Go Ryan!! The Angel’s Law and other amendments

...and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.

Such is the mighty pen, more powerful than any sword,

when seeks its aim

to defend... (1)

Those who care about the health, welfare, treatment and care of animals will be interested in this week’s article. I sound like a broken record, but I am strongly urging you to use your right to speak and right to representation by elected leaders by calling your local State Representative, to support legislation that is currently in Committee.

All animals should be well-cared for, have plenty of food to eat and a dry, warm shelter to inhabit. Just because your animals may be well-cared for, doesn’t mean that a nation-wide pandemic of abuse, torture and neglect isn’t an ongoing issue.

State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro of Erie County is sponsoring a House Bill seeking to stiffen the penalties imposed for animal cruelty and torture of animals.

HB# 869, PN 1064, introduced on April 1, 2015, seeks:

“...to Amend Title 18 (of the PA Anti-Cruelty Law) Crimes and Offenses...Forfeiture..

...the authority imposing sentence SHALL order forfeit or surrender any abused, neglected, deprived animal of the defendant, to any society or association for protection of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth...”

If you have been following the news out of Erie, PA, regarding the appalling case of a woman who left a Pitbull in her basement in a cage, starving to death, and the sickening accompanying photos, another Amendment has now been added:

HB#113, “The Angel’s Law,” seeks to stiffen the penalties on offenders imposed by the judicial system, including heightened classification of 3rd degree Misdemeanor, (from a Summary Offense.)

Citizens must watch when legislators state the words “May” and “Shall,” since the word “May” means that it is at the discretion of law enforcement or the judicial system, and “Shall” means that law enforcement and the judicial system (authority) must absolutely follow said law to the letter, no wimping-out and stuff like, “She didn’t mean it,” or “this fell through the cracks.”

I testified under oath in a court of law one time, and actually heard some of the jurors approach the DA, asking if the offender, “Could have his animals back while the court proceedings take place...”

I ask readers, voters and the constituency of these legislative districts, on behalf of all animals, to be Angels and telephone their State Representatives to pledge support for these House Bills: HB# 869 and HB# 113.

I spoke with the Aides from the offices of State Reps Bizzarro and Roae.

The quote coming from State Rep Bizzarro’s office is: “HB#869 has gone to the Judiciary Committee. State Rep Bizzarro sits on this Committee and will work very hard to gather support to bring this to a roll-call vote.”

I also spoke with State Rep Brad Roae’s office, the quote from there is: “Representative Brad Roae has a horse, some dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and a daughter who is in 4-H; he is an animal lover.”

Representative Wentling was out of the office and could not be reached for comment.

State Rep Parke Wentling’s office phone number is (814) 382-7200, Aides are Tonya Miller or Vicki Leap.

State Rep Brad Roae’s office phone number is (814) 336-1136, Aide is Brian Williams

State Rep Ryan Bizzarro’s office phone number is (814) 835-2880, Aide is Amy Schmidt.

They are all very polite and very professional and I want to thank all of them for taking the time to speak with me.

Special thanks to State Rep Ryan Bizzarro, whose name is on the list of sponsors for HB# 869.

Go Ryan!!!

Sally forth, ye constituents, to the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails to You.”

1: Roseanne Staab, Excerpt, “Of Pens and Swords,” Copyright David Schaef and Roseanne Staab, The Community News, May 7, 2015. No reprint without the express permission of Community News.