Letter: Care about animals? Vote yes on Measure 5

A recent letter writer got one thing right about Measure 5: “the language of the measure appears to be OK.”

Voters should read the ballot measure for themselves and not fall prey to the scare tactics of special interest groups that want to maintain the status quo on animal cruelty.

Measure 5 is narrowly crafted to make the worst types of cruelty to companion animals a felony — such as maliciously or intentionally burning, crushing, suffocating, impaling and dismembering animals — but all other types of cruelty still would be covered by the existing North Dakota statute.

The measure is limited to dogs, cats and horses, so it does not have any impact on agriculture, hunting or other legal activities.

The Legislature has failed for years to address our weak animal cruelty laws, and last year refused to even study the issue. But if the politicians somehow have a change of heart and want to follow up by strengthening other areas of the law in the future, they can do so with a simple majority vote.

North Dakotans treat animals with respect, and it’s time for our laws to treat extreme acts of cruelty as more than a slap on the wrist. North Dakota’s pets and pet owners need protections in place this year as opposed to promises of future action by politicians.

Voters who care about protecting animals from cruelty should vote yes on Measure 5.

Karen Thunshelle, Minot, North Dakotans to Stop Animal Cruelty campaign manager

Tags: stop animal cruelty campaign, opinion, letter, letters