Letter to the editor: Measure 5 isn’t the answer to animal cruelty issues

People have asked for my opinion as a veterinarian on Measure 5.

Two groups seek your support: one, North Dakotans for Responsible Animal Care, composed of the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association, North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, North Dakota Farm Bureau, North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota Board of Animal Health and the Department of Agriculture; two, North Dakotans to Stop Animal Cruelty, initially started by several North Dakota individuals who have supported previous legislation against animal cruelty. These failed, so the individuals looked for support outside North Dakota and found the Washington, D.C.-based, well-funded Humane Society of the United States.

I have serious concerns about Measure 5, and do not support it. It only addresses the most extreme cases of animal abuse. When our veterinarians have assisted law enforcement, it has been for animal neglect, abandonment and less extreme cases of cruelty. Are these “lesser” cases not worth protecting also? Only three species are listed on the measure. What about cruelty to other species in North Dakota? As Measure 5 is proposed and presented, if ratified, it will be on the books for seven years. No one can touch it. If the NDVMA, Stockmen’s Association and others are correct and this measure does have more far-reaching effects than founders expected — tough. There’s nothing we can do, except deal with seven years of established precedence based on Measure 5. HSUS, the financial backer of Measure 5, and heads behind the very emotion-based campaign, are not from North Dakota, and have an animal rights agenda that does not reflect our values of animal agriculture and sportsmen.

At the heart of the debate is our North Dakota reliance on animal agriculture. North Dakota needs to be very vigilant to legislation that opens North Dakota up to changes that long term will have an adverse effect on our animal agriculture and sportsmen. Since when does a group give significant financial support to a cause without expecting something in return or furthering its own agenda? I appreciate the efforts of North Dakotans involved with this measure. Our veterinary clinic has been asked to assist law enforcement with a number of humane complaints, so we understand the need for, and sometimes frustration with, current animal legislation. However, if the North Dakota judicial system is unwilling to cite people for misdemeanor cruelty offenses, I feel they will be even more reluctant to brand someone a felon. And animal cruelty does get prosecuted in North Dakota under current law!

We need laws that will work, from North Dakotans, no strings attached, no subtext agenda, no unchangeable rules that open North Dakota up to changes our reliance on animal agriculture can’t handle. I recommend voting no on Measure 5.

Dr. Debra Trnovec

Jamestown

(Trnovec is a North Dakota licensed, practicing mixed animal veterinarian from Carrington and Jamestown’s Southwood Veterinary clinics, member and past president of the North Dakota Veterinary Association)

Tags: opinion, letters, measures