Rescue4All’s own mascot, Daddy, our overcoming abuse at the hands of a previous owner, a convicted murder. Photo courtesy of Rescue4all Instagram page.
We have all heard the stories about a dog that beats the odds. Once having a cruel owner that severely abused them but upon being rescued found their forever home. It's a story of rehabilitation, overcoming odds and love. It's a literal underdog story that we all know and love. Despite our love for those stories, it is important to understand why animal cruelty keeps happening and one of the reasons is a seeming lack of penalties for violations
In 2016, the FBI added animal cruelty as Class A felony, meaning that animal abuse is now categorized along with serious crimes such as homicide, rape, and kidnapping in the first degree. While this is a victory for animal rights activists, it has a long way to go to reach the states as it is not classified in the same way
Currently in Washington state, animal cruelty in the first degree is a Class C felony. For someone to be convicted of animal abuse in the first degree they must inflict substantial pain or death to animal with or forcing a minor to do so. Upon conviction, the perpetrator would face up to five years in prison and $10,000 fines. Any other penalties regarding animal cruelty, such as abandonment or hoarding, are considered gross misdemeanors with penalties of one year in jail and fines up to $5,000.
A recent case of animal cruelty that made ripples in the Inland Northwest community was a puppy mill in Stevens county where thirty-one dogs and six puppies were rescued from awful conditions.
The organization that took all the dogs in, Rescue4All, to document the graphic conditions on Instagram. Jamie McAtee, the founder, wrote “I hope this sickens you! Frozen with fear, scared of human touch, covered in old & new wounds, their own feces, overgrown nails, and untreated medical conditions.” A warning that the pictures are incredibly graphic.
The couple charged have been doing this for the past 13 years and despite numerous complaints from neighbors, the authorities never looked into the claims until now. Here is where the number one problem for the prevention of animal cruelty; overwhelmingly lack of effort from law enforcement. The 2017 U.S. Animal Protection Law Rankings from Animal Legal Defense Fund reports that four of the five worst states for animal protections don’t have officers that have an “affirmative duty to enforce animal protection laws.”
In the end, the couple from Stevens County was given 60 days in jail set with $5,000 bond they paid and are now out of country jail. They have been able to keep some of their dogs and plan to fight to get them back. How would one expect to see a stop in animal cruelty, if perpetrators keep getting their animals back?
Gonzaga students are also getting into this dialogue of animal cruelty with Man's Best Friend, a volunteer club that serves Spokanimal. Andrea Mills, president of Man's Best Friend, says "I see a lot of animals that come in that have been victims of animal abuse, it is absolutely heart wrenching. I love my dog so much, I can't imagine having the heart to harm her." Mills hopes to see an increase in awareness and discussion around better protections for pet animals caught in abusive homes.
Pair the authorities lack of effort and the short jail time, it doesn’t take long for a perpetrator to go back on the streets and potentially do the same to a new animal. Since animal cruelty is often a warning sign for violence against humans, it is important to act swiftly and accordingly in order to stop cruelty affecting another animal. It is important to stop the cycle of animal cruelty by offering better rehabilitation and education for these perpetrators in hopes that the days of inhumanity will end.
In 2016, the FBI added animal cruelty as Class A felony, meaning that animal abuse is now categorized along with serious crimes such as homicide, rape, and kidnapping in the first degree. While this is a victory for animal rights activists, it has a long way to go to reach the states as it is not classified in the same way
Currently in Washington state, animal cruelty in the first degree is a Class C felony. For someone to be convicted of animal abuse in the first degree they must inflict substantial pain or death to animal with or forcing a minor to do so. Upon conviction, the perpetrator would face up to five years in prison and $10,000 fines. Any other penalties regarding animal cruelty, such as abandonment or hoarding, are considered gross misdemeanors with penalties of one year in jail and fines up to $5,000.
A recent case of animal cruelty that made ripples in the Inland Northwest community was a puppy mill in Stevens county where thirty-one dogs and six puppies were rescued from awful conditions.
The organization that took all the dogs in, Rescue4All, to document the graphic conditions on Instagram. Jamie McAtee, the founder, wrote “I hope this sickens you! Frozen with fear, scared of human touch, covered in old & new wounds, their own feces, overgrown nails, and untreated medical conditions.” A warning that the pictures are incredibly graphic.
The couple charged have been doing this for the past 13 years and despite numerous complaints from neighbors, the authorities never looked into the claims until now. Here is where the number one problem for the prevention of animal cruelty; overwhelmingly lack of effort from law enforcement. The 2017 U.S. Animal Protection Law Rankings from Animal Legal Defense Fund reports that four of the five worst states for animal protections don’t have officers that have an “affirmative duty to enforce animal protection laws.”
In the end, the couple from Stevens County was given 60 days in jail set with $5,000 bond they paid and are now out of country jail. They have been able to keep some of their dogs and plan to fight to get them back. How would one expect to see a stop in animal cruelty, if perpetrators keep getting their animals back?
Gonzaga students are also getting into this dialogue of animal cruelty with Man's Best Friend, a volunteer club that serves Spokanimal. Andrea Mills, president of Man's Best Friend, says "I see a lot of animals that come in that have been victims of animal abuse, it is absolutely heart wrenching. I love my dog so much, I can't imagine having the heart to harm her." Mills hopes to see an increase in awareness and discussion around better protections for pet animals caught in abusive homes.
Pair the authorities lack of effort and the short jail time, it doesn’t take long for a perpetrator to go back on the streets and potentially do the same to a new animal. Since animal cruelty is often a warning sign for violence against humans, it is important to act swiftly and accordingly in order to stop cruelty affecting another animal. It is important to stop the cycle of animal cruelty by offering better rehabilitation and education for these perpetrators in hopes that the days of inhumanity will end.
A landscape photo of the conditions that the 37 dogs were rescued from. Photo courtesy of Rescue4all Instagram page.
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 A dog rescued from the puppy mill in Stevens county last May. Photo courtesy of Rescue4all Instagram page.
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My own dog, a victim of abandonment, now is happy in his forever home with my family. Photo courtesy of Francis Argueta
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Quick sheet to share with your friends about the realities of animal abuse in the U.S. Infographic courtesy of Francis Argueta
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A dog was killed by the owner’s roommate who was charged with two misdemeanors. Picture courtesy of KHQ.
By Francis Argueta
