In Nichols, NY, a grave incident of animal cruelty has occurred. Boyd H. Fenton set fire to a barn at Tioga Downs and caused over 30 horses to suffer and perish. He has been charged with arson, burglary, assault, and criminal mischief and faces an extremely short jail stay if he is found guilty and gets the minimum sentences. This is unacceptable. Animal cruelty is a serious crime that should not be taken lightly or ignored.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, nearly 1 million animals are abused or killed each year due to cases of domestic violence alone (source: Humane Society). These figures do not even account for all forms of animal mistreatment.

In New York State specifically, animal cruelty laws under Agriculture and Markets Law Article 26 (section 353) state that any person who overdrives, overloads, tortures or unjustifiably injures any animal can be found guilty of a misdemeanor (source: New York State Legislature). Additionally, section 353-a of the same article calls for felony charges for aggravated cruelty to animals. “A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical pain; or (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner” (NY Ag & Markets Law Article 26 Section 353-a). Yet despite these clear legal guidelines against such behavior, this accused individual remains uncharged.

 Additionally, section 361 of the Agriculture and Markets Law Article 26 pertains specifically to racehorses. This states that “A person who wilfully or unjustifiably interferes with, injures, destroys or tampers with or who willfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in or in any way furthers any act by which any horse, mule, dog or any other domestic animal used for the purposes of racing, breeding or competitive exhibition of skill, breed or stamina, is interfered with, injured, destroyed or tampered with, or any act tending to produce such interference, injury, destruction or tampering, whether such horse, mule, dog or other domestic animal be the property of himself or another, is guilty of a felony.”  Boyd H. Fenton should be charged with a count of “Interference with or injury to certain domestic animals” for every horse that died in the fire. 

We must stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We call on our local law enforcement and judicial system in Tioga County to uphold the law and charge this individual with AGGRAVATED animal cruelty AND interference with or injury to certain domestic animals for EACH horse that lost its life as per New York State legislation.

Please sign this petition if you believe in justice for all creatures and want to see an end to such heinous acts within our community.