Pet Attorney?

There seems to be more and more of a focus on the abuse of animals in our society….from the White House to the statehouse…and I normally find myself in support of the movement.

But..

Proposed legislation by State Representative Allen Skillicorn from East Dundee provides only shades of gray, giving the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the OK to establish a database of legal professionals, trained in animal abuse, willing to represent animals. Yes, pet attorneys.

In principle I understand the need to make dogs and cats something more than personal property. But then the gray starts to set in as we better define the word “abuse.” I think we can all identify gross abuse like leaving your dog locked in a car with the windows rolled up in the summer…..or hitting them to cause injury.

But here are a few shades of gray------a few feral cats around a barn that get fed daily. Dogs that sleep in a heated and covered compartment away from your main house….

You see? We are an ag community and our view of abuse might be totally different than the urban view.

And who is paying for the pet attorneys? We have enough trouble finding representation for abused kids. This just seems like a neat idea that starts to fall apart when you drill down.

I love my dogs. Do they need Ace Ventura, Pet Attorney? I don’t think so.