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Maryland Senator Pushes to Raise Penalties for Animal Abuse - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!

To Maryland Senator James Mathias (D-38) for pre-filing a bill for review in the Maryland General Assembly that would increase accountability for animal abuse offenders in Maryland.

According a to a recent news article, a new bill has been introduced to the Maryland General Assembly that would stiffen penalties for animal cruelty. If the bill introduced by state Senator James Mathias becomes law, prosecutors would have the option of charging anyone mistreating 10 or more animals with a felony. The bill also sets higher fines and longer jail sentences for offenders. Lastly, the law would allow courts to order convicted offenders to pay restitution to humane societies that would otherwise have to shoulder the full cost of caring for seized animals.

A second bill, also filed by Mathias, aims to establish a statewide animal abuse registry that would list convicted violators of Maryland’s animal abuse laws.

The proposed legislation has been introduced in response to a puppy mill that was discovered last April in Eden, Maryland. Wicomico County Animal Control found 166 dogs inside the house, and 144 trapped in outbuildings on the property. Investigators also found skeletal remains of several puppies. Property owners Robert Holliday Murphy, and Susan Marie Murphy were arrested in the summer of 2016, but all the charges against them are misdemeanors.

Take action. Maryland residents, contact your legislators and urge them to support legislation that would toughen your state’s animal cruelty laws.

 

 

 

 

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