Senate Republicans File ‘PAWS Act’

Today the Massachusetts State Senate Republican Caucus filed “An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety”, or the “PAWS Act”.  The measure aims to increase the penalties of those convicted of abusing animals, such as the case of “Puppy Doe”, a two-year-old female pit bull who was discovered in a Quincy park suffering from long term, irreversible damage to her body, which included a stab wound to her eye; the splitting of her tongue to look like a serpent; dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; burned, and starved.  The ‘PAWS Act’ also provides safeguards against the future sale of animals made by those convicted of animal abuse by creating an animal abuse registry.

The heinous and abusive acts committed against animals are serious and criminal offences, however, our laws do not adequately reflect the gravity of such crimes. With the passage of the PAWS Act, those who choose to abuse animals will receive the just punish they deserve, and Massachusetts law will serve as a model for the nation.

The Senate Republican Caucus is seeking broad support from members of both parties and both branches by urging all of the members of the legislature to sign onto the bill.  The deadline for co-sponsorship is Tuesday, October 15th at 5:00pm.

The fight against animal abuse needs people from every party and every district, and we are asking all of our colleagues to join us in that fight.