Rewrite draft and final version of an Annotated Bio

Refer to the attached documents. You will find both a draft and a final version. After reviewing them please rewrite these using your own words.  

ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY

1

ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY 1

The Need for an Animal Abuser Registry

Name

University

Abstract

In today’s society, pets have become an invaluable part of the modern American family. Often viewed with the same love and dedication as human children, treasured pets become of integral importance within the family unit: often teaching us about the lessons of responsibility, loyalty, care of another living being, companionship, and unconditional love. It is because of the importance of animals in people’s lives, they are struck horrified and angry as they witness the violence against animals increasing in our country and the devastation that it leaves behind. With minimal consequences within the justice system for those who are convicted of such a crime, it has become necessary to have a dialogue about how to stop this horrific trend. How can society monitor and keep track of these offenders so that they are not able to commit these terrible crimes again? A solution may be one that is already in place for those offenders who commit sexual crimes against people. Each state should create and maintain a searchable registry for convicted animal abusers.

The Need for an Animal Abuser Registry

Animal abuse within America is on the rise. Increases in dog fighting as well as other crimes of abuse, torture, and neglect against animals show a disturbing trend. In 2007, there were an estimated 40,000 people involved in dogfighting (“Dogfighting a Booming Business”, 2007). Glamorization of dog fighting by urban entertainers and sports figures have helped to fuel what is a popular “sport” in many urban areas. From hip hop videos, to YouTube, to Facebook, dog fighting has been projected to be a status symbol for inner city young men seeking notoriety among their peers. With the case of Michael Vick being brought to the forefront in 2007, animal advocates thought they would have the platform necessary for their cause based on the horrific details which came out of that investigation. According to testimony from the trial, Michael Vick assisted in the hanging of three dogs and drowned another three dogs in five gallon buckets. Dogs were also electrocuted, shot, beaten, and physically tortured. Michael Vick was facing possible sentences resulting from the state’s charges; one count of torturing and killing dogs and one count of promoting dog fighting. Both of these charges could have given him a maximum prison term of five years, but due to an agreement between prosecutors and Michael Vick’s attorneys, he was given a three year suspended prison term and a $2,500 fine (Naqi, 2008). When looking at the horror suffered by the surviving dogs of Michael Vick’s kennels, his sentence hardly seems equitable justice for his victims.

New forms of dog fighting are being practiced to avoid detection by law enforcement and evade arrest and prosecution for these types of crimes. One such new type of dog fighting is called “trunking.” In this method of dog fighting, two dogs are placed in a car trunk to fight to the death, while the car is driven around and music played loudly so as to detract from the sounds made by the dogs. Once there are no longer any signs of fighting occurring, the car stops, the dead dog is dumped alongside the street, and the winner is given a brief rest until another dog is placed in the trunk for the fight to begin again (Dogster, 2013). These new types of dog fighting have law enforcement depending on the average citizen for leads in order to catch offenders in the act of this barbaric activity.

It has become necessary for these criminals to find different ways to continue dog fighting without detection. They must also cover up the additional crimes that are often associated with dog fighting like gambling, drug crimes, theft, other violent crimes, and property crimes (Lockwood, 2006). Criminals could be tracked, monitored, and dealt with by the implementation of a national registry. Once a criminal is convicted of animal abuse or neglect and registered, they could be monitored by law enforcement for behavioral patterns that may suggest that they have committed that crime again or one of the many crimes associated with dog fighting. Also, most animal abusers are given a court order to not possess or have any animal in their control once they are convicted. A community could be put on notice of a convicted animal abuser moving into their neighborhood by way of the national registry. They would be able to watch for any signs that the person may have a dog in his or her possession or on his or her property and report it to the authorities. Once law enforcement determines that a criminal has an animal in violation of the court order, which would be enough grounds for their arrest.

There is a strong connection between animal abuse and those who go on to abuse adults and children as well as commit other crimes. According to the organization Paws People Helping Animals, 54 to 71 percent of women seeking shelter from abuse reported that their partners had threatened, injured or killed one or more family pets. Paws also stated that 70 percent of animal abusers had committed at least one other crime and almost 40 percent had committed violent crimes against people (PAWS, 2011). If an animal abuser registry were put in place, law enforcement could utilize that registry when looking at crime trends based on the locations of offenders and known associates of animal abusers.

Laws are being put in place to assist in the prosecution of those who commit violence or neglect of an animal. The necessity for reviewing current laws and putting tougher penalties in place is now at hand. In 2001, the state of Maryland upgraded certain acts of animal cruelty to felony crimes (Michigan State University College of Law, 2013). In Michigan, Matt Falk, along with his state’s representatives, are attempting to pass Logan’s Law which will create the first registry of convicted animal abusers and block their ability to adopt animals (Farrell, 2013). However, with laws similar to Logan’s Law being introduced within state legislations nationwide, criminals are looking for ways around obtaining animals from conventional sources. One such way that criminals are supplying their need for bait dogs, with which they use to train fighting dogs, is to simply abduct them from their owner’s homes or property (Rufus, 2011). Most of these animal victims of dog fight training are discarded in abandoned properties, garbage bins, or tossed out alongside a rural road with no consideration to the bereaved families of these beloved pets that are left to deal with the devastation felt by their loss. It is hoped that with these types of laws in place, animal abusers would have a difficult time obtaining the animals necessary for execution of their crimes. It is also hoped with the elevation of animal related crimes to the level of felonies, it might help to deter criminals altogether from committing any crime towards an animal. Along with public awareness in the disturbing trends that criminals are resorting to in order to obtain bait animals, one can only hope that these horrific types of crimes will decrease across the board.

The cost of animal abuse is staggering when it comes to the resources necessary to deal with the problem. This is the main opposition to a national registry for animal abusers. According to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council,

[Requirements] would be so cumbersome and time-consuming that it would seriously impede business. Furthermore, the penalties provided in these bills were excessive and would have been detrimental to small businesses in Maryland who may not have the resources to comply with these provisions (Eims, 2012).

While it is believed that such a registry is indeed in the best interest of a community in terms of safety and cost, the reluctance to have more government oversight and overall costs associated with creating and maintaining such registries seem to be the biggest obstacles in their implementation.

The medical costs for helping abused animals can be staggering. In one such case, Noah’s Ark Rescue, took on the enormity of care for a little Pit Bull named Freckles. This sweet, little dog was starved and then dragged behind a moving car until the flesh was torn from his bones. The extent of the damage to his body was immense. Between donations from the public as well as funds from non-profit organizations, Freckles expenses for the most part have been covered. He spent many hours in intensive care, required specialists and unorthodox treatment options including time in a hyperbaric chamber. While Freckles and the other 48 dogs that are within their rescue continue to recover from their injuries, Noah’s Ark Rescue functions and is able to assist these victims solely through donations from every day people who believe in their cause (Noah’s Ark, 2013).

The costs for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of animal abusers can be a factor in deciding whether or not to even pursue a case. Consideration on how tax payer dollars are used weigh heavily on prosecutors’ decisions whether or not to pursue criminal charges. There needs to be clear and specific definitions for the abusive or neglectful act that is uniform throughout the country along with the need for stiffer penalties. The cost of a National Registry would need to be calculated on the state level; state or private funding would be needed or a combination of both to implement and maintain the registry. In Michigan, where Logan’s Law is currently under consideration, the Animal Defense League would shoulder the cost of startup. The registry would then be managed by county Prosecutor’s office animal control division (Farrell, 2013).

Restitution for convicted abusers could be an answer in terms of helping to cover the cost of their crimes. Medical bills, housing, and care for the injured animal as well as court costs could be mandated as part of the sentence. Additionally, court orders that would prohibit the offender from being able to own, acquire, or be in the custody of another animal could be put in place to mitigate the abuse of another animal. A maintenance fee for the offender could be assessed and used to cover the costs associated with maintaining the registry.

Animal abuse is an epidemic in our country that needs to be discussed on a national level. The glamorization of animal fighting sports and the crimes associated with those sports have led to horrific cases and have been brought to the forefront such as the Michael Vick case. Animal abusers are more likely to abuse humans and/or re-offend other animals, and therefore, these individuals should be prohibited from having animals. Tougher sentencing and monetary fines can help to mitigate some of the expense in prosecuting these cases as well as the medical and housing costs for their victims. Having a national registry for these types of offenders could help prevent the tragic deaths, horrific torture, and debilitating injuries that these poor defenseless animals suffer. It would by make law enforcement aware of where these offenders are located. It will also give animal suppliers, shelters, breeders, and animal rescues the necessary information to prevent animal abusers from being able to acquire another animal. It would be my hope that society could evolve into a more “humane” place where animal abuse is a thing of the past, but until that day, I believe it is our duty and our responsibility to the creatures of this earth to protect them, care for them, and do everything we can to punish those who would do them harm.

References

Dogfighting a booming business, experts say. CNN.com. (2007, July 17). Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/18/dog.fighting/

Dogster (2013, May 8). Dog fighting’s horrific new trend is called “Trunking”. PawNation. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.pawnation.com/2013/05/08/dog-fightings-horrific-new-trend-is-called-trunking/

Eims, P. (2012, March 30). Animal abuse registry dies in Maryland – National Dogs. Examiner.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.examiner.com/article/animal-abuse-registry-dies-maryland

Farrell, L. (2013, April 15). Logan’s law gets new support. The Times Herald. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from lttp://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20130415/NEWS01/304150020/Logan-s-law-gets-new-support

Lockwood PhD, R. (2006, July). Animal cruelty prosecution opportunities for early response to crime and interpersonal violence. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.ndaa.org/pdf/animal_cruelty_06

Michigan State University College of Law (2013). Animal Legal and Historical Center. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://animallaw.info/#news

Naqi, K. (2008, November 22). More details of Michael Vick’s abuse of dogs revealed as he faces state charges. ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3718304

Noah’s Ark Rescue (2010). Freckles. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.noahs-arks.net/RESCUE/HOME.html

PAWS – Animal Abuse/Human violence connection. (2013). Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.paws.org/human-violence-connection.html

Rufus, A. (2011, October 25). Pet theft up 50 percent since last year: evidence of a downed economy or utter depravity? Alternet. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.alternet.org/story/152865/pet_theft_up_50_percent_since_last_year%3A_evidence_of _a_downed_economy_or_utter_depravity

ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY

1

ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY 1

The Need for an Animal Abuser Registry

Name

University

Abstract

In today’s society, pets have become an invaluable part of the modern American family. Often viewed with the same love and dedication as human children, treasured pets become of integral importance within the family unit, teaching us about the lessons of responsibility, loyalty, care of another living being, companionship, and unconditional love. It is because of the importance of animals in people’s lives, people are struck horrified and angry as they witness the violence against animals increasing in our country and the devastation that it leaves behind. With minimal consequences within the justice system for those who are convicted of such a crime, it has become necessary to have a dialogue about how to stop this horrific trend. How can society monitor and keep track of these offenders so that they are not able to commit these terrible crimes again? A solution may be one that is already in place for those offenders who commit sexual crimes against people. Each state should create and maintain a searchable registry for convicted animal abusers.

The Need for an Animal Abuser Registry

Animal abuse within America is on the rise. Increases in dog fighting as well as other crimes of abuse, torture, and neglect against animals show a disturbing trend. In 2007, there were an estimated 40,000 people involved in dogfighting (“Dogfighting a Booming Business”, 2007). Glamorization of dog fighting by urban entertainers and sports figures have helped to fuel what is a popular “sport” in many urban areas. From hip hop videos and YouTube videos to Facebook, dog fighting has been projected to be a status symbol for inner city young men seeking notoriety among their peers. With the case of Michael Vick being brought to the forefront in 2007, animal advocates thought they would have the platform necessary for their cause based on the horrific details which came out of that investigation. According to testimony from the trial, Michael Vick assisted in the hanging of three dogs and drowned another three dogs in five gallon buckets. Dogs were also electrocuted, shot, beaten, and physically tortured. Michael Vick was facing possible sentences resulting from the state’s charges: one count of torturing and killing dogs and one count of promoting dog fighting. Both of these charges could have given him a maximum prison term of five years, but due to an agreement between prosecutors and Michael Vick’s attorneys, he was given a three year suspended prison term and a $2,500 fine (Naqi, 2008). When looking at the horror suffered by the surviving dogs of Michael Vick’s kennels, his sentence hardly seems equitable justice for his victims.

New forms of dog fighting are being practiced to avoid detection by law enforcement and evade arrest and prosecution for these types of crimes. One such new type of dog fighting is called “trunking.” In this method of dog fighting, two dogs are placed in a car trunk to fight to the death, while the car is driven around and music played loudly so as to detract from the sounds made by the dogs. Once there are no longer any signs of fighting occurring, the car stops, the dead dog is dumped alongside the street, and the winner is given a brief rest until another dog is placed in the trunk for the fight to begin again (Dogster, 2013). These new types of dog fighting have law enforcement depending on the average citizen for leads in order to catch offenders in the act of this barbaric activity.

It has become necessary for these criminals to find different ways to continue dog fighting without detection. They must also cover up the additional crimes that are often associated with dog fighting like gambling, drug crimes, theft, other violent crimes, and property crimes (Lockwood, 2006). Criminals could be tracked, monitored, and dealt with by the implementation of a national registry. Once a criminal is convicted of animal abuse or neglect and registered, they could be monitored by law enforcement for behavioral patterns that may suggest that they have committed that crime again or one of the many crimes associated with dog fighting. Also, most animal abusers are given a court order to not possess or have any animal in their control once they are convicted. A community could be put on notice of a convicted animal abuser moving into their neighborhood by way of the national registry. They would be able to watch for any signs that the person may have a dog in his or her possession or on his or her property and report it to the authorities. Once law enforcement determines that a criminal has an animal in violation of the court order, which would be enough grounds for their arrest.

There is a strong connection between animal abuse and those who go on to abuse adults and children as well as commit other crimes. According to the organization Paws People Helping Animals, 54 to 71 percent of women seeking shelter from abuse reported that their partners had threatened, injured or killed one or more family pets. Paws also stated that 70 percent of animal abusers had committed at least one other crime and almost 40 percent had committed violent crimes against people (PAWS, 2011). If an animal abuser registry were put in place, law enforcement could utilize that registry when looking at crime trends based on the locations of offenders and known associates of animal abusers.

Laws are being put in place to assist in the prosecution of those who commit violence or neglect of an animal. The necessity for reviewing current laws and putting tougher penalties in place is now at hand. In 2001, the state of Maryland upgraded certain acts of animal cruelty to felony crimes (Michigan State University College of Law, 2013). In Michigan, Matt Falk, along with his state’s representatives, are attempting to pass Logan’s Law which will create the first registry of convicted animal abusers and block their ability to adopt animals (Farrell, 2013). However, with laws similar to Logan’s Law being introduced within state legislations nationwide, criminals are looking for ways around obtaining animals from conventional sources. One such way that criminals are supplying their need for bait dogs, with which they use to train fighting dogs, is to simply abduct them from their owner’s homes or property (Rufus, 2011). Most of these animal victims of dog fight training are discarded in abandoned properties, garbage bins, or tossed out alongside a rural road with no consideration to the bereaved families of these beloved pets that are left to deal with the devastation felt by their loss. It is hoped that with these types of laws in place, animal abusers would have a difficult time obtaining the animals necessary for execution of their crimes. It is also hoped with the elevation of animal related crimes to the level of felonies, it might help to deter criminals altogether from committing any crime towards an animal. Along with public awareness in the disturbing trends that criminals are resorting to in order to obtain bait animals, one can only hope that these horrific types of crimes will decrease across the board.

The cost of animal abuse is staggering when it comes to the resources necessary to deal with the problem. This is the main opposition to a national registry for animal abusers. According to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council,

[Requirements] would be so cumbersome and time-consuming that it would seriously impede business. Furthermore, the penalties provided in these bills were excessive and would have been detrimental to small businesses in Maryland who may not have the resources to comply with these provisions (Eims, 2012).

While it is believed that such a registry is indeed in the best interest of a community in terms of safety and cost, the reluctance to have more government oversight and overall costs associated with creating and maintaining such registries seem to be the biggest obstacles in their implementation.

The medical costs for helping abused animals can be staggering. In one such case, Noah’s Ark Rescue, took on the enormity of care for a little Pit Bull named Freckles. This sweet, little dog was starved and then dragged behind a moving car until the flesh was torn from his bones. The extent of the damage to his body was immense. Between donations from the public as well as funds from non-profit organizations, Freckles expenses for the most part have been covered. He spent many hours in intensive care, required specialists and unorthodox treatment options including time in a hyperbaric chamber. While Freckles and the other 48 dogs that are within their rescue continue to recover from their injuries, Noah’s Ark Rescue functions and is able to assist these victims solely through donations from every day people who believe in their cause (Noah’s Ark, 2013).

The costs for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of animal abusers can be a factor in deciding whether or not to even pursue a case. Consideration on how tax payer dollars are used weigh heavily on prosecutors’ decisions whether or not to pursue criminal charges. There needs to be clear and specific definitions for the abusive or neglectful act that is uniform throughout the country along with the need for stiffer penalties. The cost of a National Registry would need to be calculated on the state level; state or private funding would be needed or a combination of both to implement and maintain the registry. In Michigan, where Logan’s Law is currently under consideration, the Animal Defense League would shoulder the cost of startup. The registry would then be managed by county Prosecutor’s office animal control division (Farrell, 2013).

Restitution for convicted abusers could be an answer in terms of helping to cover the cost of their crimes. Medical bills, housing, and care for the injured animal as well as court costs could be mandated as part of the sentence. Additionally, court orders that would prohibit the offender from being able to own, acquire, or be in the custody of another animal could be put in place to mitigate the abuse of another animal. A maintenance fee for the offender could be assessed and used to cover the costs associated with maintaining the registry.

Animal abuse is an epidemic in our country that needs to be discussed on a national level. The glamorization of animal fighting sports and the crimes associated with those sports have led to horrific cases and have been brought to the forefront such as the Michael Vick case. Animal abusers are more likely to abuse humans and/or re-offend other animals, and therefore, these individuals should be prohibited from having animals. Tougher sentencing and monetary fines can help to mitigate some of the expense in prosecuting these cases as well as the medical and housing costs for their victims. Having a national registry for these types of offenders could help prevent the tragic deaths, horrific torture, and debilitating injuries that these poor defenseless animals suffer. It would by make law enforcement aware of where these offenders are located. It will also give animal suppliers, shelters, breeders, and animal rescues the necessary information to prevent animal abusers from being able to acquire another animal. It would be my hope that society could evolve into a more “humane” place where animal abuse is a thing of the past, but until that day, I believe it is our duty and our responsibility to the creatures of this earth to protect them, care for them, and do everything we can to punish those who would do them harm.

References

Dogfighting a booming business, experts say. CNN.com. (2007, July 17). Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/18/dog.fighting/

Dogster (2013, May 8). Dog fighting’s horrific new trend is called “Trunking”. PawNation. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.pawnation.com/2013/05/08/dog-fightings-horrific-new-trend-is-called-trunking/

Eims, P. (2012, March 30). Animal abuse registry dies in Maryland – National Dogs. Examiner.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.examiner.com/article/animal-abuse-registry-dies-maryland

Farrell, L. (2013, April 15). Logan’s law gets new support. The Times Herald. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from lttp://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20130415/NEWS01/304150020/Logan-s-law-gets-new-support

Lockwood PhD, R. (2006, July). Animal cruelty prosecution opportunities for early response to crime and interpersonal violence. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.ndaa.org/pdf/animal_cruelty_06

Michigan State University College of Law (2013). Animal Legal and Historical Center. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://animallaw.info/#news

Naqi, K. (2008, November 22). More details of Michael Vick’s abuse of dogs revealed as he faces state charges. ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3718304

Noah’s Ark Rescue (2010). Freckles. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.noahs-arks.net/RESCUE/HOME.html

PAWS – Animal Abuse/Human violence connection. (2013). Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.paws.org/human-violence-connection.html

Rufus, A. (2011, October 25). Pet theft up 50 percent since last year: evidence of a downed economy or utter depravity? Alternet. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.alternet.org/story/152865/pet_theft_up_50_percent_since_last_year%3A_evidence_of _a_downed_economy_or_utter_depravity