Receiving Pet Advocate Honors

On Saturday, February 28^th, I had the honor of attending the 2015 Feline Affair Silent and Live Auction Gala hosted by the Ellen M. Gifford Cat Shelter.  During the gala I received an award that recognized me for dedication in fighting to end cruelty against animals and for sponsoring the PAWS Act.  The event provided a great opportunity for me to speak with animal lovers in a wonderful social setting dedicated to an important cause.

Immediately following the tragic case of Puppy Doe, a female pit bull who was found badly beaten in a Quincy park, I filed an Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety, AKA the PAWS Act, which garnered a tremendous amount of support from legislators and the general public.  The tragic death of Puppy Doe galvanized the efforts to decrease animal cruelty by addressing the Commonwealth’s antiquated animal cruelty laws, some of which dated as far back as the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

The Ellen M. Gifford Cat Shelter and its members were instrumental in the legislative process and due to their assistance and the assistance of others, portions of the PAWS Act is now law.  To learn more about the PAWS Act, please click here.

Posted are a few photos captured by the Ellen M. Gifford Cat Shelter during the event.

The PAWS Act Signed into Law

Today I released the following statement regarding the passage of the PAWS Act:

Senator Tarr’s Statement on the PAWS Act Being Signed into Law

Boston- Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding Governor Patrick signing S.2345, An Act protecting animal welfare and safety, AKA the PAWS Act, into law.  The bill was filed by Senator Tarr following several cases of animal abuse including the tragic death of Puppy Doe:

“The signing of the PAWS Act represents a victory for everyone who cares about animals in our state, and those who have worked tirelessly to champion this legislation. Now we have stronger penalties and a clear message that if you abuse an animal there will be serious consequences.

Puppy Doe and others have suffered from unthinkable brutality that never should have happened. Yet now, motivated by those cases, we have taken strong and continuing steps to prevent it from happening again.”

###

Support for the PAWS Act

Today the PAWS Act received its public hearing before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.  There were several legislators, animal activists, and advocacy groups testifying in support of the comprehensive animal abuse protection bill that I authored, which has 75 additional co-sponsors.

Today’s hearing was an important next step in the legislative process.  With formal sessions ending on July 31^st, it is imperative that people call, email, or write to the members of the Judiciary Committee to release the bill favorably.  Click here for the contact information for the members of the Judiciary Committee.

The legislation 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 a monetary fine of $2,500 or 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 to between $2,500 and $10,000 and/or imprisonment;

• Providing judicial discretion to expand the penalties for up to 5 additional years imprisonment and an additional $10,000 fine based on a finding of the existence of 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;

• 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.

Statement on the Scheduling of a Public Hearing for the PAWS Act

Today I released the following statement regarding Senate Bill 1914, An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety (the PAWS Act), which has been scheduled for a public hearing on April 24^th at 1:30pm in hearing room A-2 of the State House by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary:

“News that a long awaited public hearing for the PAWS Act has been scheduled is indeed good.  Sadly the heinous crimes against Puppy Doe, a dog who was left beaten, battered, and alone in a Quincy Park, is far from the first animal to be cruelly tortured.  Multiple examples exist across the Commonwealth, and now is the time for the legislature to act swiftly to take action against those who commit such heinous crimes.

The scheduling of Thursday’s hearing is a call to action for legislators, public officials, organizations, and all who care about animal welfare in our Commonwealth.  With limited time remaining in this legislative session we must deliver a united, clear, and compelling message that the legislature needs to act in a bold and decisive way to confront senseless acts of cruelty with strong penalties for abusers and a comprehensive system to prevent abuse and assist animals in distress.”

###

* The PAWS Act (Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety) seeks to expand the penalties for animal abuse and cruelty and to create a statewide animal abuse registry.  It was filed on October 7, 2013, and has 76 total sponsors of the bill.  A copy of the bill text and summary is attached.

An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety (the PAWS Act)

Summary of An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety (PAWS) by Troy Wall

On the Air with Fox 25

I made two appearances on the Fox 25 news program last night to discuss the backlog of bills that have been awaiting action by the Judiciary Committee. A total of 791 bills are still pending in committee, including several bills to protect children from sex offenders, and more than 200 are still waiting for a hearing, including a bill addressing parole for juvenile murderers and the Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety Act (the PAWS Act) filed in the wake of the horrific Puppy Doe case.

To watch both segments, please click on the video link below. A complete list of all 791 bills still pending before the Judiciary Committee can be found in yesterday’s Tarr Talk post.

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

The PAWS Act

This morning Gifford Cat Shelter Board President Lisa Sacchetti sat down with Shannon Mulaire of the Fox 25 Morning News to discuss animal abuse laws in Massachusetts. During their conversation, Lisa and Shannon discussed the PAWS Act, a measure I filed to strengthen our animal abuse laws, and to justly punish those who would commit such crimes.

The bill was filed in direct response to recent animal cruelty cases, such as the case of “Puppy Doe”, a female pit bull that was discovered in a Quincy park suffering from long term, irreversible damage to her body. Her wounds included the splitting of her tongue to look like a serpent; dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; burns; starvation; and a stab wound to one of her eyes.

The legislation 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.

To watch Lisa’s interview this morning on FOX 25 please click here and play the posted video.

Media Alert: WBZ Radio’s “Nightside” with Dan Rea

Tonight at 9:00pm I will be joining “Nightside” host Dan Rea to discuss the tragic case of Puppy Doe, and the PAWS Act, the comprehensive legislation I have filed to address animal abuse.  If you have any questions or comments please call in during tonight’s segment by dialing (617) 254-1030.

To learn more about Puppy Doe and the PAWS Act, please click here to read a previous post regarding the issue.

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.”

###

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.”

 

###