The heinous abuse of an 18-month-old tabby cat, Buster, 14 years ago, sparked something in Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga), who said he was horrified by the acts of the Schenectady teenager who doused the young cat in kerosene and burned it to death.
Pets are an important part of our family, they give us unconditional love, they take bullets for law enforcement, they go into burning buildings and they help track terrorists, said Tedisco.
It would take two years, but in 1999, Tedisco led a movement to create Buster’s Law, which created a felony category of `aggravated cruelty to animals` punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
`I was the moving force for the passage of what was a historic piece of legislation, maybe the first in the country and certainly the first in New York State,` said Tedisco.
Tedisco said animal abuse is becoming almost like an `epidemic` and requires further education, awareness and legislation to halt it. So he, along with Sen. Greg Ball (R, C-Patterson) launched the 1st New York State Animal Advocacy Day, slated for June 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Legislative Office Building in Albany.
`We’ve been active with this bill and come 1,000 miles, but the reason for this day is because we have probably another 1,000 miles to go, or more,` said Tedisco.
Tedisco cited the recent case where Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy secured a one-year prison sentence for the man convicted of crushing a puppy to death behind a couch.
`DA Murphy just got that one-year victory; that would have been unheard of 11 years ago,` said Tedisco.
Animal abuse is often a sign of trouble to come, said Tedisco.
`Animal abuse is a bridge crime; they go on to hurt human beings,` said Tedisco. `Columbine murders, Ted Bundy, they all had a history of abusing animals.`
The teen who abused Buster the cat to death went on to serve jail time for various other crimes, including attempted rape, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment of a 12-year-old girl.
`Persons who commit crimes against animals are the worst kind of people; the level of respect and kindness shown for animals, creatures who cannot speak for themselves, or protect themselves and are easily abused and taken advantage of, is a fine predictor of how a person will treat their peers, violent and cruel behavior towards animals, cannot and should not be tolerated,` said Ball.
Tedisco said he’s invited 30 animal rescue groups, animal shelters, advocates, then-Gov. George Pataki who signed Buster’s Law and other government officials to stand up for animals that day, and said he expects a turnout in the thousands.
Tedisco also shared with The Spotlight some special guests scheduled to attend who haven’t been announced yet.
`The guys from Rescue Inc. on National Geographic channel; those guys have tattoos and are motorcycle guys who love animals and they’ll be there that day supporting it and talking about why tough guys like them understand that it’s important to protect our companion pets and animals,` said Tedisco.
Tedisco and Ball will unveil several proposed bills to enhance Buster’s Law.
One bill would require a mandated psychological evaluation and treatment of anyone convicted of an animal abuse crime.
`We know from experience that you can’t just lock people up and say we’ll let them out in a year, because they do the same thing,` said Tedisco.
Another bill would state that anyone convicted of animal abuse would not be allowed to have another pet.
`When you abuse animals to that extent, you shouldn’t have the right or privilege to own again,` said Tedisco.
Tedisco and Ball also want to pass a bill that would create a statewide registry of animal abuse offenders.
`If these people shouldn’t own pets, we think that pet stores, animal shelters and breeders should have access to a registry where these names are there so they would not sell them a pet,` said Tedisco.
The legislators are also seeking to heighten penalties for dog fighting and animal cruelty in general.
Some might not think animal advocacy should be high on the list of the legislature’s agenda, said Tedisco, but he can handle more than one issue at a time.
`People say ‘You’ve got more important things to do’ but I say that I can chew gum and walk at the same time,` said Tedisco.
Tedisco said he’s working on a bill to cut down on gas prices and a bill to save money by going paperless in New York State.
`I’m not concentrating on this but I’m not leaving it alone either and neither is Greg Ball,` said Tedisco.
Tedisco owns two dogs and twin cats and said pets have always been a part of his family, which is why he’s long advocated for animals.
`I love animals and I love people and these laws that relate to the protection of animals relates to the protection of people,` said Tedisco. `[My pets] bring a lot of love to our household.`
The 1st New York State Animal Advocacy Day will be Wednesday, June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Well of the State Legislative Office Building in Albany, with a speaking program at 11 a.m. Animal supporters will have the chance to network and lobby legislators.
“
