This year New York became the first and thus far only state to ban the killing of fur-bearing animals by electrocution. NY CLS Agr & M § 353-c (2008) It is a common practice to use anal and genital electrocution to kill these animals that are raised and killed for their fur. This method is said to ensure their fur won't be damaged.

The animals, though, suffer terribly.

It's hard to conceive of anyone stabbing a dog repeatedly with a power drill and then drilling holes in its head.  But that is what Severino Cruz of Connecticut is accused of doing to Baby, his brother's dog.

Cruz claims Baby bit his son. His sons were playing with Baby's puppy which jumped on one of the children. The other child pulled the puppy away, and Baby, trying to protect her baby, bit the boy.

Read the story of Rocky and then write or call the prosecutor listed below and urge prosecution of Armando Preciado. Demand justice for Rocky.

Update April 11, 2008: Your calls and letters are having an effect. The prosecutors may be considering filing felony charges. Keep up the pressure. Here are names and numbers of 2 more Deputy District Attorneys involved.

Sometimes persistence pays off in pursuing animal abusers. More than a year ago animal welfare activists and neighbors captured Jack Crosslings McCall of video, beating, choking, kicking and throwing chained dogs in his yard.  

Like a number of states, for purposes of the animal cruelty laws, Iowa classifies equines as livestock.

In Iowa it is illegal for someone to injure or destroy someone else's livestock intentionally such as by poisoning, shooting or trapping. Iowa Code § 717.1A

Update March 27, 2008: S.B. 2895 has now passed the House Judiciary Committee! It is on to the full House for a vote.

Click here to contact Hawaii representatives to urge their support of this bill.

For more informaiton on this bill, read Animal Law Coalition's earlier report below.

Some states have exceptions in animal cruelty laws for animals used by rodeos. The animals are either not protected by the law at all or only if the rodeo does not treat them according to accepted rodeo or husbandry standards, whatever that means.

                                            Update April 3, 2008: A hearing was held this past week to determine if there was sufficient evidence for Christopher Lee Barnett to stand trial for severely beating his dog and also filing its teeth till they bled.

This one should be a no brainer. 

Bill No. 5656 pending before the Connecticut General Assembly would ban the declawing of cats. The only exception would be for therapeutic reasons, meaning an infection, injury, disease or "abnormal condition" that was jeopardizing the cat's health.