To the Honorable Members of the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate:

We, the undersigned residents of Alabama and concerned citizens, respectfully petition the Alabama State Legislature to introduce and bring to the floor for consideration comprehensive legislation aimed at strengthening our state's laws against cruelty to pets. Alabama currently ranks near the bottom nationally in animal protection laws, and recent cases of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and inhumane tethering highlight the urgent need for reform to protect vulnerable companion animals like dogs and cats.

Whereas:

Current Alabama laws, such as Alabama Code § 13A-11-14 (Cruelty to Animals) and § 13A-11-241 (Cruelty to Dogs and Cats), classify basic cruelty as a Class A misdemeanor with maximum penalties of up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine, while aggravated cruelty is a Class C felony punishable by 1 to 10 years in prison. However, these penalties are often insufficient to deter repeat offenders or address the severity of the suffering inflicted.
Alabama lacks specific standalone prohibitions on common forms of cruelty, such as prolonged tethering in extreme weather, abandonment without care, and inadequate shelter, leading to enforcement challenges and inconsistent prosecution. For instance, abandonment is currently bundled under general cruelty statutes, making it harder to hold perpetrators accountable.
National rankings by organizations like the Animal Legal Defense Fund place Alabama 49th in the U.S. for animal protection laws, underscoring gaps in areas like mandatory reporting of suspected abuse, increased funding for animal control agencies, and rehabilitation requirements for offenders.
Strengthening these laws would align Alabama with neighboring states that have adopted harsher penalties, anti-tethering measures, and better definitions of neglect, ultimately reducing animal suffering, lowering shelter overcrowding, and promoting public safety, as studies show a link between animal cruelty and other forms of violence.
Therefore, we urge the Alabama Legislature to introduce and advance legislation that includes, but is not limited to, the following enhancements:

Increased Penalties: Elevate first-time cruelty offenses to felonies in cases involving torture or severe neglect, with minimum mandatory sentences, higher fines (up to $10,000), and lifetime bans on pet ownership for repeat offenders.
Specific Protections: Establish clear prohibitions on inhumane tethering (e.g., limiting chain length, requiring access to shelter, and banning tethering during extreme weather), make pet abandonment a standalone Class A misdemeanor or felony based on severity, and mandate minimum standards for food, water, veterinary care, and shelter.
Enforcement and Support: Require mandatory reporting of suspected animal cruelty by veterinarians and law enforcement, provide additional funding for local animal control and humane societies, and create offender registries to prevent abusers from adopting pets.
Education and Rehabilitation: Incorporate mandatory animal welfare education and counseling for convicted offenders to prevent recidivism.
This legislation would demonstrate Alabama's commitment to compassion, justice, and the well-being of our communities. We call on our elected representatives to prioritize this issue in the current session and bring a bill to the floor for a vote.