PETITION TARGET: New York Senate Agriculture Committee Chair
In a horrifying act of cruelty in 1997, an 18-month-old tabby cat named Buster was drenched in kerosene and burned alive by a teenager in Schenectady, New York, according to a New York State Assembly press release.
Two years later, New York enacted Buster’s Law, which established the felony offense of ‘aggravated cruelty to animals,’ carrying penalties of up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Now, a new bill aims to restrict people convicted of Buster’s Law from having companion animals in their care.
“We have an obligation as a government to protect all members of our family, including those who have no voice,” said Senator James Tedisco, the bill’s primary sponsor. “Having a companion animal is not a right, it’s a privilege, but our pets and people have a right to be safe from abuse and neglect.”
If enacted, S1044 would bar anyone convicted under Buster’s Law from keeping companion animals, except when a court authorizes it following a psychiatric or psychological evaluation.
This legislation would help break the cycle of cruelty by keeping defenseless animals out of the hands of people already convicted of severe abuse. New York cannot delay in closing this dangerous gap in protection.
Sign our petition urging the New York Senate Agriculture Committee Chair to support this bill and keep innocent animals safe from convicted abusers.
