Politics & Government
Senator Rush Co-Sponsors Animal Safety PAWS Act
State Senator Mike Rush (D-Norfolk & Suffolk) recently co-sponsored a piece of legislation known as the PAWS Act, which would increase fines and penalties against animal abusers as well as create an animal abuse registry.
“When we hear horrific reports of animal abuse in the news, it presents an opportunity to revisit existing protections in state law and examine their efficacy,” Rush said. “If there are ways we can prevent this kind of mistreatment by strengthening our laws, it is incumbent upon us to do so. I am pleased to have co-sponsored this common-sense and appropriate legislation to further protect vulnerable animals.”
The PAWS Act would also establish:
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- An anonymous animal abuse tip hotline
- Provisions allowing law enforcement officers, in cases of extreme emergency, to enter private property without a warrant, to protect against the imminent death or serious injury of an animal
- The expansion of the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund to include the rehabilitation and care of abused animals
- The imposition of a fine of up to $1,000 on any veterinarian who knowingly and willfully fails to report a suspected act of cruelty to an animal
- Enhanced penalties for cruelty to animals, or maliciously killing, maiming, disfiguring, or exposing them to poison, with increased penalties imposed for a second or subsequent offense
- The creation of a statewide registry of individuals convicted of animal abuse crimes, to be cross-checked by all animal shelters, pet stores and animal breeders prior to offering, selling, delivering, or giving an animal to any individual
- The creation of a 9-member commission to review the state’s animal cruelty laws, many of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries
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