Jan 20, 2006 9:24 pm US/Central
Texas Animal Abuse Laws Allow Killing Of Pets
by Mary Stewart
(CBS 11 News)
A Texas group says animal abusers can get off without any punishment because of a loophole in the law. According to the group, this loophole is so big that a Parker County man recently arrested for killing a dog could avoid prosecution.
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler says that three puppies are left without a mother after she was decapitated with a sword. "Cut off the head of the dog, body gutted."
The sheriff arrested 20-year old Ricky Moore in conjunction with this act, but Moore may face no consequences.
Randy Turner, a lawyer with the Texas Humane Legislation Network, says, "There's a real danger of this guy getting off. It's absurd!"
Turner points out that the penal code says a person has the right to kill an animal provided that it is a stray or it was not tortured. He explains, "If a dog died quickly, there's no torture."
Turner and his group argue that torture is hard to prove.
In four recent Texas cases, the Texas Human Legislation Network says defendants were acquitted for abusing dogs and cats.
Sheriff Fowler still says that Moore, if found guilty, will face a stiff penalty.
The three orphaned puppies are up for adoption at the Weatherford Animal Shelter.
(CBS 11 News)
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