One can’t help but wonder why it takes the state Legislature so long to act on bills that are in everyone’s interest and clearly based on common sense. These should be easy to support by legislators on both sides of the aisle.
One such piece of legislation is the Consolidated Animal Crimes Bill that Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice introduced in 2012. The bill enjoys bipartisan support and was co-sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island.
According to Rice, the current animal crimes laws were codified in the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law, “which has seen little change in nearly 150 years.” She believes the laws are “in desperate need of a overhaul.”
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill to help law enforcement better protect animals from cruelty, neglect, and abuse,” said Lanza.
Much of the current law is completely out of date. For example, one law makes it illegal to run horses on “plank roads.” Not only are police not trained in what is called “A&M Law,” most probably don’t even know it exists.
The problem is not merely theoretical.
In March the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says animal abuse is a real and growing problem. The NCSPCA says there has been an increase in cases of animal cruelty in Nassau County in recent years.
It announced it will pay a $5,000 dollar reward to anyone who reports an incident of dog fighting and a reward of $1,000 offered to anyone reporting an incident of animal cruelty that leads to arrest and conviction.
Animal abuse of any kind should be part of the state’s criminal code. People who abuse animals, whether out of greed – such as those who promote dog or cock fighting – or because of some mental illness, should know that they do so at the risk of jail or a substantial fine.
