Letter to the editor: Opponents spreading falsehoods about Measure 5

I am voting “yes” on Measure 5, which would make cruelty to dogs, cats and horses a felony in certain cases. More than 200 North Dakota volunteers gathered 25,000 signatures, double what was needed to get it on our ballot. Much misinformation about Measure 5 is being spread by some large groups inside and outside of North Dakota. Here is the truth about Measure 5.

Measure 5 creates a new section to the Century Code. By adding a new section dealing specifically with extreme acts of cruelty and not amending the existing law, any efforts by our Legislature to further strengthen our current animal cruelty law can be accomplished with a simple majority vote. Passing this law will let our lawmakers know that North Dakotans are serious about animal welfare.

The measure only covers the malicious torture of dogs, cats and horses. Farming, hunting and fishing are specifically exempt. Our measure would have covered the Cass County incident of a cat whose throat was cut with a box cutter, or the man who killed his cousin’s girlfriend’s puppy in Burleigh County, or the woman who swung a leashed dog in the air in a downtown Fargo bar. These intentional acts of cruelty need to be treated seriously.

A slap on the wrist is not the right punishment for torture. Let’s become the 49th state to have some felony penalties for animal cruelty. Please join me in voting “yes” on Measure 5. Our animals cannot wait for this protection.

Jennifer Roberts

Jamestown

Tags: opinion, letters, measures