State Senator Dan Laughlin introduced Senate Bill 1311, otherwise known as ‘Aimee’s Law’, in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Aimee’s Law will create a publicly accessible registry of individuals convicted of felony animal abuse.
Reign for Change was pleased to meet with Senator’s Laughlin’s staff to provide input and comment on the legislation. We wholeheartedly support his legislation and appreciate his desire to protect animals from abuse.
Aimee’s Law creates an accessible and public registry of individuals who are convicted of felony animal abuse. The length of time an individual would appear on the public registry is dependent on severity factors and number of offenses.
The legislation also requires those selling animals to verify that the buyer or person adopting an animal is not listed on the public registry. The legislation provides for summary offenses and fines for those that sell an animal to a person on the registry or fails to verify.
Reign for Change supports and thanks State Senator Dan Laughlin for leading the effort to bring a long overdue public registry of those convicted of felony animal abuse. Although we would support seeing the legislation expanded to include misdemeanor convictions, the fact the legislation had made it to bill format is a positive step in the right direction.
We will continue to work over the years to further enhance protection of animals from abuse and provide more stringent penalties and increased accountability. After all, animals do not have a voice. We must be their voice.
The proposed Aimee’s Law will help better protect animals from future harm. A big step in prevention of animal abuse is to stop the sale or adoption of animals to those that commit these heinous crimes.
Aimee’s Law is named after the tragic event and death of a husky named Aimee who was left for dead beneath an underpass and later died after her body could not withstand the extreme conditions she endured. Aimee was reportedly subjected to severe neglect and abuse, leaving her in critical condition even after receiving care and eventually leading to her death.
This type of abuse happens all too often. Having a public registry is a positive start to elevating the protection of animals from abusers. These heinous acts will continue until governments and courts act to provide serious ramifications and accountability.
It is simple. Get involved. If you live in Pennsylvania, contact your State Senator and State Representative and ask for their support for SB 1311. Tell them it is time to act. It is time to protect those that cannot protect themselves. By clicking this link, you can locate your State Senator and State Representative.
If you are not in Pennsylvania, check your state laws. If your state has not introduced or enacted a public abuse registry for animal abusers, talk to your state legislators. Get involved.
