The heartbreaking experience faced by my sister and her two daughters could have been anyone's reality - and it was ours. Their beloved fur baby was brutally beaten to death in their own yard by an 11-year-old boy. Even worse, the aftermath of this atrocity resulted in nothing more than a misdemeanor issued to the child's guardian. This unacceptable turn of events echoes an all too familiar refrain of negligence towards animal cruelty.

We stand in solidarity with the beloved survivor Buddy, a dog set on fire by a 12-year-old boy, who sparked the creation of "The Buddy's Law". But this law needs to be fortified, as distressing incidents of animal abuse continue to occur. In the U.S., an estimated 1 million animals per year are abused due to domestic violence (source: Animal Welfare Institute), and this number is only those instances which are officially reported.

The State of Mississippi must take stronger, more severe actions towards animal cruelty. Current punitive measures are grossly disproportional to the gravity of these heinous crimes. The law should serve to protect those that cannot protect themselves. By amending and strengthening "The Buddy's Law," we can work toward effectively combating this grave issue of animal cruelty in Mississippi.

Let's stand for no tolerance to animal abuse because it's our family, your family, and every animal deserves to live free from torture and cruelty. Please sign this petition to encourage the amendment of "The Buddy's Law" and instigate the change that our animals desperately need.