Rensselaer County Legislators Lester Goodermote and Stan Brownell have joined members of the legislative majority in seeking to strengthen the State’s Buster’s Law to help prevent acts of animal abuse.
The call for a strengthening of Buster’s Law comes after recent acts of depravity against animals, including the killing of a horse in Hoosick, the deliberate starvation of a dog in Troy and the killing of two kittens, whose bodies were dumped in the area.
Goodermote and Stan Brownell said they are outraged by the shocking instance of animal cruelty in Hoosick earlier this week when a horse was brutally killed. “This is a terrible crime and disturbing because it seems to be deliberate. Why anyone would do this to an innocent animal is beyond me, and we hope there is justice in this terrible case,” said Goodermote.
The FBI and other law enforcement authorities have linked crimes against animals to future, more serious crimes. The person convicted of the case that led to the creation of Buster’s Law has since been convicted of more serious crimes.
Goodermote and Brownell want a mandatory psychological exam for those convicted of animal abuse, prohibitions that can prevent persons convicted under the statute of owning companion animals again and stricter requirements for probation of those convicted under the statute.
“These are serious acts of depravity against helpless animals. The frequency of these crimes shows there may be a need for a tougher law that can hopefully act as a deterrent,” said Goodermote.
“Crimes against animals can often escalate to more serious crimes, including violent crimes against people. Preventing these acts of abuse can help protect society in the future,” added Brownell.