I think I
have found something both political parties can embrace. .
It’s a bill
in Congress sponsored by two lawmakers from Florida which would make it a
felony to be a party to animal cruelty. The two congressmen are Democratic
Representative Ted Deutch and Republican Vern Buchanan. Under the Preventing
Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, anyone convicted of “crushing, burning, drowning,
suffocating or impaling animals” could face up to seven years in prison.
How about
ten?
My wife and
I have been owners of six basset hounds in our life together. We love them.
They allow us empty-nesters to still activate our parenting gene even though
bassets are not terribly trainable. Our two current hounds, Cletus and Jojo,
are rescue dogs. They make us smile. Lately, we have needed that.
This is not
new legislation. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed this act twice before but
the measure was blocked in the House by the judiciary committee. Maybe this
time it will get through.
Of course,
it has exceptions for normal veterinary care,
hunting and conduct necessary to protect life or property from serious
threat caused by an animal.
And before
someone says it----I can parse the harvesting of deer and geese to be used for
food---or to keep them from destroying property---from the inhumane treatment
of pets.
So count me
in. Let’s hope both parties can agree on this one.
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