MD bill may make animal abusers pay

“The person who has done the deed should be paying for the cost of care.”

Those were the words of Patty Quimby, the executive director of the Talbot Humane Society, and the deed she speaks of is animal cruelty.

Currently in Maryland, when an abused animal falls into the hands of a state humane society the cost of caring for the animal eventually falls to taxpayers.

But Senate Bill 393 could change that.

“This bill simply states that if a person is found guilty of animal cruelty in the state of Maryland they are responsible for the cost of care while the animal is in our custody.”, says Quimby, who has testified in support of the bill.

As Executive Director at the Talbot Humane Society she has seen first-hand the cost of abuse both for the animals, and for the agency’s finances.

“What happens is we immediately begin incurring expenses.” and “We have to hold on to those animals until court often, the cost of care for them rises daily, the cost to feed medicate.”, said Quimby.

If the bill passes the humane society would still be hit with those expenses.

But if the animal’s owner is found guilty in court they would be paid back by the convicted abuser.

Repayment which would ultimately take the burden of care off of taxpayers.

“It’s really simple but it’s been something that’s been very difficult to get through the legislature over the past several years.”

Different versions of the bill passed the House and Senate last week.

As it stands right now, it will go back to the house judiciary for a vote.

Depending on the vote it will either die or go to conference.