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HITCHENS -- Randy Skaggs has no qualms about sending a picture of
a dead dog to state legislators.
"It
gets the point across this is just a misdemeanor charge at this
point," said Skaggs, director of The Trixie Foundation, a no-kill
shelter and animal-rights group in Webbville.
In this
case, the photo is of a 6- or 7-month-old puppy allegedly neglected in
Hitchins. It's another one of too many examples why Kentucky's
animal-abuse laws should be more strict, he said.
The
Kentucky General Assembly is considering three bills in its current
session, Senate Bill 24, House Bill 243 and House Bill 214, all of
which elevate intentional and severe cases of animal cruelty to felony
status.
To all
state legislators, Skaggs sent the picture of the Hitchins' dog amid
four pages of information about cruelty cases, deficiencies in county
dog pound programs and the wrongfulness of "euthanasia by gunshot"--to
help make the case for passing the bills.
"Abuse
goes on in Kentucky because of inaction," he said. "This really
important legislation needs passed."
The
Carter County dog Skaggs refers to was reported the first week of
February at a rental home, according to the Kentucky State Police in
Ashland.
A
neighbor found it, alerted the landlord, who called The Trixie
Foundation, who called the state police, Skaggs said.
Trooper
Sam Little, KSP spokesman, said the case remains open and no one has
been charged.
The
landlord did not want to be quoted for this story.
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Skaggs
said he ordered an autopsy on the dog, and the KSP has requested those
results.
A
preliminary report showed the dog died of moderate dehydration and
emaciation, he said, adding that it was chained in a kennel carrier
outside without a dog bowl or food.
"We're
going to do everything to help prosecute this case," Skaggs said.
"It's an atrocity of the worst nature."
He has
notified animal-rights attorneys, including those with the national
Legal Defense Fund in Louisville and Oregon.
In
e-mails, attorneys there expressed interest in helping prosecute the
case.
Skaggs
also said he's seeking another veterinarian to solidify the case.
"I
think it's definitely intentional if people are coming or going in the
process of being evicted, and didn't leave it any food or water," he
said.
State
law says animals must be provided adequate food, water, and shelter.
Violation of that is a misdemeanor.
The
proposed changes in law, specifically HB 243, would create a new state
statute to create the crime of torture of a dog or cat as a Class D
felony. Its Senate counterpart is SB 24. Both are
currently in committee.
HB 214
creates a new section of state statutes to define torture, sets
penalties and prescribes allocation of court costs. It also
allows peace officers to seize the animal, subject to reasonable
suspicion that the animal was injured because of a violation.
Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, is a co-sponsor of this bill.
For
more information about the legislation, visit the Legislative Research
Commission online at
http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/
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