Pet abuse registry may also protect children

Reuters via MSNBC ^ | 5/19/2011 | Barbara Goldberg

[Daffynition]

NEW YORK — A New York county is launching a registry for animal abusers which could also help to identify potential violence against women and children.

The registry in Suffolk County, which will go live next week, is modeled after the sex offender registry to protect children.

It is the result of growing awareness that brutality against an animal is an indicator of possible family abuse, according to experts and studies.

"Animal abuse is not only the tip of the iceberg of family violence, but it's often the first warning sign and the one a neighbor is most likely to call in," said Phil Arkow, of the National Link Coalition, which educates people about the link between animal and human abuse.

[Daffynition]

[pnh102]

The sex offender registry does absolutely nothing to protect anyone from any violent sex offender. Why do we keep building upon bad law after bad law after bad law?

If someone is dangerous and commits a crime, put him in prison!

[Diogenesis]

"But the details of the event are more than unseemly - they may, in fact, be illegal. Massachusetts's animal cruelty laws specifically prohibit anyone from carrying an animal "in or upon a vehicle, or otherwise, in an unnecessarily cruel or inhuman manner or in a way and manner which might endanger the animal carried thereon. "An officer for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to a description of the situation saying "it's definitely something I'd want to check out." The officer, Nadia Branca, declined to give a definitive opinion on whether Romney broke the law but did note that it's against state law to have a dog in an open bed of a pick-up truck, and "if the dog was being carried in a way that endangers it, that would be illegal."

"Dog on Roof? What Was It Like for Romney's Pooch? - Scientists Say Dog Likely Experienced Wind-Whipped, Uncomfortable Trip - "Before beginning the drive, Mitt Romney put Seamus, the family's hulking Irish setter, in a dog carrier and attached it to the station wagon's roof rack. e'd built a windshield for the carrier, to make the ride more comfortable for the dog,".. Jordan Kaplan, the owner of Petaholics, a dog walking service in New York City,
and a lifelong dog owner and dog lover, said Romney's actions were uncalled for"

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"Romney's dog - This is a distinction Mitt Romney probably could do without, but he is surely the first presidential candidate to be attacked for putting a dog with diarrhea in a carrier and tying it to the top of a station wagon. Romney's defense: Seamus liked it. [like the citizens under Romney's RomneyCARE, etc.?] "

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"As the oldest son, Tagg Romney commandeered the way-back of the wagon, keeping his eyes fixed out the rear window, where he glimpsed the first sign of trouble. ''Dad!'' he yelled. ''Gross!'' A brown liquid was dripping down the back window, payback from an Irish setter who'd been riding on the roof in the wind for hours. As the rest of the boys joined in the howls of disgust, Romney coolly pulled off the highway and into a service station. There, he borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway."

"Story about dog on car roof comes back to bite Romney - 200 comments from readers complaining of animal cruelty"

Romney's bad behavior Exposed by Seamus

"Romney Loses Nomination Over Dog Abuse? - Romney was traveling that summer with his wife, five sons, and Seamus to his parent's cottage on Lake Huron. But hours into the ride, Seamus apparently suffered diarrhea, which ran down the back window of the car. .David Kravitz wrote on BlueMassGroup, a liberal blog. "It also strikes me as classic Romney: it solves a problem efficiently, in a business-like manner, and with no regard whatsoever for the suffering that the solution may cause."

[Daffynition]

LOLPerfect!

[JoeProBono]

[EGPWS]

A New York county is launching a registry for animal abusers which could also help to identify potential violence against women and children.

I used to step on ants when I was a kid...

[Daffynition]

While not perfect, the sex offender list can give a family with young children a *snapshot* of what the neighborhood they are thinking of moving in to before they make a fateful decision. [Things a real estate agent won’t tell you] I know this from personal experience, FWIW.

If I were moving into a *unknown* situation, and a list like this were available, I’d make use of it. I have asked the local PD to make a print out of police calls in a certain area, before I moved into an neighborhood.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Watch Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttttt!!!

[momtothree]

“... the neighborhood they are thinking of moving in to before they make a fateful decision”.

I know two people currently who were established in their homes and someone moved in close to them that is on the registry. This knowledge helps them simply because they realize the past offenses of their “new” neighbors. One person assaulted an adult female and the other “prefers” to assault children. IMHO, it is better to know this type of information.

[Daffynition]

I’m *very* against authorities keeping info on us. That being said, our society has grown away from *taking care of things like this themselves*. I don’t know what a parent is to do, when these people should be taken out of society permanently, as someone up thread said.

[momtothree]

“... our society has grown away from taking care of things...”

Agreed. Personally, I think if someone rapes/molests a child that they should be in prison forever. Why make other children potentially suffer for “their” freedom. However, I check our local sights for “predators” frequently. What amazes me is that some people will assume that living in an upper class neighborhood bars that type of person. They are usually amazed to see how many and how close predators live among us.

[MsLady]

I remember reading years ago that serial killers start out torturing and killing animals.

[cizinec]

My boys tak krav maga and (at least the two older ones) know how to shoot.

I know everyone on my street and everyone knows everybody else. If the neighbor kids go into another neighbor’s house, we know it. If something looks fishy, we know it.

These registries help a little, but they can be beaten easier than alert neighbors, active families and trained individuals. A government registry for animal “abuse,” whatever the government determines that to be, cannot replace personal responsibility and voluntary community activity. In the end, it will serve the government’s purposes, will not protect children and will be another way to tear families apart in order to make our children wards of the state.

Pretty soon they will have feeding dogs high fat table scraps as “abuse.” Wait and see.

[Daffynition]

That seems to be the consensus, yet,somewhat more obscure/less defined, [Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz and Jeffrey Dahmer, sic] when sexual predation is more black and white.

[A study done by North Eastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to abuse humans than people who do not.]

[ConservativeWarrior]

Pretty soon they will have feeding dogs high fat table scraps as “abuse.” Wait and see.

Or eliminating garden pests, ground hogs, and feral cats.

I'm sure being reported for any of the above by a animal-worshipping neighbor will put you on the list, and place you subjugation to the associated loss in gun and privacy rights.

One more example of the "animals are people, too" insanity.

[FourPeas]

Handgun Registry
Sexual Offenders Registry
Pet Abuse Registry

What’s next?

BMI Abuse Registry?
Political Contribution Registry?
Religion Registry?

[Daffynition]

>>know how to shoot<<

Your kids carry? What state do you live in where a minor can carry, before age of majority?

>>cannot replace personal responsibility and voluntary community activity<<

I agree, it doesn't substitute for parental vigilance; Then why are we having this constant rash of priests and teachers molesting kids? We're surrounded by this pestilence. Your point taken, which is why it goes *against* my grain.

I've become a *helicopter* grandparent. My GD does not play out in my yard without me present and vigilant. A sad commentary to how I grew up, in comparison. Times are just not the *same.*

[FourPeas]

*taking care of things like this themselves*

I think this is the problem in a nutshell. Ostracism has great value. Being tolerant of deviant behavior never ends well.

[Daffynition]

I admit it. It tears at me. I'm a waffler on this one. ;)