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Patrick the miracle dog prompts legislation to punish animal abusers

New legislation means charges for animal abuse will equate to those for domestic abuse

BERNIE MALONE,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, May 14, 2011, 8:16 AM

Updated Saturday, May 14, 2011, 8:16 AM

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Patrick the miracle dog

Photo by Google Images

An abused pit-bull found in a garbage chute in Newark on St. Patrick's Day has won international notoriety calling attention to animal cruelty in New Jersey and throughout the United States.

Patrick's case has inspired animal rights activists to call for tougher penalties for animal abusers.

On May 6, Patrick's abuser pleaded not guilty in court. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court on Patrick's behalf, attracting media attention.

Unfortunately the bill approved the day before his appearance didn't get as much press. According to Patch.com the New Jersey Assembly's Judiciary Committee approved a bill which allows courts to include violence against animals with domestic violence.

The new legislation is similar to that which was recently passed in Maine. It was sponsored by Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), deputy speaker of the assembly and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Bergen).

The Humane Society of the US (HSUS) applauded the bill. NJ state director of HSUS Kathleen Schatzmann said that this bill is really "voting to protect all survivors of domestic abuse."

She was referring to the fact that studies show violent abusers in domestic violence cases often target the household animals in a bid to maintain control of their victims.

Her statement said "Permitting judges to prohibit abusers from contact with animals, protects those animals and provides peace of mind to human survivors of domestic violence since abusers often threaten, injure or kill family pets."

Wagner said "We’ve heard so many stories of pets being abused or even killed as retaliation against a partner when a relationship goes sour…Oftentimes, it’s done without thinking of an attempt to hurt the other partner, but whether it’s intentional or not, animals should not have to suffer.”

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pugsmom | May 16, 2011, 12:20 PM EDT

What I would REALLY like to say about, and TO, animal abusers is completely unprintable. I can say that I would promote MUCH stiffer sentences and jail time for these maggots of society. The woman who inflicted such horror on this poor puppy is a "porn star," (and if you've seen a photo of her, you would take the term " star" with a grain of salt!) and was able to afford "beauty" treatments and products (not any help at all) such as hair styling, manicures and makeup, yet claimed she was "unable to care for [Patrick]," because she "couldn't afford dog food." The porn star business must not be all it's cracked up to be. She couldn't take him to a shelter? This woman, like so many other animal abusers, is nothing but a vicious, malignant life form, who see an opportunity to inflict pain and suffering just because they can; no other reason, no other excuse. No reason, either, for them to exist.

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Mayosligo | May 15, 2011, 05:45 PM EDT

Speaking as a former punching bag for my mother's rage, I think all offenders should be sentanced to the same treatment they forced onto smaller, weaker, innocent children or any other victim, animal or human. The victims of abuse do not forget what was done to them no matter how many years pass.

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max340pug | May 15, 2011, 04:29 PM EDT

Too many people are willing to turn the other way if an animal is abused, I think the laws should be much tougher on any coward who chooses to abuse an animal and the penalties should be severe. There is no difference in my mind between hurting an animal or a child. They are both at the mercy of their abusers. They both feel pain and they both bleed.Maybe we need to clean out the prisons by sending these men and women to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya...let them serve their country instead of living off of the system, and keep OUR young men & women safe, and make room for the next generation of evil. There will always be abusers, and they must be punished.

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Searlit | May 15, 2011, 02:39 PM EDT

@ George dillon, If they are violent then I don't consider them among the non-violent drug offenders. Do you take the time to read someone's post before you rush to criticize? Do some investigation of the problem. We now have many private prisons in this country - many of the inmates are non-violent drug addicts that get no treatment for their drug addictions. You need to wake up!

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blackflower95 | May 15, 2011, 02:23 PM EDT

Violence shouldn't be tolerated ,more jail time for those animals abusers ,and I agreed with George Dillon.

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GeorgeDillon | May 15, 2011, 06:06 AM EDT

searlit: Nonsense. You appear to be unaware that countless drug addicts are violent criminals. Wake up.

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Searlit | May 14, 2011, 05:16 PM EDT

Violence, in all it's forms should not be tolerated. Take the drug addicts out of our jails - put them in drug treatment facilities. This would make room to lock up the violent offenders.

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IAPRINCESS | May 14, 2011, 01:24 PM EDT

I believe that the most innocent of us,either pets or children often get the brunt of adult anger and frustration because they cannot fight back. We must have better abuse laws for both. No one should be the punching bag for another's rage. Help all who strive to change the laws to better protect these innocents, be they kids, pets, spouses, or any other person in this violent world. Put the offenders in prison and treatment. Wake up to this travisty of society.

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