This is Patrick. This is how he was found last month in New Jersey. According to Patrick’s facebook page, “He beat the odds by surviving starvation and being thrown down a garbage chute in an apartment building, wrapped in a plastic bag. It is our intention to have chapters in every State that will coordinate on a national basis, to move the Media and encourage Government officials to improve the protection for animals in our country.”
What Patrick endured is beyond horrific and repulsive by the woman who committed this heinous act of animal cruelty. And that is the reason behind Patrick’s Law. According to the website, Patrick is the poster puppy for stronger animal abuse legislation. It also states that ” no animal deserves to be abused or neglected. ” “It’s time to encourage and pressure your elected officials to support this law so all animal abuse will be treated as a felony with lengthy prison terms and heft fines imposed as punishment.”
I agree with these statements 100%! Then what’s the problem, you ask.
Look at our country right now. We are on the verge of a government shutdown. Why? Because our elected officials CAN NOT put aside differences and work together for the sake of the very people who have elected them.
While I’m always encouraged to know people who work so hard on behalf of animals, it is discouraging when it comes to our politicians. We do need stronger animal abuse legislation but this type of legislation falls on the bottom of the totem pole with its importance among our elected officials.
There are thousands of stories similar to Patrick’s. Ever since I’ve been involved in animal advocacy, I have wanted stronger laws, longer prison terms and fines imposed on convicted animal abusers. I’ve learned alot of lessons along this path. I’ve been told by people in “authority” that it isn’t likely to happen. One only needs to be an animal welfare advocate in PA to understand what is happening to our own dog law to understand that fact.
Having tougher animal legislation is great but what does it really matter if isn’t enforced? What is the point of fighting for a law (as imperfect as it is) if it’s only going to be watered down and allow animal abuse to continue?
I am sick and tired of politicians on both sides. However, I do believe there are some good politicians who do care about animals but they’re in the minority. So who can we count on to help us with legislative issues concerning animals?
The AKC? Hardly. This group backs up the changes for the watered down version of PA’s dog law. Since the 2008 dog law went into effect, over 2/3 of C Class Kennels have shut down. The AKC readily hands out “papers” to puppy mill breeders to each puppy born in these hell-holes. Of course, each one of these “papers” comes at a cost. No, I’m not talking about the fee that is charged but the cost of the dogs that are stuck in those places for their entire lives. The AKC is now losing money because so many kennels shut down in PA. They don’t care about the welfare of the animals. Bottomline- they care about the money of which they’re being deprived.
So who looks out for the abused and abandoned animals? Animal shelters (and not all are good either), rescue groups, grass-roots organizations and individuals. I know so many good, caring, selfless people who do so much for animals. These sacrifice so much in order to help animals just like Patrick. I admire them. I know their dedication to the cause. I feel their anger because their hands are tied because of bureaucrats. There are also individuals who are only trying to make a name for themselves. A bit of media attention can swell one’s ego rather quickly if not well-grounded. When that happens, the cause becomes muffled and lost. And the animals lose, once again.
See, I am sick of the merry-go-round that we animal advocates are forced to ride over and over again. When will the welfare of animals matter to those who have the power to make laws? Because that IS what it boils down to. If we don’t have stricter laws and punishment, animal abuse will remain rampant.
I wish the people behind Patrick’s Law all the luck in the world because they will need it! After Oprah did a show on puppy mills in 2008, PA did get a new dog law only to be watered down, bit by bit. So where did that get us or should I say where did it get the animals?
Can this crisis ever change if both parties can’t compromise for the people of this great nation? It doesn’t look like any time soon. Don’t forget, your politicians will still get paid if the government shuts down but not other workers. Isn’t it great?
Perhaps it’s time for all of us animal advocates to stick together instead of having so many groups vying for our help and attention. We should be united as one entity. If we consolidate our actions instead of proclaiming one group is better than another, think of how much good we could accomplish on behalf of the animals. Let’s teach the politicians a lesson or two on compromise to make life better for those who count on us! It will mean putting egos aside.
Question is- can this be accomplished? Tell me what you think.