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Utah animal cruelty laws among weakest

I disagree. Laws exist to punish criminals to the extent that they won't repeat the offense. Utah also has among the LOWEST repeat offender rates in the United States. If people aren't repeating the offense then the laws are working. We also have among the LOWEST animal abuse rates in the United States.

The laws aren't the issue. Giving animals "rights" is the issue. I love my son. I love my dog. But the life of a human is different from animal life and must not be held on the same level.

I am also saddened that anyone who disagrees with the idea of this legislation is said to support animal cruelty. What a joke. Again, if we have among the lowest rates and among the lowest repeat offender rates then the laws are working.

When we can keep felons who victimized humans in prison without getting out early for overcrowding then I will think about doing the same with those who victimize animals.

This really has to change. Alot of people think that it's just an animal, but animals feel pain too and need to be loved and taken care of just like people do.

I think it is time for Utah to step up. I see many starving, sick horses with foot problems where I board my horses and no one does anything! They are fed moldy hay and everyone here says it's okay until the colic started. Someone needs to step up and say this is unacceptable and make owners accountable. Who do we report this too?

yawn...

People should watch the snow Animal Cops on the Animal Planet network (my dog's favorite channel). It's unbelievable how cruel and neglecting people are to their animals. If people saw this show, they might have the empathy to make the cruelty laws stronger.

Animals have more rights than unborn children. That's pretty sad.

This story is a perfect example of of the media's intense desire to mold public thought and behavior by editorializing and labeling it as news. I watched a couple of the major TV outlets position this story the same way last night: "Utah has the WORST animal abuse laws in the nation." According to who?

This is news? Why not: "Utah has the BEST animal abuse laws in the nation." Because that isn't news either. It belongs in the section of the newspaper where opinion writers and editorial boards hang out.

Today's acceptance of such dishonest journalism is not progress in my opinion. But I guess the old fashioned ideal of honest, unbiased news reporting doesn't sell newspapers anymore? Sounds like everyone is worried about declining subscription rates among printed news. Maybe newspapers could try what no one else is offering right now--there could be a niche for quality journalism that is currently unfilled...

It saddens but does not surprise me that the attitude in the postings so far don't seem to understand that animal cruelty and animal abuse progresses to cruelty and abuse to humans.

We have domesticated animals, particularly dogs and cats, to the point that they could not survive 'in the wild' by themselves, even though some people will dump them in the desert or leave them behind when they move, or give them away when it is inconvenient to keep them anymore.

It is important for a child to learn from the very earliest days that the animal life in its home, or neighborhood, is important. Most of the animals give unconditional love to their owners, even when mistreated.

If a child, in particular, is hurting animals - it is an extremely dangerous sign, and almost inevitably leads to future problems with society. So, even if you do not see the value of protecting animals and punishing their abusers, surely you see the value of preventing a child from becoming a teenage or adult abuser of people?

Animals Have Feelings The Same As A Human , They Only Want To Be Fed And Loved , And In Return You Get Alott Of Loyaly And Love . People Who Abuse Animals Should Get The Same Treatment As They Did To There Animal.

Wondering where Jeremy gets his stats on Utah having the lowest repeat offender rate? It is precisely people like Jeremy that Utah stands for NOT changing the status quo. I'm sorry but didn't you read the article? Utah is at the bottom of the list. Jeremy we all love our kids and pets. Only some people really mean it. If you love your dog, why wouldn't you agree that they need protection. They my friend, are helpless. They rely on the human species to help them Frightful. Tie them to a tree, put them in an oven, cage them up. That is the humane thing to do. And what do you mean, life is not held at the same level? Life is life is life.

People like Jeremy claim to be good "god fearing" people, yet have no compassion for the helpless, abused, and dependent non-humans. Until they can empathize with the non-humans, they are hypocrites. Excusing cruelty to critters because "the life of a human is different from animal life and must not be held on the same level" is a real indication of ignorance and inhumane thinking.

The situation is analagous to gun control laws. We don't need more laws--we need to strictly enforce the ones we have. We're in a bad way if we are suckered into a new law just because one dog was terribly and inhumanely treated. Many children are inhumanely treated--babies slammed against walls by their mothers' boyfriends. Have our laws stopped such abuse? Why do we think yet another law about animal cruelty will reduce the admittedly low rate of animal cruelty? Too many people are desperate to find a cause to give meaning to their empty lives. We have more than enough laws already.

I completely agree with the last three posts. Well done. I recently moved to Utah and am appalled at the way so many people here treat not only animals, but the environment as well. Those of you who oppose stricter laws on animal rights are looking out only for yourselves. These kind of laws generally do not affect hunting and farming, so relax it will only affect you if you're abusing your pets. Again, I can't believe that many of you don't consider this newsworthy. Abuse is wrong no matter who the recipient, and something needs to be done!

No one in the animal camp, I'm aware of, wants people who abuse animals to do more time than other violent criminals. This isn't an either/or proposition -- all who are vulnerable in our society, whether they be children, infirm, elderly, and yes, animals, should have adequate protections by our laws. That Utah ranks so low with its animal cruelty laws, just seems out of line with the values of respect and caring that most Utahns hold.

THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MOST THINGS THAT ARE PUBLISHED. THE ABUSE OF ANIMALS STARTS AT HOME. KIDS LEARN KINDNESS AND COMPASSION FROM HOME. I HAPPEN TO THINK THIS IS QUALITY JOURNALISM. WHY ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IF YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC FOREM? THIS IS ABOUT HUMANE BEHAVIOR, THE ROOT OF OUR EXISTENCE.

I am constantly amazed and disgusted at the ignorance of humanity. The measure of a civilized society is how all living things are treated. Whether that life is human, animal, or plant life it makes no difference. Any life deserves respect, protection and care on our part.

Abuse, neglect and torture of animals should be just as abhorrent as abuse, neglect and torture of humans. That is not saying that animals and humans are one and the same. What it IS saying is what kind of society are we living in that will stoop so low as to abuse those that are dependent on us in any way; those that are helpless; those that cannot defend themselves; and then turn a blind eye and do nothing to stop such atrocities? THAT is what this is all about. Animal cruelty should be a first-offense felony and is long overdue.

Wake up, get educated and take action to change something as fundamental as respect for lives other than our own!

Caring about animals does not mean that you don't/can't care about people at the same time. That is such an old argument.

Many people don't like to see abuse of ANY kind, whether it be towards a child or an innocent animal.

For anyone to respond to animal abuse with "It's only an animal" and then claim that they are so loving towards their fellow man......is that the sign of a genuinely compassionate person???

Willie? Where did I claim to be God-fearing? And why would my fear of God have anything to do with this? Of course, God did command man to sacrifice animals...but that's another story.

My compassion for animals isn't in question. Again, if we already have among the lowest repeat rates and if we already have among the lowest rates for abuse tell me why we need a felony law? The law we already have appears to be working.

I also don't want animals to be tortured, but this law won't stop it any more than the existing laws.

And "dontgetit" don't pretend that you have some moral high ground where you love your pet more than I love mine. Again, tell me why the current law isn't working and I'll change my view.

I am against this because it is not needed. There are a lot of laws I'm against because they're not needed, this is just one of them. Again, if we have low repeat offender rates and we have low animal abuse rates then there is no reason to pass a law just to change the status quo. If it ain't broke...

Animals need protection, Period!! Those who victimize animals also tend to be violent to humans as well. Animals are defenseless creatures and anyone who intentionally inflicts torture on them needs to be evaluated before they can act out anything further. Not to mention that dogs love uncondionally and therefore need someone to stand up for them if they are being tortured and/or beaten.