In many states, even the most heinous abusers are allowed to keep animals again in their lifetime. Defenseless, voiceless pets are left entirely undefended by penalties that consist of only jail time and fines. The only way to truly protect animals is to give the courts the ability to place lifetime animal ownership bans on whom they see fit. A proposed bill in Maryland makes this a real possibility.
Sign now to demand Maryland's Senate pass this amazing bill to protect animals!
The bill would allow courts to stop someone from owning animals ever again, one of the most effective ways to reduce negligence. In one case cited in the bill's creation, a woman was found with 66 neglected dogs in deplorable conditions in her small home. All 66 dogs had some kind of physical injuries;three of them were so beyond help that they had to be euthanized. And under current Maryland law, the woman who abused these poor animals – back in 2016 – would be allowed to own animals again in just a few short years. Right now, she could be in the possession of more defenseless dogs, and it would be totally legal. How are we supposed to meaningfully reduce animal abuse if we keep allowing pets to get back into the hands of abusers?
Another case described in court included a harrowing account of a dog that looked like a "fur-covered skeleton" due to lack of food. Devastatingly, the dog ended up being put down. In this case, too, the owner would be legally allowed to raise more pets in the future, even with a history of negligence. Current policy is literally killing animals, and this bill can directly address that.
If this bill is passed in Maryland, there is a chance more states could follow suit. This move could save countless animals from death and suffering by allowing courts to ban abusers from getting their hands on them. Sign the petition now to tell Maryland's Senate that we must do better to protect our beloved animals: pass this bill! 