There's a special place in hell for people who abuse animals. There is no possible explanation that someone could ever give as to why harming an animal is the right thing to do.
Just ask little Libre, a Boston Terrier who was found abandoned and emaciated at a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
But now, thanks to Governor Tom Wolf, there will be a new law coming to Pennsylvania which will clarify and reinforce the state's strong stance against animal abuse, as well as make punishments for animal cruelty more severe.
"Today is a day of celebration for all Pennsylvanians, and animal-lovers everywhere and I am proud to be a part of the true collaboration that helped make this landmark legislation a reality," Wolf said in a statement.
This new bill comes soon after many states enforced an animal abuser registry, which will register convicted animal abusers the same way sex offenders are registered.
Continue reading to find out what the new stipulations of the new bill are, as well as potential punishments for offenders.
The new law, called Libre's Law, was introduced by Rep. Todd Stephens, and contains the following:
- Forfeiture of an abused animal to a shelter if the abuser is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense
- Extreme weather stipulations in the cases of outdoor tethering for dogs
- Increased protections for horses
- Civil immunity to veterinarians, vet technicians, and humane society police officers who report abuse to officials, which will prevent frivilous lawsuits
If you are first time animal cruelty offender, you could be charged with a felony, which places your crime on the same level as dog-fighting and killing animals that belong to an endangered species.
"The story of Libre's shocking mistreatment and miraculous recovery helped spur a broader discussion of how we can better protect animals," said Sen. Rich Alloway. "The result is a bill that not only toughens penalties against abusers, but also spells out the kind of treatment that is dangerous and unacceptable. Our pets are part of our families and depend on us for their care, so it's far past time that we ensure abusers face a punishment that matches the heinous nature of the crime."
Libre himself was on hand to give his stamp of approval, along with his new and loving owner Janine Guido.
You can watch the entire video here!
Signing of Animal Protection Statute OverhaulI just signed the Animal Protection Statute Overhaul into law, which includes #LibresLaw. This is an exciting day for all Pennsylvanians and animal-lovers everywhere. More information on how this legislation improves animal welfare in Pennsylvania: on.pa.gov/2shWgAV
Posted by Governor Tom Wolf on Wednesday, June 28, 2017
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