Magnum's Law (KS) goes into effect July 1
Kansas state legislature has passed a bill amending what was known as "Scruffy's Law," named after a Yorkshire terrier shot and then burned to death in Kansas back in 1997, making animal cruelty a felony instead of a misdemeanor. After Magnum, an 11 week old black labrador retriever mix, was found on August 1, 2005, in a recycling bin with chemical burns, cuts, a broken leg and wires wrapped around his neck and front legs (he died five days later from these injuries) citizens of Kansas city petitioned the state legislature to make animal cruelty a felony; the bill passed in February and goes into effect tomorrow. Persons who are found guilty of "intentionally and maliciously killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating any animal" faces at least 30 days in jail and $500 to $5,000 in fines along with psychological evaluations and anger management towards animals. (details from The Wichita Eagle)Magnum Force of Kansas is the organization that spearheaded this campaign to change the law. They are still looking for the people responsible for Magnum's injuries which led to his death and have raised $18,348 reward fund for information leading to the capture and prosecution of the people who committed this heinous crime.
Owners of exotic animals, who should know better than to treat them like domesticated pets, have a law in Kansas that also goes into effect tomorrow requiring those owners to keep their animals confined so they do not come into contact with people; it also makes it illegal to allow such animals to roam "at large." There's another law for October 1 that makes it illegal to own a dangerous animal without a USDA license and $250,000 liability insurance. Wouldn't it just be easier, and more logical, to let wild animals be wild? Remember kids, wild animals may look cool and furry and fuzzy and soft, but they are wild and unpredictable. They should be allowed to exist in the environments that allow them to prosper as such.
