CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
http://www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/
State of Oregon: http://www.leg.state.or.us
SAMPLE PETITIONS
SAMPLE PETITIONS
Language of Letter: GOOD FOR SAMPLE PETITIONS
There is no excuse for animal abuse
Greetings Elected Official,
I encourage you to support the upcoming bills regarding stronger animal abuse legislation, where all animal abuse will be treated as a felony with lengthy prison terms and hefty fines imposed as punishment.
Patrick is a dog who was nearly starved to death by his owner who then put his basically lifeless and emaciated body into a plastic trash bag and threw him down a trash chute. Days later against all odds, a maintenance man saw the bag moving and discovered the dog was alive... Barely.
People who take delight in torturing animals show deviant behavior and are high at risk for violent crime, domestic violence, even murder and serial killing; such individuals often abuse children. It must be clear when one abuses an animal they will go to jail. Adults will teach their children to abuse animals and they will grow up thinking this is "normal" thus perpetuating violence and crime in America.
"Researchers as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies nationwide have linked animal cruelty to domestic violence, child abuse, serial killings and to the recent rash of killings by school age children", says Dr. Randall Lockwood Vice President of Training and Initiatives for the Humane Society of the United States.
Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz and Jeffrey Dahmer have more in common than just being serial killers. These three murderers are also connected by the fact that each of them tortured and/or killed animals during their childhoods.
Relevant statistics on domestic violence and animal cruelty:
71% of abused women report that their batterers have threatened to hurt/kill their pets and have done so.
32% of battered women with children report that their children have hurt or killed pets.
25%-48% of battered women delay leaving an abusive situation for fear of what will happen to her pet if left behind.
40% of battered women report that they have been forced to participate in sexual acts with animals as part of their domestic terrorization.
Sex Offenders:
48% of rapists have committed acts of animal cruelty as children or adolescents.
30% of child molesters have committed acts of animal cruelty as children or adolescents
15% of all active rapists also rape animals.
Child Abuse:
80% of homes in which animal control agencies found abused/neglected pets there had been previous investigations by child welfare agencies of physical abuse and neglect.
This is not a light matter and should not be treated as if it were. These people have no respect for life and have psychological issues for which they need to be treated. Abuse to any living thing should not be tolerated.
Abuse (n): mistreatment, cruelty, ill-treatment, violence, maltreatment, neglect, exploitation
Abuse (v): treat badly, ill-treat, mistreat, maltreat, molest, be violent toward, batter, hurt, harm, injure, violate, victimize
Sincerely,
[Your name]
