Bill would toughen animal cruelty laws

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Beaten, broken, starved and even shot – in the last two weeks six dogs have been taken to Animal Humane in New Mexico all victims of serious neglect and abuse.

Banzai, the dog, can be found limping getting use to having just three legs to walk on.  He was found in McKinley County a week ago with shot pellets in his front leg which had to be amputated.

There’s also Timid Angus, who was found in Valencia County two weeks ago.  He was shot in the eye with a BB gun.

Honest Abe’s previous owner didn’t get him treatment for an injury, so when he was brought over from Sandoval County, his leg had to be amputated.

The list goes on.

“That’s a lot of dogs and it’s a reality we’re too familiar with.  We don’t want to become accustomed to seeing dogs come in from rural areas that have been abused.  You know, it shouldn’t be commonplace,” Dawn Glass with Animal Humane tells KRQE News 13.

Although unfortunately, Glass says these types of situations have become all too routine.

Recently New Mexico was ranked as one of the top five states for animal abusers, because of lax penalties.  However, two proposed bill could change that.

“We see dogs and cats that are victims of abuse and neglect and it’s not just from rural areas.  We see them within the city too.  That’s why it’s important to get these state laws passed,” Glass says.

Senate Bill 83 makes any first offense of cruelty to animals - that causes death or great harm - a fourth degree felony.  Senate Bill 155 will expand the definition of extreme cruelty to include intentionally starving an animal – which will also make that a fourth degree felony.

Glass says these two bills could help deter abusers and keep animals safe.

“It spans all animals so it’s important for these cruelty laws to pass for animals of all walks of life,” Glass said.

Both anti-cruelty bills have to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee.