That's all I can stands.. I can't stands no more!!!
First it was the post "Do not adopt to this man". Then on this morning's news there was a story about a no kill shelter in southern New Jersey being forced to close because of no space and no funds. Not long after that was a story about three teenage boys who tortured and brutalized a kitten. The details are too horrific to post, all three have been arrested and are charged with animal cruelty and conspiracy but we'll see how far that goes since they're juveniles.
As Popeye used to say, "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!" Well, PT friends, there's something I think I can do and here's my pledge to all of you. I'm a paralegal with access to an excellent legal research website. My intent is to start researching animal welfare laws and administrative code here in New Jersey to see what sanctions are permitted for cruelty. Once I have my facts solidly documented, letters will be sent starting with our Governor citing chapter and verse stating why it's time to toughen up with stricter laws and punishment that means something. It's past the time for help to be given to shelters so they can keep their doors open and help ALL the animals in need.
I know this is going to be quite an undertaking, the research alone will take some time. But I believe this is something that must be done and doing it on my lunch hour is a positive investment of time. My job is researching laws and making recommendations for changes so I know I can do this. The legal research site gives me access to laws and codes for all 50 states and Canada. My wish is that, in time, this can be done everywhere.
All I'm asking of all of you is your moral support.....
FOR THE ANIMALS
That's all I can stands..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
YAH!
I can send things on to Canadian contacts!
Let me know!
Thanks, Catty1! Even though I'm just starting this project, there will come a time when we'll need all the voices we can get. I'll be happy to work with your Canadian contacts. My intent is to pull the statutes & codes, see how they read, then cite actual incidents to plead our case for stricter laws and harsher punishment, and help for shelters. I just can't stand any more of this, it has to stop.
That's all I can stands...
First of all, I cannot thank all of you enough for your encouragement and support. As I put this project together there's no question that the reaction from some will be, "Oh no, another one of those animal freaks!". I can only say "so what"! I don't know that this will result in a positive change or those in a position to do something won't put it in the circular file. Regardless, in my heart I'll know I tried. A message I want to send to legislators is we love our pets, we care about the welfare of all animals, and WE VOTE!!!!!
I started the preliminary research today to get a sense of what's out there and plan a research strategy. Can't wait to really get into this.
I will be letting you know how this progresses.
That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more UPDATE
Hi PT friends! Well, the project is officially under way. There are several New Jersey statues in my back pack ready to be reviewed. These are related to pet shops and shelters. Just a cursory glance when I pulled them shows this section gets into licensing requirements for these facilities: sanitation, building code requirements, licensing fees for pet shops - shelters are exempt from this fee, facility inspections, license revocations. There are even statutory sanctions for pet shops that sell sick animals! The State agencies involved so far are the Department of Health & Senior Services, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture though others may show up as this develops. That's just a very general overview, can't wait to get into the specifics.
In this section one of the things I'll be looking for is what the law says about dog and cat overpopulation. The plan is to tie it in with shelters both public and private. The point needs to be made that ALL shelters provide a valuable service to the community by limiting the number of strays and ferals out fending for themselves. People everywhere complain about cats and dogs running loose in their neighborhoods but all they do is gripe about it while some resort to intentional abuse. If shelters and rescues get the help they deserve this problem could decerase especially with TNR initiatives.
There's still much more research to be done before all of this can be put together. The highlighters and pens are ready.....
That's all I can stands...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
Seems like you want to make this as practical-sounding as possible.
Thanks, Catty1! This is being based on current New Jersey Statutes, Administrative Law, and NJ Court Rules. Once I have all that I'll pull case law on animal issues to see how our courts are handling it. My approach is to use documented statutory and judiciary facts to drive the point a bit harder. I don't know what others have done in the past, bless them for their efforts. I'm looking to hit them with a reality check.