Home / News & Events / Press Room / Press Releases
Press Release
For Immediate Release: February 16, 2010
Contact: ELIZABETH PAROWSKI, eparowski@alleycat.org or 240-482-1984; FRANCIE ISRAELI, fisraeli@johnadams.com or 202-207-1134
ALLEY CAT ALLIES CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF MISSISSIPPI
ANTI-CRUELTY BILL
Legislation would make torturing or killing of cats and dogs a felony crime
BETHESDA, MD — Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for stray and feral cats, today
expressed support for recently passed legislation in the Mississippi Senate that would expand the
state’s anti-cruelty law to make intentionally harming a cat or dog a felony crime.
The legislation (Senate Bill 2623), would make it a felony crime to “torture, mutilate, maim, burn,
starve, disfigure or kill any domesticated dog or cat.” The bill now heads to the Mississippi House
of Representatives. Alley Cat Allies is calling on supporters in Mississippi to contact their state
representatives and ask for quick passage of the legislation.
“Alley Cat Allies fully supports all efforts to strengthen state anti-cruelty laws,” said Becky
Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “Scientific research shows a strong link between
aggression towards animals and violence toward people. Perpetrators of these vicious crimes
should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, because they are a danger to the community.”
If passed, the legislation would put Mississippi in line with most states for treating cruelty towards
cats and dogs as a serious crime. Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia have anticruelty
laws, Mississippi is currently one of only four states with no felony provision for such
offenses.
###
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the nation’s leading advocate for stray and feral cats. Their website is www.alleycat.org.
|