To: The New York State Legislature and the Governor of New York

We, the undersigned, call on New York State lawmakers to strengthen animal protection laws and substantially increase the penalties for animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, and intentional harm.

Animals deserve protection from those who torture, injure, starve, abandon, or deliberately cause them suffering. When individuals commit these acts, the consequences under the law should reflect the seriousness of the offense, the suffering inflicted, and the lasting harm caused.

Thousands of animal cruelty cases are reported annually, according to statistics cited from the ASPCA. Each report represents an animal potentially subjected to suffering, abuse, or neglect. These reports underscore the importance of strengthening protections and ensuring that penalties reflect the seriousness of these offenses.

We urge the New York State Legislature to comprehensively review and strengthen New York's animal cruelty laws, including:

1. Substantially increase maximum prison sentences for aggravated animal cruelty, raising the current two-year cap and establishing stronger sentencing options that reflect the severity of these crimes.

2. Increase penalties for other forms of animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect, ensuring that serious offenses carry meaningful consequences.

3. Establish appropriately higher sentencing ranges for the most severe cases, including torture, intentional killing, severe injury, repeated abuse, and cruelty involving multiple animals.

4. Strengthen penalties for repeat offenders and provide courts with appropriate sentencing options when an individual commits multiple offenses.

5. Review the full range of animal protection laws to identify gaps, outdated penalties, and opportunities to improve accountability and prevent future cruelty.

6. Consider additional preventive measures, including mandatory psychological evaluations for appropriate offenders and a public registry of animal abusers, with safeguards and eligibility criteria established by law.

Research cited in support of stronger animal protection laws has reported decreases in animal cruelty cases of over 30% in Massachusetts and California following the introduction of tougher laws. These reported figures highlight the importance of examining whether stronger penalties and comprehensive animal protection measures can help reduce cruelty. The specific findings and their applicability to New York should be carefully evaluated.

We believe that a five-year prison sentence could serve as a starting point for discussions about stronger penalties for serious animal cruelty. However, five years should not be treated as a fixed ceiling on sentencing reform. We urge lawmakers to determine appropriate maximum sentences based on the severity of each offense and to consider substantially longer sentences for the most egregious cases.

We recognize that each case is different and that sentences should reflect the circumstances and seriousness of the offense. Our goal is not to require the same sentence in every case, but to ensure that judges have the legal authority to impose sentences proportionate to the harm caused. We also urge lawmakers to consider meaningful fines and other appropriate consequences for offenders.

Animals cannot speak for themselves, report their suffering, or demand justice. They depend on people to advocate for their protection and to ensure that those who deliberately harm them are held accountable.

New York must take a comprehensive approach to animal cruelty reform, one that strengthens existing laws, increases penalties where necessary, and provides meaningful protection for animals throughout the state.

We call on the New York State Legislature and the Governor to take action to strengthen animal cruelty laws, increase applicable prison sentences, and ensure that the most serious acts of animal abuse can receive appropriately severe punishment.

Please sign and share this petition to demand stronger animal protection laws and meaningful accountability for animal cruelty throughout New York State.