For North Dakota Pets, We Need a YES! on Measure 5!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 2:30pm
Woman holding small dog

Guest blog post from Jessica Johnson, Grassroots Advocacy Manager for ASPCA Government Relations.

North Dakota is one of only two states that still classify even the most malicious acts of animal cruelty as weak misdemeanors. For years the state legislature has refused to take action, so the citizens of North Dakota took the matter into their own hands and gathered more than 25,000 signatures—almost double the amount needed—to put Measure 5 on the ballot this Election Day.

If passed, Measure 5 will protect pets by making extreme cruelty to dogs, cats and horses a class C felony.

Having grown up in northern Minnesota, I feel at home in the Midwest. That’s why I was shocked and horrified to hear this week that a woman in Wisconsin was arrested for deliberately torturing, poisoning, and killing her boyfriend’s dog. There is some relief in the fact that the Wisconsin woman will be charged with felonies and faces five or more years in prison. But if this dog had been tortured and killed in North Dakota, the abuser would get only a slap on the wrist.

I want nothing more than to see Measure 5 passed into law by North Dakota’s voters on November 6—that’s why I’m digging my winter boots and sweaters out of the closet and heading to Bismarck to work on the YES! on Measure 5 campaign!

Please call, email, and text your friends and family in North Dakota and ask them to vote YES! on Measure 5. And if you or someone you know are in North Dakota and want to join me and other volunteers in our efforts to get out the YES! on Measure 5 vote, please email me at grassroots@aspca.org. Let’s do this for the animals!

Tags: 
Advocacy
Animal Cruelty
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Comments

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:02 — Larissa Pawlak (Visitor)
Mutilating, abusing, neglecting, and killing humans is considered horrible, but why is it viewed as insignificant for non-humans who can't voice their pain? They have rights too and NO creature on this earth deserves torture or death. Giving no consequences to those who have severely harmed others is saying that is okay to do! Also those who abuse animals are more likely to be a danger to humans as well.

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 23:55 — jer (Visitor)
Lets start building animal jails to put all the Hawks and eagle in jail for ripping the head of pheasants or my cat that tossed my hamster around for hours tell it finally died or the dog down the street that bit the six year old girl that was just wanting to play with it. No animal on earth should have to suffer. The vet on the street with no job sleeping in 20 degree temps tonight. The elderly couple in Dickinson ND that is eating garbage and dog food because all the money is going to their rent that has tripled in price in one year. Get out of your own little world and see the real world. Stop making laws for every little thing you think is wrong. We have great laws already for these problems. If we all would just use common sense and care for each other things would be great. Stop supporting HSUS that only uses 1% for the animals and the rest for them selves and for ads to raise more money for themselves. Go out to the country and see how life really works.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:04 — paola de lira (Visitor)
I am against animal abuse, so I ask you to please make a stronger law animal protection! SO deserve

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:19 — janet (Visitor)
i'm totally against any kind of animal abuse, I love cats,dogs,horses,wolves,coyotes,mostly all the 4 footed animals...

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:09 — ARLEEN JENNINGS (Visitor)
Put some teeth in cruelty laws.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:10 — Jodi Smith (Visitor)
Yes on measure 5!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:10 — Jodi Smith (Visitor)
Yes on measure 5!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:17 — taylor (Visitor)
Are you a meat-eater? Do you enjoy grilled steak, a thick juicy burger, rack of ribs, bacon, sausage, and what would breakfast be without eggs? Well, if it were up to HSUS you wouldn’t: “My goal is the abolition of all animal agricul ture.”, J.P. Goodwin, employed at the Humane Society of the US, formerly at Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, as quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group in 1996. Or “We don’t want any of these animals to be raised and killed [for food] unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of waiting until we have the opportunity to get rid of the entire industry.”, Miyun Park, former vice president to animal rights conference in 2006. Do enjoy taking your dog to go pheasant or waterfowl hunting? Well, if were up to HSUS you wouldn’t: “Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting. We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the U.S., Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS. Or “If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would.” Wayne Pacelle, Associated Press, Dec. 30, 1991. I cannot vote for a measure that is supported by an organization with these beliefs and hidden agendas. “We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States…We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state.” Wayne Pacelle, Bozeman, (MT) Daily Chronicle, Oct. 8, 1991. Or “ When asked if he envisioned a future without pets, “If I had my personal view, perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.” Wayne Pacelle quoted in Blood Ties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote. or “We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals.” Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS. This measure is cleverly and vaguely worded in some areas and the fear of it being misinterpreted into animal agriculture, dog breeding or hunting practices later on is very real. It includes horses, already a foot into ag. I don’t advocate animal cruelty by any means (certainly not against more than just 3 species), but I vote NO on Measure 5 and, instead will actively support legislation (only a few months away) that is already in the works on www.ndanimalcare.com Home

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 12:59 — Jenny (Visitor)
Firstly, the Humane Society of the United States is completely transparent in their mission and it does not include the end of Animal Agriculture. Secondly, this has zero to do with Measure 5. HSUS is one of many national endorsers (as well as the ASPCA! Moreover this bill could not be more specific. It is narrowly crafted to exempt hunting, fishing, farming, ranching, rodeo. Please stop spreading lies and misinformation about Measure 5. Judge the bill on its merits not on YOUR agenda. You clearly have a problem with one of the endorsers of the measure. It's unfortunate that you can't put your differences aside and support a measure that will do nothing more than increase the penalties for the most brutal and malicious types of abuse from a slap on the wrist. Shame on you for trying to defeat this measure with a fear and smear campaign.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:18 — Edna (Visitor)
ANIMAL CRUELTY IS HORRIBLE AND IS MURDER!!!!! ANIMALS ARE LIVING THINGS THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANIMALS AND HUMANS IS...THEY KNOW HOW TO LOVE AND THEY ARE NEVER CRUEL!!!! NO TO ANIMAL CRUELTY THEY HAVE RIGHTS TOO. ANIMAL CRUELTY IS NURDER!!!!

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 23:40 — jer (Visitor)
I love how you say that animals are not cruel. Have you ever watch an eagle or hawk swoop down and rip a pheasants head off or a cat catch a mouse and torture it. Catching it and letting it go. Or watch a dog catch a tiny bunny and toss it around tell it slowly dies. Stop living in your own little world. Get out into to nature and see how life really works. Lets just give animals more rights then a bump living in the streets or a elderly couple that living in Dickinson that are eating rotten food and dog food just to survive cause their rent triple in one year. ND has laws for these issue. Stop supporting HSUS that only gives 1% to animals.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:19 — M Jenks (Visitor)
protect them all

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:19 — Natalie (Visitor)
Please help pass a bill to protect our animals. They are alive, they feel hurt, pain, fear, torture, love, kindness etcetera. Put yourself in their "paws." I bet you would want someone to be your voice if you were an animal too.

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 11:19 — Patsy (Visitor)
Well said! :)

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:46 — Monica (Visitor)
Yes on measure 5

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:20 — Kim (Visitor)
Agree

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:23 — Nikki (Visitor)
Definitely agree.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 21:35 — Celine Villax (Visitor)
We need yes on measure 5!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 22:52 — Glory Urbina (Visitor)
Yes on Measure 5

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 23:20 — Jasmine Tang (Visitor)
Love animals, we are their only hope!

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 02:45 — Ashleigh (Visitor)
This has gone on far enough. We must take action for this cause because it's just not right to abuse animals and get away with it! Why is it it's such a crime to harm other humans but it's barely a crime if we hurt animals? Proud vegetarian who believes animals have had enough.

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 03:43 — Lara (Visitor)
Animals have no voice! We need to protect are wonderful creatures who only want to love and be loved!

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 11:17 — Patsy (Visitor)
Agreed! We are the voice for these pets. Let's give them the justice they deserve!

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 14:38 — Silvia Perez Go... (Visitor)
Pets and animals are human beings. As such, they deserve respect, peace, love, and a voice to protect them That's why it's urgent and obvious, the measure is needed! Yes for them!

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 14:41 — Scott Boura (Visitor)
This is a horribly written piece of legislation. It does not address the most prevalent form of animal cruelty..NEGLECT.. This will allow us to take enforcement action if a person is beating an animal but does nothing to help if that same person is starving it. This is a half hearted attemt to get cruelty probelms resolved and misses the most prevalent problem... VOTE NO and get this done right.

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