Watch Wind Chill's story below! 

Update April 19, 2010: An amended substitute version of Wind Chill's Law, A.B. 747, has passed the Wisconsin Assembly by a vote of 50-47. The bill is now in the  Wisconsin Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Corrections, etc. An earlier Senate version, S.B. 555 is also pending in that committee.

The amended substitute version passed by the Assembly provides for the first time that under WI Stat. Sec. 951.13 research facilities are not required to provide animals with food and water. A major concession to research facilities using animals for experiments and testing at a time when there is growing consensus animals should not be used for research.

Why would it now for the first time be legal in Wisconsin for animals held by researchers to be starved or left without water?  

The penalties for violating the animal cruelty laws vis a vis food, water, shelter and abandonment are also watered down under the amended substitute version. Penalties would actually remain the same as under current law unless intent to harm is proven and the penalty also depends on the harm caused: Class A misdemeanor for intentional bodily harm; Class H felony for intentionally caused "great bodily harm" and Class G felony for intentionally caused death. Recklessy caused harm would be Class B misdemeanor for bodily harm, Class I felony for great bodily harm and Class H felony for death. Negligently caused harm would be a Class B misdemeanor regardless of the extent of harm suffered by the animal. Up to 2 years imprisonment could be added to any sentence for crimes relating to food, water, shelter and abandonment that are committed in the presence of a child.

The bill would still allow judges to issue issue restraining orders or injunctions in domestic violence situations that include a prohibition against mistreating or threatening to harm pets. Go here for other states' considering similar legislation.

Under the amended substitute version, a court could still order a person guilty of felony animal mistreatment, failure to provide proper food, water, or shelter, or abandonment to undergo a psychological assessment and to participate in anger management or psychological counseling or treatment. The time period a judge could bar an offender from having contact with any animal would be extended from 5 years to 15. Go here for information about other states that have passed laws limiting abusers' future access to animals.  

The bill clarifies for those who don't understand this already that owners must supply sufficient food and water to their animals, and water does not include snow or ice. The bill also defines "abandonment".

Wind Chill

The bill, AB 747 is named Wind Chill's Law after a little colt that was found freezing in bitter winter temperatures with wind chills reported to be 55 degrees below zero. The colt died, and a group called Wind Chill's Legacy has vowed to take action to try to make sure there are clear and specific laws in place that will deter this kind of abuse and neglect, or at least make sure the abusers are punished.  Watch the video below for more. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Contact Senate Judiciary committee members found here (Just click on their names for contact information) and write (faxes or letters are best) or call and urge them to vote yes on Wind Chill's Law, A.B. 747 WITHOUT AN EXCEPTION FOR RESEARCH FACILITIES! All animals should have food and water!

Find your WI state senator here (Again, just click on the name to get contact information) and write (faxes or letters are best) or call and urge them to vote yes on Wind Chill's Law, A.B. 747 WITHOUT AN EXCEPTION FOR RESEARCH FACILITIES! All animals should have food and water!

For more on the original sentencing scheme under Wind Chill's Law, read Animal Law Coalition's report below.

Original report: A Wisconsin bill, AB 747, as originally introduced by state Rep. Nick Milroy, would create the following sentencing scheme: Animal abusers intentionally causing bodily harm including those who fail to provide basic care, food water, shelter or who abandon an animal, are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor  unless the crimes are committed in the presence of a child in which case the charge is a Class I felony. If the animal suffers "great bodily harm", as opposed to "bodily harm", the abuser is guilty of a Class E felony, or if a child was present during the crime, a Class D felony.

If the animal dies as a result of the abuse or neglect, the abuser is guilty of a Class D felony unless a child is present, in which case the crime would be a Class C felony.  

The charges are higher, a Class B misdemeanor, if the abuse and neglect or abandonment causing bodily harm, is done "recklessly" instead of "intentionally".  Again, the presence of a child means a higher charge, a Class A misdemeanor. If the animal suffers "great bodily harm" or dies, again, the charges are increased and increased again if a child is present.