Courtroom Animal Advocacy Program
Take Action to prevent animal cruelty offenders from escaping justice
There are 2 important ways you can make a huge difference in the lives of animal abuse victims.
71% of women fleeing a domestic violence situation said their partner threatened, injured or killed their companion animal. In 88% of homes where children are being abused, companion animals are being abused. EVERY school shooting between 1997 and 2001 involved boys who had committed animal cruelty first. Animal Abuse is a RED FLAG. Yet, only 2% of animal cruelty cases end with a conviction; 80% are not prosecuted or dismissed. The Courtroom Animal Advocate Program Bill, A5315 is legislation that would give a voice to the voiceless in animal cruelty cases. With this law prosecutors will have an additional resource to ensure animal abuse cases get the full attention of the court and will more likely result in action to achieve justice for the abused animal and appropriate punishment for animal abuser including rehabilitation before they reoffend, or extend their violence to humans.
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STEP 1: Email Your Assembly Member Today!
It is important that you urge your Assembly member to cosponsor the bill. Find your Assembly members’ email addresses by clicking the button to the left, and using the address search bar on the right-hand side of the page. We’ve prepared a sample email for you to use but please feel free to modify it to make it more personal.
Sample Email to your Assembly Member
Subject line: A note from your constituent - please co-sponsor A5315
Dear Assemblymember _________,
As a resident of your district in NY, I am writing to ask for you to cosponsor A5315, the Courtroom Animal Advocacy Program. Modeled after Desmond’s Bill in CT, This bill would allow law students and appointed representatives to be animal advocates in criminal cases regarding cruelty, dog fighting, and other welfare abuses. Easing the burden on state prosecutors and with no extra cost to the state, representatives will be permitted to monitor the case, attend hearings, consult individuals with knowledge of the welfare of the animal, view records regarding the animal’s welfare, and present their recommendations to prosecutors and the court regarding the best interest of the animal.
Psychological studies indicate a strong link between animal abuse and future violent behavior. In fact, in the wake of mass shootings plaguing our country, one pivotal warning sign to look out for is animal abuse.
I ask you, Assembly member ___ to stand against animal abuse, prevent violent criminals from going under the radar, easing the burden of prosecutors and providing law school students with experience in New York by cosponsoring A5315.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Zipcode, NY
STEP 2: Call Your Assembly Member Today!
After emailing your Assembly member, be sure to follow up with their office with a polite phone call. Calling takes less than two minutes, and it’s really easy! We’ve prepared a sample script for you to use but please feel free to modify it to make it more personal.
Sample Call Script to your Assembly Member
Hi, my name is _____, and I’m a New York resident from __(district)__. I’m following up on an email I sent earlier about requesting Assembly member ___ to please co-sponsor A5315.
This bill would allow law students and appointed representatives to be animal advocates in criminal cases regarding animal abuse. Easing the burden on state prosecutors and with no extra cost to the state, representatives will present their recommendations to prosecutors and the court regarding the best interest of the animal.
Thank you.
