Animal cruelty becomes a felonious act after recent legislation

Animal cruelty is now a felony since a bill was recently passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Trump. The PACT (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) law specifically applies to purposeful serious bodily injury of an animal, including suffocation, drowning, burning, crushing, and impaling; it is now classified as a federal offence, punishable by a fine and up to seven years in prison. The measure was led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL). This is the first time in the history of the United States such a statute dealing with animal cruelty has been enacted.
The law comes as a case of animal cruelty hits close to home. Evangeline Parish’s rescue group, EPAR (Every Paw Animal Rescue), recently rescued a dog that was thrown from a truck near highways 104 and 1166, which is in L’anse aux Pailles, near the Prairie Rhonde Road. The dog had a dislocated shoulder and had been shot. A witness saw someone throw two dogs from the truck. They were able to save one dog, but the other took off, frightened.
Jill Guillory Stevens, president of EPAR, was asked about the new animal cruelty law and if they have received help from law enforcement in the past. “In the past year, we have definitely noticed more willingness from local law enforcement to respond to and assist with animal related reports, but animal consideration for welfare in this parish is still no where near where it should be,” said Stevens. “Each report to law enforcement is still subject to the specific deputy on call, so some seem to be much more concerned about animal welfare than others; but overall, things do seem to be improving in that regard.”
EPAR receives many reports about suspected animal abuse or neglect, but the specific wording in our parish ordinance makes it hard to define what is considered ‘proper’ for animal care. The rescue group hopes to have that ordinance revised to include specific standards in the near future. Stevens said that would help local officers with being able to enforce the law.
In regards to the PACT Act recently signed into law, Stevens said, “Of course any steps that look to improve the welfare of animals are great, but this particular Bill seems to only address the most extreme cases of abuse – those that include deliberate torture of animals such as: burning, crushing, drowning, impaling, etc. Anyone who would inflict this type of abuse intentionally to an animal would seem to be a danger to society in general.” She said she hopes to see clearer definitions and broadly-advertised consequences for all types of abuse and neglect, which she said seems to be most common in this area.
It is currently illegal to own an animal that does not have proper shelter, food, or water; it is also currently illegal to tether an animal around the neck without the use of a proper collar, but Stevens said they still see this almost daily. “We often see dogs tied or chained on short leads with no way to get out of the rain, mud, or cold wind,” she said. “We see animals living in small cages surrounded by their own feces. We see animals that are clearly not of proper weight or health. It is hard to understand why some choose to own animals only to provide such a poor quality of life for them, and unfortunately that does not seem like something that will change any time soon.”
EPAR addresses situations like those previously mentioned. Their aim is to help law enforcement to respond appropriately to animal related reports. They help those in need, and that includes both the animals and the owners. “While we cannot provide food, housing, and medical care for all animals across the parish, there are always those exceptions to the rule – those good people that are truly trying, but just need a little help,” said Stevens. In the past, EPAR has donated dog houses, food, medical care, free spay/neuter, cable and runner systems, etc. to certain families needing help. “Sometimes all it takes is an officer making contact with an owner to find out that they need help, and are willing to accept help. It just takes that first step, to make that first contact. It takes that one officer who cares about a life and working together to make it better.”
Ville Platte Chief of Police Neil Lartigue was asked about animal cruelty in the city. He said, “We usually don’t get many reports of animal cruelty. When we do, we dispatch Mr. Ervin Bourque who is trained in that area of the law.” When asked if they will take reports of animal cruelty or neglect more serious now that it is a federal law, he said, “We always take it seriously.”
Calls made to Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau were not returned, and neither were calls to Sheriff-Elect Charles R. Guillory.