Statement on arrest in ‘Puppy Doe’ case

Yesterday I released the following statement regarding the arrest of 32-year-old Radoslaw Czerkawski on multiple charges of animal cruelty in connection with the infamous “Puppy Doe” case:

“The prosecutors and the police in this case deserve tremendous credit for staying focused and committed and pursuing multiple leads to bring an alleged perpetrator of this horrific act of animal cruelty to justice.  Those individuals who would so callously attack a defenseless animal should be put on notice that their actions will not go unpunished.  Now it is up to the Legislature to do its part by giving police and prosecutors the tools they need to deal with these types of cases in the future by passing the PAWS Act.”

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Honoring Some Special People

On Saturday, October 19^th, I was able to attend the 45^th Annual Massachusetts Italian American Police Officers Association Awards Banquet.  It was a night that featured the retelling of heroic stories, the honoring of loved ones fallen in the line of duty, and the presenting of awards and medals to those officers most deserving.

Fallen MIT Police Officer Sean A. Collier was among those who were honored posthumously during Saturday’s event.  Patrolman Collier died from a gunshot wound during the search for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects six months ago.

Because of the bravery of Patrolman Collier, and of those who serve while putting their lives at risk, we are a better and safer Commonwealth.  Thank you to all of our officers for the service they provide us every day.

Posted above is a photo of myself and MIT Chief of Police John DiFava.  Posted below are two more photos of Saturday’s dinner.  To learn more about the Massachusetts Italian American Police Officers Association please click here.

 

Senate GOP Press Release Updating the PAWS Act

Senate Republicans’ Animal Cruelty Bill Draws Strong Bipartisan Support

Seventy-five legislators agree to co-sponsor ‘PAWS Act’ to combat animal abuse

BOSTON - A Senate Republican Caucus initiative seeking to strengthen the state’s laws against animal abuse and cruelty has drawn strong bipartisan and bicameral support from Massachusetts legislators.

Since its filing on October 7th, An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety, also known as the PAWS Act, has been co-sponsored by 75 legislators, including 21 state Senators and 54 members of the House of Representatives.  A total of 22 Republicans and 53 Democrats have signed on to the comprehensive bill, which would create a statewide animal abuse registry while increasing the fines and penalties associated with the state’s animal abuse laws.

The PAWS Act was filed in response to the tragic case of “Puppy Doe”, who was euthanized on August 31st after being discovered in a Quincy park starving and suffering from extensive injuries, including a stab wound to her eye; a split tongue; a dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; and burns to her body.

“I am extremely pleased with the strong outpouring of support for the PAWS Act,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).  “The co-sponsors of the PAWS Act have proven that animal welfare transcends parties and houses of the Legislature.  It’s heartening to know that so many people are willing to take a stand against those who would commit such heinous acts against a defenseless animal, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation passed and on the Governor’s desk before the end of the session.”

Highlights of the PAWS Act include:

the establishment of an anonymous animal abuse tip hotline;

the expansion of the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund to include the rehabilitation and care of abused animals, and the addition of a special state police officer from an animal humane organization and a member of local law enforcement on the board that administers the fund;

fines of up to $1,000 for any veterinarian who knowingly and willfully fails to report a suspected act of cruelty to an animal;

expanded penalties for cruelty to animals, or maliciously killing, maiming, disfiguring, or exposing them to poison, which would increase from the current $2,500 penalty to a fine of between $2,500 and $10,000, in addition to imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years;

increased penalties for a second or subsequent offense, ranging from 5-10 years state imprisonment and a fine of between $5,000 and $20,000;

added discretion for the courts to expand these penalties for up to 5 additional years imprisonment and an additional $10,000 fine based on certain aggravating factors, including but not limited to: the number of animals involved; the degree of premeditation or planning; whether the abuse occurred in the presence of a child; whether the abuse occurred as a result of acts undertaken for financial benefit (i.e., dogfighting); and whether the abuse was systematic or isolated;

provisions allowing district attorneys to file a petition asking the courts to order a defendant to post a security or bond for the care of animals that have been impounded as a result of abuse or cruelty;

enhanced penalties for a hit and run conviction involving a cat or dog when the driver fails to notify the animal’s owner or the local police department, which currently carries a $50 fine but would increase to a fine of up to $2,000, up to 60 days in a house of corrections, or both a fine and imprisonment;

the creation of a statewide registry of individuals convicted of animal abuse crimes, which all animal shelters, pet stores and animal breeders would be required to check prior to offering, selling, delivering, or giving an animal to any individual; and

the establishment of a 9-member commission to review the state’s animal cruelty laws, many of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The PAWS Act will now be referred to a joint legislative committee, which will schedule a public hearing on the bill for a future date.

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The PAWS Act

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”  - Mahatma Gandhi

Like most people, I was horrified to learn of the tragic case of a two-year-old pit bull found in a Quincy park with extensive wounds that included burns on her face, lacerations scattered on her body, skull fractures, half starved, dislocated joints, and what may be worst of all, a split tongue to look like a serpent’s.  ‘Puppy Doe’, as she is commonly referred to, was tortured to an extent most of us cannot even fathom.

When Puppy Doe sought love, she received hate; when she sought compassion, she received cruelty; and when she sought comfort, she received pain.  The individual or individuals who perpetrated these crimes against her are nothing at all, if not monsters.  They are subhuman, incapable of accepting the unconditional love gifted from animal to person.

Sadly, as I type these words, monsters, such as the ones who cowardly abused ‘Puppy Doe’ relentlessly, continue to commit acts of cruelty.  Often times, our laws refer to animals as little more than property, but we are a great society, and our society does not accept this notion.  Dogs, cats, and other animals become a part of our families, and have become a significant presence that we share our homes and our lives with.

On Monday, October 7^th, the Massachusetts Senate Republican Caucus filed “An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety”, or the “PAWS Act”, to address our antiquated animal cruelty laws, some of which date as far back as the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  The PAWS Act increases the penalties both in terms of jail time and fines, but it also creates an animal abuse registry of those convicted of animal abuse crimes.  Furthermore, the registry would obligate animal shelters, pet stores, and registered breeders to crosscheck the names on the registry prior to an animal exchanging hands. 

Importantly, the registry would be accessible to private citizens by visiting law enforcement agencies, such as a municipality’s local police department, and empower private citizens who list animals in classified ads with the tools to combat against those who habitually troll Craigslist ads for further animal victims.

We are a great people, but we must not sit idly by.  We must stand together, speak in unison, and declare that these actions, these crimes against animals cannot and will not be tolerated in our communities.  At this moment the PAWS Act has 43 total sponsors.  I ask everyone to call their State Senator and State Representative and urge them to sign onto the PAWS Act.

On a parallel note, I want to thank everyone for the tremendous amount of support I have received regarding the filing of the PAWS Act.  People from Massachusetts and across the nation have been extremely supportive, and I thank you.

Senate Republicans File ‘PAWS Act’

Today the Massachusetts State Senate Republican Caucus filed “An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety”, or the “PAWS Act”.  The measure aims to increase the penalties of those convicted of abusing animals, such as the case of “Puppy Doe”, a two-year-old female pit bull who was discovered in a Quincy park suffering from long term, irreversible damage to her body, which included a stab wound to her eye; the splitting of her tongue to look like a serpent; dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; burned, and starved.  The ‘PAWS Act’ also provides safeguards against the future sale of animals made by those convicted of animal abuse by creating an animal abuse registry.

The heinous and abusive acts committed against animals are serious and criminal offences, however, our laws do not adequately reflect the gravity of such crimes. With the passage of the PAWS Act, those who choose to abuse animals will receive the just punish they deserve, and Massachusetts law will serve as a model for the nation.

The Senate Republican Caucus is seeking broad support from members of both parties and both branches by urging all of the members of the legislature to sign onto the bill.  The deadline for co-sponsorship is Tuesday, October 15th at 5:00pm.

The fight against animal abuse needs people from every party and every district, and we are asking all of our colleagues to join us in that fight.

Media Alert: On the Air with Fox 25

Tonight I will be a guest on the Fox 25 Evening News to discuss the tragic case of Puppy Doe, a dog found cruelly beaten and tortured, and a bill that the Senate Republican Caucus is filing known as the PAWS Act.  Please tune in at 6:00pm to watch this evening’s segment.

To learn more about the PAWS Act, please click here to read a press release the caucus distributed yesterday.

Senate GOP Press Release Announcing the 'Paws Act'

Senate Repubs Fight for Animal Cruelty Law

 

‘PAWS Act’ will Justly Punish those who Abuse Animals

 

 

Boston- Compelled to take legislative action against those who abuse animals, the Senate Republican Caucus is filing legislation later this week that would increase the penalties, and create safeguards against those who commit horrendous acts of abuse against animals, and are calling on their colleagues of both branches to make the bill a bicameral, bipartisan effort.  On August 31, “Puppy Doe” was euthanized after she had been discovered in a Quincy park suffering from long term, irreversible damage to her body, which included a stab wound to her eye; the splitting of her tongue to look like a serpent; dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; burned, and starved. 

 

“Our laws are woefully outdated regarding the subject of punishing those who abuse animals,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).  “As a society, we need to stand up against those who would inflict pain so ruthlessly and coldheartedly, and tell them these actions cannot and will not be tolerated.” 

 

The legislation, which is titled “An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety” or the “PAWS Act”, raises fines and penalties, and creates an animal abuse registry.  Highlights of the bill include: 

 

• Establishing an anonymous animal abuse tip hotline;

 

• Expanding the use of the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund to include the rehabilitation and care of abused animals, and increasing the size of the board that administers the fund to include a special state police officer from an animal humane organization, and a member of local law enforcement;

 

• Imposing a fine of up to $1,000 on any veterinarian who knowingly and willfully fails to report a suspected act of cruelty to an animal;

 

• Increasing the penalties associated with cruelty to animals, or maliciously killing, maiming, disfiguring, or exposing them to poison from $2,500 to between $2,500 and $10,000 (current law also includes imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years); 

• Increasing the penalties for a second or subsequent offense from 5-10 years state imprisonment and a fine between $5,000 to $20,000; 

• Increasing the penalty for a hit and run conviction on a cat or dog from a $50 fine to up to $2,000 fine and/or up to 60 days in a house of corrections; 

• Creating a statewide registry of convicted individuals of animal abuse crimes, and requires all animal shelters, pet stores or animal breeders to check the registry prior to offering, selling, delivering, or giving an animal to any individual; and 

• Creating a 9-member commission to review the state’s animal cruelty laws, many of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

“Abusing or torturing an animal is a heinous crime and those who commit these crimes need to be held responsible for their actions,” said Senator Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth).  “As a state and as a society, we need to ensure our laws are designed to adequately punish those who choose to abuse animals.” 

 

“This long overdue legislation will provide vital updates to the Commonwealth’s animal cruelty laws,” said Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham). “It is imperative that we take a stand to protect all those living in the Commonwealth. By sending the message that these atrocious examples of abuse will not be stood for, we are reinforcing the safety of our communities as a whole.” 

 

The bill, which includes a key provision from H.1243 sponsored by Democratic Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen), allows district attorneys to file a petition to the courts ordering a defendant to post a security or bond for the care of animals that have been impounded as a result of abuse or cruelty. 

 

“Sadly, many of the animals seized by the MSPCA and other humane organizations require extensive rehabilitation and sometimes a lifetime of treatment, which can become extremely costly,” said Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen).  “I am thankful to Senator Tarr and his caucus for working so diligently to offer this legislative measure, and it is my hope that as a legislature we can pass this commonsense bill expeditiously.”

 

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Experiencing a Federal Government Shutdown

Today marks the first time in 17 years the Federal Government has effectively been shutdown due to Congress not passing a federal budget.  While much of government is inactive until a resolution has been made, there are still some key functions that will continue to be in operation.

Those functions and services include: national security and public safety personnel, social security checks, some veterans’ benefits, unemployment benefits, food stamps, the U.S. Post Office, the Federal Reserve, federal prisons, air traffic control, emergency and disaster assistance, and many more.  However, even those Federal agencies could experience delays due to the furloughs of “non-essential” employees.

Attached below is a Veterans Field Guide to the Federal Government shutdown.  Also, please click here to view Federal agency contingency plans regarding the shutdown.  To read about which agencies are affected by furloughs please click here.  If you continue to have problems reaching a specific agency, please do not hesitate in contacting my office at (617) 722-1600.

  

Veterans Field Guide to Government Shutdown