News Flash Update!
Iowa Federation of Humane Societies
Makes Plans to Hire Lobbyist to Strengthen Existing Animal Cruelty Laws
To Felony Status
At their last meeting in Des Moines, the Iowa Federation of Humane Societies had as their special guest, Laura Sykes, Director of the Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, who gave a presentation on the tragedy that occurred March 7
th
at their shelter, where 17 cats were bludgeoned to death and a dozen more critically injured by 3 men who broke into the animal shelter and proceeded to beat cats with baseball bats. Laura spoke about the incident and the publicity that has ensued and the tremendous outpouring of sorrow and concern about animal cruelty such as this, that has come from people all over the country. Media coverage has been significant both in the state of Iowa as well as the nation. Recently Fox Cable News carried a broadcast about the cat killings as well as the NBC Today Show and the Associated Press just issued a national press release on the story. CBS 48 Hours has plans to do an hour documentary on the cat killings and will follow the story through the actual trial.
The case is scheduled to go to trial on November 4th
in Davis County in Bloomfield, Iowa. The 3 men are charged with 2 third degree felony counts and one aggravated misdemeanor, but these charges have nothing to do with animal cruelty as the penalties for even such an extreme crime as this are only misdemeanors in Iowa. One of the defendants pleaded guilty and will serve as state's witness in the case against the other two charged.
Laura urged the Federation to consider hiring a lobbyist to try to improve existing animal cruelty laws in Iowa, so that a crime such as this one, or any other where animals are abused or killed would be a felony rather than just a misdemeanor. Tom Colvin, President of the Federation agreed and has committed $7,500 towards the $15,000 needed to hire the lobbyist and has asked us to raise the other half through supporters and internet contacts that we may have. So we are putting out the word—please donate whatever you possibly can to help Iowa strengthen it's animal cruelty laws, so that these wonderful cats will not have died in vain.
Please go to Noah's Ark to donate on-line via e-mail. Or mail your tax-deductible contribution to Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, P.O. Box 748, Fairfield, IA 52556. Earmark your donation to the Lobbyist Fund. Thank you all for your support!