The writer is a state assemblyman representing parts of Schenectady and Saratoga counties.
Last year, we made history with the first-ever New York State Animal Advocacy Day in Albany.
On that day in June 2011, I, along with legislators from both sides of the aisle, law enforcement, animal advocates and hundreds of pet owners joined together to call for the toughest animal cruelty laws in the nation to protect our pets.
That day, we supported passage of a new law to make it a crime to be a spectator at an animal fighting bout – a bill that was stalled in committee.
People spoke to their legislators that day and it passed the Senate and sailed through the Assembly a few weeks later. In August, Gov. Cuomo signed it into law.
Animal advocates, pet owners and New Yorkers from across the state spoke, and our elected officials listened – and a bill to protect animals from the barbaric cruelty of animal fighting became law.
Most of the lobbyists who walk the halls of Albany are paid but animal advocates are not. They are volunteers who care about protecting our pets and all members of our families. Animal Advocacy Day is purely a people and paw-powered event.
Everywhere I go, people talk to me about their pets and how much they care for them and would never want to see cruelty inflicted upon an innocent animal.
According to the Humane Society of the U.S., 39 percent of American households own at least one dog and 33 percent have at least one cat.
Unfortunately, there are some sick and twisted individuals who do not see the value of such life, resulting in animal abuse, cruelty and neglect, which occur far too often, leading to unnecessary pain and suffering to animals.
In 1999, I led a statewide effort to collect over 118,000 signatures to pass the landmark Buster’s Law creating the felony category of “aggravated cruelty to animals,” punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Buster’s Law was named after an 18-month-old tabby cat that had been doused with kerosene and burned to death by a Schenectady teen. Prior to this bill becoming law, animal cruelty resulted in only misdemeanor penalties, if any charges were imposed at all.
As research indicates, violence against animals is a bridge crime that can, and has, led to violence against people.
Since the 1997 arrest that inspired the creation of Buster’s Law, the perpetrator who abused the cat has been imprisoned for various crimes, including attempted rape, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment of a 12-year-old girl.
We have taken a huge step forward to protect our pets but there are still miles to go. It seems like every day, we hear of a new case of animal cruelty, abuse or hoarding. And each new incident seems to be worse then the last one.
That’s why Sen. Ball and I are sponsoring the second New York State Animal Advocacy Day which will be held on Wednesday, June 13, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Well of the Legislative Office Building in Albany. The event is free and open to the public.
We’ll be calling for several bi-partisan measures to strengthen Buster’s Law to require that animal abusers be placed on a statewide registry of abusers, prohibit them from ever owning a companion animal again, and require them to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. We’ll also be advocating for measures that have passed in the Senate but have not yet been taken up in the Assembly to prohibit the sale and possession of animal fighting paraphernalia and to make it a felony to steal a pet.
Animal Advocacy Day also aims to raise awareness of enforcing current animal cruelty laws. That’s why I’m delighted that Saratoga County District Attorney Jim Murphy, who has successfully prosecuted animal cruelty cases, will again be a speaker. And this year, we will hear from Schenectady County District Attorney Bob Carney, who handled the original Buster’s case.
We’re honored that Steve Caporizzo of “Pet Connection” fame will once again be the emcee for the event.
We’ll have several celebrity guests including Prince Lorenzo Borghese, entrepreneur and animal advocate, who is best known as the star from Season 9 of the hit ABC TV show “The Bachelor.” There will be appearances from acting dog Bocker the Labradoodle, who has appeared in “Men in Black 3,” “Eat Pray Love” and “War of the Worlds,” and frequent Today Show guest and life style expert Wendy Diamond and her dog, Lucky, who holds the Guinness World Record for being the most photographed animal with celebrities.
I believe, as legislators, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. In the past year, we’ve taken significant steps to reform state government and make New York open for business again. We’ve expanded the DNA database to help catch criminals and exonerate the innocent, and now we have an opportunity to advance additional public safety measures including protecting our pets from abuse and ensuring animal abusers don’t go on to hurt people.
Animal Advocacy Day matters because it’s about more than just protecting our four-legged friends, it’s about keeping all members of our families safe. I hope to see you on June 13 in Albany!