Re: College student’s cat killed after being put in washing machine, Huntsville Forester, March 5.

What outrage and sadness I felt upon reading this article. And it is no isolated incident. It comes on the heels of another sick occurrence: Cat shot seven times, found on shoulder of Williamsport Road, Huntsville Forester, Feb. 6.

Regrettably, when Sylvia Gough’s kitten Thor was brutally killed, the main charge laid by the Ottawa police was mischief. This, thanks to our flimsy federal animal cruelty laws. Surely, such abuse constitutes more than mischief.

These animal cruelty laws, virtually unchanged since 1892, do not make it a crime to brutally or viciously kill an animal. Clearly, the law needs to change so that major charges and stiffer penalties, including prison terms, can be brought against those who abuse animals.

There is a Private Member’s Bill: C-373, before the House of Commons, which would both close such gaping inadequacies and increase the penalties.

Given that we have a minority government, it is critically important that Bill C-373 receive first reading as soon as possible. There have been several other bills regarding animal cruelty which previous federal governments have let die on the order papers.

Although no legislation can heal the grief Ms. Gough feels on the loss of her kitten, I urge the readers of the Forester to contact our MP, the Hon. Tony Clement, and encourage him to do all in his power to support Bill C-373 and hasten it into law.

(Bill S-203, which originated in the Senate, would not make it a crime to brutally or viciously kill an animal, and is not the solution to our problems.)

Write our MP, The Hon. Tony Clement, about Bill C-373, at:  House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6. No stamp is needed.

Kim Short,
Novar