Animal Cruelty Laws

[Dave]

I applaud you for the difference you make or both the animals & the families that adopt them. Saturday I attend Paws For A Cause in Albany, NY and spoke in depth with both the HSUS and the ASPCA. I learned a couple of things that seem to make no sense. According to the HSUS we don't see higher prosecution rates for cruelty to animals because police are not receiving the training and that said laws are "enforced / controlled" by the Agriculture and Market Laws. Most of us have seen Agriculture and Markets doing weights & measures at any business with a scale or a pump. Personally I can't see how any animal would fit in these categories. Why is it that Animal Cruelty is "enforced / controlled" by Agriculture and Markets? I have the Animal Cruelty Laws, all 406 pages, if these are the law why isn't this training mandatory?

[Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas]

Hi Dave,

That is a great question. I am not sure why the animal cruelty laws are not in the penal code like all of the other crimes out there, but it should be. Most police departments teach the laws listed in the penal code only and that is probably why the animal cruelty laws are not enforced properly. However, in New York, the police no longer have that excuse because the state requires that they receive training on the animal cruelty laws in the police acadamy and we (The ASPCA) conduct training throughout New York state through DCJS for officers already on the job.

[Dave]

Thank you for the reply, now if all states would adopt the cruelty & Neglect laws into the penal code prosecution would be easier. Of course the real answer is in education to prevent the offense from occurring.

[Melissa]

This was just posted to the local newspaper. This JUST happened last night in NJ.

LATEST NEWS: Toms River police dispatcher and wife charged in grisly Barnegat animal cruelty case
By DONNA WEAVER, Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, April 08, 2008


BARNEGAT - Matthew Teymant, 29, was arrested this morning at a relative's home in Toms River on animal cruelty charges, police said.
Yesterday, police made the gruesome of discovery of dozens of dead animals at a township home on Potomac Court that is owned by Matthew and Amanda Teymant. Matthew Teymant, a Toms River police dispatcher, is being held in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River on $25,000 bail, Drexler said. Mathew Teymant was interviewed at Barnegat Police Headquarters and he and his wife, Amanda, were charged with third-degree animal cruelty. $25,000 bail was placed on each warrant. Amanda Teymant turned herself in at the Toms River Police Department and was released after posting bond. Matthew Teymant is still being held in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.

ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) officer Thomas Yanisko said the 64 dead animals found in the home included dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs and turtles, all in different stages of decomposition.

Ocean County public records include notice of foreclosure on the property through Countrywide Home Loans on June 14, 2007.

See Wednesday's edition of The Press for complete coverage.

[Dave]

I saw it yesterday but we both know that what their charged with and what they receive are two very different things. With over crowding in correctional facilities we now have priorities on who will or will not be punished & for how long.

[Melissa]

Yup...I find it more disturbing that the husband was a police dispatcher. We actually had another local police officer suspended for investigation of running a pitbull for fighting breeding operation and they confiscated 40 dogs...BTW it wasnt the first time they had investicated him or confiscated his dogs.

[Dave]

Absolutely incredible!

[Karen]

Unbelievable verdict. If anyone is interested I found this paragraph at the following website
http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/68-dead-animal-the-s...

"If anyone would like to contact the Judge to express their displeasure, here is the contact information. Please remember, be polite! Yelling, screaming, ranting, etc. doesn’t help things, it just makes people who honestly care about the welfare of animals, all of us, look like a bunch of extremists and nutcases.

Judge Barbara Ann Villano
Ocean County Courthouse
100 Washington Street
CN 2191, CrRm 17
Toms River, New Jersey 08753
732-929-2173
732-929-4766"

You can be sure I'm going to write.