ANIMAL CRUELTY           

            It’s said that a dog is man’s best friend.  They offer love and affection, loyalty and companionship.  They can even be beneficial to your health as people who own pets often have better physical health due to the need to exercise and care for their pets. Research has even shown that having a dog can lower your heart rate and blood pressure.  The same characteristics would describe most other pets.  With all the benefits of having a pet in your life, you have to ask yourself why anyone would want to hurt an animal.  

            Last month, my office arrested two men who bred, trained and sold roosters to be used for cockfighting.  They had their combs cut off, their claws sharpened and their tails clipped, ready to fight to the death.  The birds are bred and drugged to be more aggressive.  In this case, we raided the defendants’ home and recovered 58 roosters as well as steroids, vitamins, a hypodermic needle, surgical instruments, jars of unknown liquid substances and a training ring.  These birds were being groomed for a violent life for the purpose of entertainment and illegal gambling.  Both defendants have been indicted in this case.

            The protection of animals has always been very close to my heart.  As an animal lover myself, I find it incomprehensible why people would hurt animals.  I was raised with horses at my grandparents’ stable and I raised my family with a pet dog.  These pets become a part of your family, you take care of them, feed them and make sure they are safe.  But if you can’t take care of your pet, then you should give that pet up and let another family adopt him or her.  You can also bring your pet to the NYC Center for Animal Care and Control who will take responsibility for stray animals.

            Animal cruelty comes in many forms.  I have arrested and prosecuted many defendants for assaulting animals.  Currently, there is an ongoing trial in Manhattan for a man who kicked his girlfriend’s cat and allegedly beat him to death.  There have been defendants who got angry and took their frustrations out on an animal, throwing them out a window.  Neglect is another form of animal cruelty.  There have been pet owners who would go days or even weeks without feeding their pets.  Then, there is animal fighting.  One of the most high-profile cases in recent times involved NFL star quarterback Michael Vick’s involvement in dog fighting for which he received 23 months in jail and three years probation.   It is important to realize that animals have many of the same needs as human beings for survival.  Animals also have their own rights, protecting them from harm caused by humans.  Just imagine being in their situation and being deprived of food or water, or even beaten.  These are serious crimes which my office will hold you accountable for. 

            Animal cruelty is actually a precursor to family violence.  Research has shown that those who are cruel to animals, in many cases, were victims of some kind of abuse themselves, whether it was bullying or neglect.  Many murderers began their life of crime by killing or torturing animals.    

            So, how do we go about solving this problem?  The obvious choice is not to get a pet in the first place if you can’t take care of one or if you have a history of violence or psychological problems.  However, I believe that many people need intervention in the form of social services and education.  I try to reach out to people at an early age by sending my staff to schools to teach children how to treat animals, responsibilities of owning a pet and the laws of animal cruelty and neglect, and animal fighting.  I believe that it is important to understand animal behavior and to teach empathy, realizing that animals are not objects, they are living beings.

            When children treat animals well, they are more apt to treat people well.  If children are allowed to express their frustration and aggression by abusing animals, they will learn to express it on other people as well, opening the doors to a future life of child abuse, domestic violence and other violent activity.

            In light of all these cases of animal cruelty and the consequences that may follow, I created an Animal Crimes Unit headed up by Deputy District Attorney Carol Moran.  This Unit vigorously prosecutes those offenders who commit crimes against animals.  Prosecutors in this Unit also go into the community to educate citizens about animal cruelty and how to recognize signs of abuse.

            To combat such crimes, I initiated a Task Force which provides support and training for local and statewide investigators and prosecutors.  My office has also conducted training for people in the community including veterinarians, social service providers and educators. 

            People need to realize that animals have rights just like humans, designed to protect them.  Sometimes laws need to be enacted in order to enforce safety.  I supported a piece of legislation to make “Aggravated Cruelty to Animals” a felony, which became law in 1999.  With this law, I hope that offenders will take animal cruelty more seriously.  If not, I will fight to make sure these individuals spend time in prison. 

            Anybody who has information to share about a case of animal cruelty, should call the DA’s Action Center at (718) 250-2340.

CAROL MORAN 

Carol Moran is the Deputy District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and she heads up the Animal Crimes Unit.  Aside from prosecuting many of the animal cruelty cases, in this role, Ms. Moran conducts training for attorneys, law enforcement officials and the public on case prosecution and the link between animal cruelty and human violence.   

Ms. Moran started in the DA’s Office in 1983 and handled her first animal cruelty case that year.  She worked her way up through the District Attorney’s Office as a Trial Attorney and Trial Supervisor.  Ms. Moran has also served as the Director of Training for nearly 10 years.  Carol chairs a special Task Force, set up by District Attorney Hynes in 1995, designed to improve the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty and fighting cases.

Ms. Moran’s family includes one dog - with whom she will soon resume humane education lessons in Brooklyn’s elementary schools – and seven cats. ….. 5 of which are fosters in need of permanent homes( in case you’re looking!!!)
 

The news articles listed below, courtesy of the National District Attorney’s Association (ndaa.org), may be of interest to you or members of your community. 

Boston Herald

Mass. Gov Has Bill To Toughen Animal Cruelty Laws

Anyone caught attending illegal animal-fighting events — or selling copies of the fights online — would face new penalties under a bill on Gov. Deval Patrick‘s desk.

The bill expands the state’s laws against animal-fighting to target not just those sponsoring the events, but those attending as well.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Louis Kafka, D-Stoughton, also cracks down on depictions of animal cruelty, including video recordings, electronic images, streaming videos or video downloads.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/politics/view/2008_09_15_Mass__gov_has_bill_to_
toughen_animal_cruelty_laws/

Great Falls Tribune

Grants Given For Law Enforcement Programs

Montana’s U.S. senators announced a total of $1,551,374 for justice and law enforcement programs in communities across Montana on Monday. The 11 separate grants will fund anti-drug efforts, and police and firefighting efforts.

Four of the grants, totaling $486,802 were awarded through the Office of National Drug Control Policy to drug use prevention coalitions across Montana. These organizations mobilize and organize community efforts to fight drug use among young people.

The other grants will help law enforcement and court officers complete their jobs safely and effectively.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/NEWS01/809160321/1002