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John,
Twenty years have passed since we took on the case of a then six-year-old elephant named Rose-Tu, and the details still haunt me. But there is cruelty that persists in this world, and it is up to you and me to stop the abuse of innocent animals. We must continue fighting for them.
In April 2000, an Oregon Zoo staff member, in full view of witnesses, used a bullhook — a long wooden or metal rod with a pointed metal hook on the end to force elephants into compliance — to beat and sodomize Rose-Tu. We helped prosecutors secure a conviction against Rose-Tu’s abuser. Then we drafted Oregon's "Rose-Tu" bill, which became law in 2001. In a major victory for Oregon’s animals, the law:
- Statutorily recognized connections between domestic violence and animal cruelty
- Removed the requirement that prosecutors prove an animal victim experienced pain in order to charge animal cruelty
- Ensured prosecutors in Oregon no longer needed to prove that the over 176 cuts on Rose-Tu’s body caused her pain; the legal question was simply whether the defendant injured the elephant.
Laws, like Rose-Tu’s bill, that acknowledge violence to animals seldom stops there, are becoming more common. Someone who hurts animals often also hurts people. Studies have shown relationships between animal cruelty and domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. This is yet another reason why cruelty toward animals must be taken seriously by law enforcement and by society. This is for the sake of the animals themselves, and for people who are also at risk.
No matter how hard the battle, how disturbing the cruelty, we cannot stop fighting. As we reflect on our victories for animals the last 40 years, we know our work is far from over. We must continue to win justice for animals today just as we have together in the past four decades. Please step up your commitment to animals with your first gift today to help us bring animal abusers to justice and secure critical legal protections for animals.
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For the animals,
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Stephen Wells
Executive Director
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This email was sent to [email protected].
© 2020 Animal Legal Defense Fund
525 East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931 | (707) 795-2533 |
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