers and abusers! Life is a life..be it human or animal! No difference!!

  3. An abused animal is no less horrific, severe or criminal. Stop quantifying! Animals are worth as much as humans- personally I think they are worth a lot more !Execute all animal abusers! An eye for an eye!

  4. I don’t know why this keeps coming up. We need the laws to be stricter and the punishments to be harsher in order for this to stop. If these evil people think nothing will happen to them this will only continue. It’s a no brainer!!!!! The government needs to take animal abuse and cruelty serious and I truly think they don’t. Enough is enough already let’s try and save some animals.

  5. I think it’s sad that we still have to threaten your children as the next victims before animal abuse becomes a serious crime. It may be (I’m sure it is) true but animals should be protected for their own sake as sentient beings.

  6. Monica+Lee+Koski says:

    Holding abusers accountable by making stricter laws and following through with stiffer punishments is way past due…if we ever expect to see a decline in the ever increasing incidents of animal abuse, neglect, and cruelty, then taking cruelty and abuse of innocent animals more seriously is the only common sense and humane solution to protect all animals!

  7. Absolutely and of course it should be a felony and punishable by capital punishment. Whether they go on to commit crimes against children or not. All of those types crimes need to be punished severely and permanently whether they are against animals or against children. Enough of this abuse

  8. how can this government help animals when they release murders, rapists and assorted felons back on the street before the cops can finish the paperwork. we are becoming a country of lawlessness where the criminals hold the upper hand right along with the corrupt politicians who put people with a rap sheet as long as my arm back on the street again. people can’t even carry on a conversation anymore without some form of meltdown if we don’t agree with the other side. i pray for these animals every day that people who are caring help them survive the wave of psychos running around. by the wat facebook, twitter, you tube and tik tok are equally to blame since they give these losers a platform to show off their handy work. if they would shut them down instead of encouraging this behavior it might just get better.

  9. Father Anne says:

    The problem with many of these petitions is that they call for more and more penalties. We are a nation of incarceration. Yes, it is wrong for people to abuse animals and/or people, but if prisons and retribution were the answer, America would be a healthy society (which we certainly are not). People doing such violence against animals need serious medical and psychiatric invention. They are suffering from mental illness for any number of reasons–poverty, their own horrific abuse, chemical imbalances in their body. Please consider this when asking for people to sign petitions. We should know by now that the horrors of punishment in the prison system do not work to rehabilitate people who are deeply suffering or who never had their rights to proper food, education, employment, health care, and safety honored. We are all to blame for the violence in our country.

  10. Shirley Lemieux says:

    I strongly support this Petition. It is true that each State has their own Animal Cruelty Laws. Some strong but many States have weak laws. This should not be when it applies to living beings. The stronger the Laws, the more the deterrent.

    • Melinda+Maddox says:

      I strongly support this petition also.
      All states need much tougher laws on animal abusers for this and several other reasons one of which is that’s it’s just plain wrong to abuse an innocent animal.

  11. Maria Lavorato says:

    Something should have been done IONS ago. It has been left to fester….So many innocent fur babies felt torturous hands! Guilt lies in many different areas…

    What are you waiting for lawmakers! Pass some serious laws that really protect animals. Adoptions are meticulously screened and so should adopting pets.

    ALL different areas must be analyzed from laws/judges, police, homes, schools and health system.

  12. many of these people can get all the treatment in the world, it wouldn’t matter. a doctor can’t fix EVIL!

  13. Andrew Wells says:

    Hang them!!!!

  14. I strongly agree with Korinna and everyone who understands that a life is a life. Monsters who kill sweet, innocent animals deserve to be killed! This would end animal cruelty and possibly prevent these mass shootings, etc. Animal lives are just as valuable as human lives.

  15. Adrienne+Kaiser says:

    If President Biden urges his colleagues to enact stricter animal abuse laws, he will definitely be headed in a direction the populous agrees with. ALSO, the President needs to have Congress change the definition of what a dog is considered (property) to a sentient being (a being who has feelings and awareness). No animal should ever be allowed to suffer at the unmerciful hands of a human! Because a dog is considered property, animal abusers often get away with the despicable acts of violence, neglect, and cruelty by prosecutors and judges. Let’s get this fixed, now!! Give prosecutors and judges more teeth to deliver the harshest punishments to those vile creatures who abuse, neglect, torture, maim, or murder animals. We are their voice!!

  16. Bastards like these need taking out very painfully. We do not want sadistic fuckers like these in the world. They only torture animals because they know that animals will not fight back.
    Bloody cowards all of them! Sick minded bastards who really need holding down and seven barrels of shit kicking out of them.
    Power to any animal activists who can track these arseholes down and terminate the tossers.
    Mark my words, it will happen! And as the useless judges are too scared to pass sentence on these sick pricks, this is the only way to rid the world of these twisted minded shitbags.
    People power will eventually take care of these bastards. It will happen hopefully sooner than later!
    And yes, although not sadistic in any way,I would happily show these asswipes the error of their ways. But would need someone to hold the wanker down!! He sure would be begging me to finish him of that I guarantee!

  17. Domestic animals ARE children. They were bred to be our companions and we need to care for them like the family they are. Laws need to change and we need a National Registry for animal abuse and neglect, so no matter where a convicted animal abuser moves within the country, they cannot escape the registry and can not own or have any animals in their care.

  18. MICHAEL BAVARO says:

    ANIMAL ABUSERS, AND THOSE WHO ALLOW IT, SHOULD ALL BE EUTHANIZED. MAKE TOUGHER LAWS.

  19. Laura Rolder says:

    Laws need to be stricter for these evil monsters who harm innocent living beings. They should never get off with a slap on the wrist. Felony charges with longer prison time should be in place across the US. I also am not apposed of these sick humans getting the death penalty. Murder is murder when taking the life of any helpless innocent living being. Rime to protect the innocent ones and do away with the trash humans they are a waste to society.

  20. When some low life douche mistreats an animal (especially if they do it for fun or because they can). Then that POS needs the same done to them.

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