July 6, 2001 – It looked as if the so-called animal rights bill, which has been kicked around by lawmakers since the 23rd Legislature, might have a chance of getting to the Senate floor shortly, having reached the Rules Committee. But it was not to be, as the committee voted to hold the bill Thursday. It was the third such "hold."
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, would make first-degree animal abuse a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 and up to five years in jail. It makes second-degree animal neglect a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to 100 hours of community service. It defines second-degree neglect as failing to give an animal adequate care.
First-degree abuse as defined in the bill includes physical injury, unnecessarily killing an animal, disposing of live animals in garbage bins, neglect, committing a hit and run and confining an animal in a vehicle without adequate ventilation.
The bill has strong public support. Animal rights advocates gathered more than 3,000 supporting signatures and testified at hearings on St. Thomas and St. Croix last year. The bill surfaced twice in the 23rd Legislature, both times to be "held in committee," where it languished without further attention.
In its most recent appearance, the bill was passed by the Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee and forwarded to Rules in May. Donastorg at that time pleaded with his colleagues for support. "If this bill can help curb other violent acts, it's worth your support," he said.
According to documented studies, a significant number of violent criminals have been animal abusers in their childhood or youth.
Sen. Adelbert M. Bryan has voiced his opposition to the bill at each hearing. Thursday he called it a "farce" and said nobody was going to tell him how to feed his animals. He said the bill should focus on picking up stray animals — which is included in the measure.
Neither the V.I. Agriculture Department nor the not-for-profit St. Thomas Humane Society, St. Croix Animal Shelter and Animal Care Center of St. John have the human or financial resources to round up and impound all stray animals, officials from the agencies have long stated. The not-for-profits have not received government funding for contracted services for more than two years.
The bill was held in committee by a 4-2 vote on a motion by Bryan. Voting for the motion with Bryan were Sens. Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White, a bill cosponsor. Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole and Carlton Dowe opposed the motion. Donastorg is not a committee member. Other cosponsors of the measure are Dowe and two other non-members of the committee, Sens. Lorraine Berry and Emmett Hansen II.
