Senate passes legislation to increase criminal penalties for animal abuse

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island State Senate unanimously passed legislation filed at the request of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin that would increase criminal penalties for malicious injury to or killing of animals. The legislation is sponsored Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, of Senate District 4, North Providence, Providence.

The act amends section the “malicious injury to or killing of animals” law by increasing the imprisonment penalty for violation from no than two years to no more than five years. Currently, at least 30 jurisdictions have longer prison periods for malicious injury or killing of animals. Of those 30 jurisdictions, 21 jurisdictions have a prison period of five years or more and 17 of the jurisdictions have prison periods are up to five years. The act also increases the community service requirement from 10 hours to 50 hours.

With animal cruelty reports and investigations on the rise and rigorous prosecution of the cases, it has been clear that there is a need to increase the prison penalty for the victim-based crimes, said Kilmartin. Just last year, a defendant was sentenced to serve the full two years of the statutorily imposed sentence for maliciously injuring a pit bull puppy. The increase in cases is a reflection of changing societal attitudes, greater awareness, and better education of law enforcement to recognize animal abuse, according to Kilmartin. The Office of Attorney General provides training to the municipal and state police training academies.

“I commend the Senate for taking decisive action and thank (Ruggeriio) for his role in ushering the legislation to passage,” said Kilmartin. “The positive response to this legislation is a clear indictor that attitudes about animal abuse has changed. Not too many years ago the brutal abuse of an animal would result in a slap on the wrist, at most. Today, we recognize that those who abuse animals are violent individuals who needed to be treated as such. The abuse towards a helpless, innocent animal is deplorable, and strict penalties are warranted.”

“There must be serious repercussions for the cowardly and malicious acts of abusing, torturing, and killing a defenseless and innocent animal,” said Ruggerio. “Violent actions must be met with harsh penalties and I hope by increasing the severity of these punishments, more of our animals will be protected from the viciousness that is still sadly prevalent in our society toward some animals.”

Studies continue to show that those who physically torment and kill animals are inclined to commit further violent acts toward humans, said Kilmartin in a release. In October of 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that they will now be categorizing these crimes as a Group A crime that also includes homicide, arson and assault. This is due to the continued link between violent offenders who have histories of repeated acts of animal cruelty. In addition, the American Humane Association reports that 71 percent of pet-owning women who entered a shelter for relief reported that their abuser injured or killed their animal and 32 percent reported that their children have injured or killed animals.

The legislation passed the Senate last year and enjoys the support of the Defenders of Animals, Volunteer Services of Animals, the RISPCA, the Potter League, and the Ocean State Animal Coalition. A companion bill is sponsored in the House by Rep. William O’Brien, of House District 54, North Providence.