One-Strike Law for Animal Abusers in Your State?

I received a note from the dedicated folks at the Animal Legal Defense Fund recently, letting me know about two things: (1) the campaign for One Strike and You're Out state laws for animal abusers and (2) the coverage of one of ALDF's major rescues and court cases in a popular mainstream venue, which (a) is excellent in terms of getting the information out there but (b) also warrants discussion related to the particular venue. I'll write about these in two separate posts.

First, the law. Despite the familiar name, this isn't a call for sending people to prison for the rest of their lives after the first offense. The ALDF explains:

Currently, most states have no mandatory requirements keeping those who are convicted of animal abuse crimes away from animals following their convictions. This despite the fact that offenders have demonstrated, through their actions, their utter disregard for the welfare of animals, and that  recidivism in some types of animal abuse cases can reach 100%. . . .

The Animal Legal Defense Fund's First Strike and You're Out law provides another tool to help combat animal neglect and cruelty by mandating that those who are convicted of a violation of their state animal protection laws are prohibited from owning or having contact with animals for a set period of time, ranging from five years for a first misdemeanor offense up to the lifetime of the offender following a second felony offense. . . .

First Strike and You're Out Law Highlights

• Separates offenders from potential new victims
• Will help to reduce future crimes against animals and save limited community resources
• Those who have been convicted of animal neglect or cruelty have demonstrated, through their actions, their irresponsibility with animals. This justifies having a set period of time where they are not allowed contact with them.
• Addresses high recidivism rates (near 100%) for certain offenders (i.e. animal hoarders)

There's something I'd like to see added to the ALDF's model law, however--mandatory humane education for offenders. Some cases of neglect may be partly a result of simple lack of education or knowledge. And even outright animal abusers may learn as much from guided education on animals and animal abuse--and maybe even guided, supervised interactions with animals after a time, as a part of that education, as a part of helping them to see animals for who they are--as from fines, possible jail time, and forced separation from animals. I'm not saying these latter three shouldn't be a part of the equation, to degrees proportionate to the abuse, but I think mandatory humane education should be a part too. Maybe it wouldn't have significant impact on everyone, but it's worth attempting, isn't it? What do you think?

You can ask your own specific state legislators to support such a law by signing (and personalizing, if you wish) this petition, hosted by the ALDF here at Change.org.

(Note: I imagine that some of you may have noticed with frustration the "ownership" language of the model law and its description. I'm not thrilled with it either, but that's another conversation entirely, dealing with the frustrating legal framework that already exists at this time and within which the ALDF is trying to work.)