Crimes against animals should be punished

A Roy woman allowed two horses to starve to death, and her punishment is a 45-day jail sentence, with only five days of incarceration, the rest of the time served monitored at home.

If it had been two infants one would expect the penalty to have been much more severe. Animals, like babies, are innocent beings, totally dependent on their caretakers for their survival. They experience pain and suffering just like we do, so why don’t they receive the same justice when they are victims of abuse and neglect?

A man brutalizes and murders a dog by hanging; why is it any less horrendous a crime because it was committed against an animal? Science has confirmed that animals have thoughts and feelings; anyone who doubts need only read “Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel.”

As a Baha’i, my faith teaches me that “in all physical respects, and where the animal spirit is concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man … Most human beings are sinners, but the beasts are innocent. Surely those without sin should receive the most kindness and love.”

Crimes against animals are just as heinous as crimes against humans – it’s time the punishment reflected that fact.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Crimes against animals should be punished."