It seems that animal owners everywhere are beginning to see signs that the law is on their side when it comes to getting justice for their pets. A court in Colorado just recently awarded a dog owner over $60,000 for the loss of her dog, and the New York senate has passed a bill for stricter punishment for animal theft. Both examples occurred this week, and are just two in a number of news releases that support the idea that the value of pets and animals on a whole is finally being recognized. Purebredbreeders.com is happy to see so much happening across the country, and hopes to see sweeping changes soon.
$65,000 Awarded for Death of Dog
While the details are unknown, the sum was awarded to the owner of an 18 month old pooch who was left under a table in her home to die. What Purebredbreeders.com knows is that the dog got loose while a maid from a cleaning service was present, ran into the road and got hit by a car. The dog was found dead hours later when the owner got home. Based on reports, no one was notified of the incident by the maid, and no attempts were made to get medical assistance for the dog. It is not clear to us if the dog was visibly hurt, or exhibited any signs of possible injury.
New York Senate Sends S.946 to the Assembly
S.946 is a bill that makes the theft of a licensed animal a felony (class E). Individuals brought to trial for these crimes will be tried for grand larceny. The bill was sponsored by Senator Carl L. Marcellino.
Purebredbreeders.com Weighs In
While Purebredbreeders.com will not jump to judge the maid’s actions (since we know so little), we will venture to assume that the hefty sum is likely more a result of the her inability to seek assistance than the fact that the dog died. Truth is, we as owners should do everything to secure our canine companions’ safety, and leaving the dog in a secured area may have been better. This is especially so if the maid and pooch are not familiar with each other, or the maid is not a “dog person”. Additionally, we highly doubt taking care of the dog was a part of the maid’s job (but we could be wrong).
Purebredbreeders.com therefore urges all owners to do everything they can to keep their dogs secured and safe. The fact is, a settlement cannot compensate for the loss of this dog, no matter how large. Our dogs (pets) are an important part of our lives and families, so we must protect them just as we would a human member.
As it pertains to S.946, Purebredbreeders.com can only hope that it comes into full effect. We would also love to see it adopted by other states, especially those with a high prevalence of theft and lax laws to address the issue. Unfortunately, we can only watch and wait for now.
Zackery is a PurebredBreeder.com columnist who writes features on a variety of dog related topics. He is also a big fan and attendee at many of the dog shows on the East Coast, and has a vast knowledge of the characteristics of the breeds and their special needs. He is not just a fan though, he has the ability to help plan shows or advise potential contestants as well as everyday owners on the best methods for training and housebreaking. He even uses this expertise to help man the Purebred Breeders Customer Service line where he feels he has a unique opportunity to educate a wide audience by answering question.
Always a giver, Zackery considers his association with our Purebred Breeders Puppy Mill projects as a great source of self-fulfillment and sees his job as another forum through which he can impart his skills, meet fellow dog lovers, discuss ways to enhance each dog’s quality of life, and bring more joy to their owners. He also delights in going through the emails received via Purebred Breeder Reviews. Zachery is lover of classical music, ballroom dancing, travelling and reading. He is a die-hard Mets fan as well who keeps connected with his friends and associates through Facebook and Twitter.
