As a North Dakota mixed animal veterinarian, I give my full support to Measure 5.
This will be North Dakota’s long-overdue step in protecting dogs, cats and horses from extreme acts of cruelty.
Simply put, Measure 5 makes it a felony to maliciously and intentionally harm a dog, cat or horse. I run cattle on my ranch; this law would not affect any of my normal husbandry procedures. Neither does it affect hunting in North Dakota.
This is a very basic and much-needed law that enables me, as a veterinarian and North Dakota citizen, to help protect animals and rid our communities of violent individuals.
Don’t think it could happen in North Dakota? Let’s not forget the two recent yet separate cases, one a college rodeo in South Dakota and the other in at a college rodeo in Arkansas, where out-of-state individuals stole horses from rodeo grounds and proceeded to beat, drag, mutilate and/or kill the poor animals.
This could happen anywhere. This difference is, if it happened in North Dakota, the violent individuals would have gotten a minimal fine and would be free to harm again.
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s a travesty not to be able to do something about it legally and protect our citizens.
As a veterinarian who has to testify in these cases, my own personal safety has been threatened.
Help protect our animals and our citizens by voting yes on Measure 5.
Shelley Lenz, Killdeer, Killdeer Veterinarian Clinic and State Avenue Vet Clinic owner
Tags: measure 5, opinion, letter, letters, killdeer
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