Target: Kris Mayes, Attorney General, Phoenix, Arizona
Goal: Issue statewide guidance and training so Jerry’s Law is enforced consistently, prioritize prosecutions for serious cruelty, and support data sharing with animal agencies.
Arizona’s strengthened cruelty statute, known as Jerry’s Law, is now in effect. The law clarifies what constitutes cruel neglect, abandonment, and failure to provide needed medical care. It gives authorities clearer grounds to intervene when companion animals face suffering. Laws save lives only when enforced swiftly and uniformly, which is why clear direction to police and prosecutors matters right now.
Frontline responders handle thousands of suspected abuse calls each year, with cases often involving untreated injuries, heat exposure, or lack of shelter. Clear charging standards, simple evidence checklists, and veterinary-forensic protocols help officers act fast while preserving strong cases for court. Consistent use of the statute can deter repeat offenders, protect vulnerable animals, and reassure the public that cruelty will be met with real consequences.
State leadership can sync efforts across counties. Model policies, quick-reference training, and routine data reporting will close gaps between jurisdictions. Partnerships with humane investigators and veterinarians can speed timely care for seized animals while safeguarding due process. This petition urges the Attorney General to translate the new law into everyday practice that prevents suffering and delivers justice.
PETITION LETTER:
Attorney General Mayes,
Jerry’s Law has taken effect, clarifying cruelty and neglect and setting a higher bar for animal protection in Arizona. To ensure the statute fulfills its promise, officers and prosecutors need clear, practical tools that turn legislative text into decisive action when animals are at risk.
We respectfully urge your office to circulate statewide charging and evidence guidance for Jerry’s Law; provide rapid, on-demand training modules for patrol, detectives, dispatchers, and city prosecutors; and publish model warrant language and veterinary documentation templates that speed lawful seizures and treatment. Please encourage county attorneys to prioritize egregious cases, seek meaningful sentencing, and request ownership bans and compliance checks where appropriate.
We also ask you to facilitate data sharing between law enforcement and animal welfare agencies so trends are visible and resources can be targeted. A brief, public-facing dashboard on charges filed and case outcomes would build trust and deter future abuse. With your leadership, Arizona can make this law a living safeguard for pets across our cities and towns.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: seda güner
