Earlier this month, I reviewed Run, Spot, Run by Jessica Pierce. In that book, Pierce provides a list of incremental changes each of which would offer increased protections to animals.
I quote them here for sharing purposes because they are the most comprehensive list I have found thus far in terms of explaining the shortcomings we still have in animal care, welfare, and protection.
- licensing requirements for all pet owners
- laws limiting or prohibiting the sale of live animals
- laws regulating international and interstate shipping of live animals
- a federal prohibition on the sale of crush films, in particular, and animal pornography in general
- state laws making sexual assault of an animal punishable (not limited to sexual assaults that are fatal or cause severe injury)
- better and more frequent inspections of breeding facilities
- better and more frequent inspections of animal wholesale facilities
- greater transparency in the pet industry, such as, perhaps, in identifying the sourcing of animals for sale
- greater transparency in the shelter industry
- state laws requiring at least eight hours of training for anyone performing euthanasia
- free speech protections for those who expose corporate animal abuses
- reporting requirements for veterinarians (e.g. abuse, sexual assault)
- combined/coordinated reporting of animal abuse and domestic partner, child or elder abuse
- a publicly accessible national registry of those convicted of animal cruelty or sexual assault
- increased (and responsible) media reporting of crimes against animals
- more community resources (e.g. tax money) dedicated to shelters, animal control facilities, and cruelty investigators
- state-appointed lawyers to represent animals in court
- required humane education in schools
- laws making failure to provide timely veterinary care a legally enforceable welfare violation
- laws allowing pet owners to collect damages for emotional pain and suffering resulting from the loss of a pet at the hands of another human
- laws making “convenience euthanasia”an animal cruelty violation
- greater regulation of the pet food industry, including more rigorous inspection of ingredients, greater transparency about sourcing and ingredients, and a well-coordinated method of alerting customers about recalls
Source: Run, Spot, Run by Jessica Pierce, pages 211-212
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
DoggyMom.com 