Michigan animal law reform
#notonemoreanimal
The Need For Change
There are several areas where Michigan's animal laws need to change to provide better protections and improve the quality of life for animals. Some of these areas include:
1. Strengthening animal cruelty laws: Michigan could update and strengthen its animal cruelty laws to ensure that animal abuse and neglect are not tolerated. This could include increasing penalties for offenders, requiring mandatory reporting of suspected abuse, and providing more resources for animal cruelty investigations.
2. Enhancing animal shelter standards: Michigan could establish higher standards for animal shelters to ensure that animals in need receive adequate care and protection. This could include requiring shelters to provide veterinary care, proper nutrition, and adequate exercise and socialization opportunities for animals. This would require more funding.
3. Better protections for victims of veterinary malpractice and negligence: Michigan could implement measures to ensure that veterinarians are held accountable for any acts of malpractice or negligence. This could include a reform of Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affair's Board of Veterinary Medicine that oversees the conduct of veterinarians to ensure complaints are being evaluated fairly and without bias to fellow veterinary professionals, imposing stricter penalties for malpractice or negligence, and making resources more available for pet owners to file complaints and seek redress. By doing so, Michigan could help to ensure that animals receive the best possible care and that veterinarians are held to the highest standards of care, professionalism, and ethics.
4. Improving regulations on puppy mills: Michigan could establish stronger regulations on puppy mills to prevent animal abuse, neglect, and overpopulation. This could include requiring regular inspections, ensuring adequate living conditions for animals, and prohibiting the sale of dogs from unlicensed breeders.
5. Increasing animal welfare education: Michigan could promote animal welfare education in schools and communities to raise awareness about animal rights, animal welfare, and responsible pet ownership. This could include providing educational resources for teachers and students, as well as community outreach programs.
6. Strengthening protections for wildlife: Michigan could strengthen its wildlife protection laws to prevent hunting and trapping of endangered species, as well as habitat destruction and environmental degradation. This could include establishing protected areas for wildlife and regulating the use of wildlife in entertainment.
"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough."
St. Francis of Assisi
Links
Pet Ownership Saves $22.7 Billion in Annual Health Care Costs
"Man's Best Friend:" Property or Family Member? An Examination of the Legal Classification of Companion Animals and its Impact on Damages Recoverable for their Wrongful Death or Injury
Aspects of Michigan's Dog Laws
https://petmalpractice.com/studies.htm
Detailed Discussion of Veterinarian Malpractice
https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-veterinarian-malpractice#h1
Personal Property?
Michigan's archaic animal laws are outdated and fail to recognize the true value of companion animals. Despite changes in societal standards, these laws still categorize animals as "personal property" with no more value than a used coffee table found at a garage sale.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that animals should not be treated as mere objects or personal property. There are a number of ways in which society's standards and attitudes towards animals have evolved, leading to changes in how animals are viewed and treated. Some examples include:
1. Increased recognition of animal sentience: There is growing scientific evidence that animals are capable of experiencing a range of emotions, including pain, pleasure, fear, and joy. This has led to a greater appreciation of animals as beings with their own interests and needs, rather than simply as objects to be owned and used by humans.
2. Adoption of animal welfare laws: Many jurisdictions have adopted laws to protect animals from cruelty, abuse, and neglect. These laws recognize that animals have basic needs and rights that must be respected and protected, such as the right to adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care.
3. Recognition of animals as family members: Many people now view their pets as beloved members of their family, rather than as mere property. This has led to changes in how animals are treated and cared for, including greater attention to their physical and emotional well-being.
4. Shift towards animal-friendly products and practices: There is a growing trend towards using products and practices that are kinder to animals, such as plant-based diets, cruelty-free cosmetics, and eco-friendly clothing. This reflects a growing awareness of the impact that human activities can have on animals and the environment, and a desire to reduce harm and promote greater compassion towards all living beings.
5. Greater involvement of animals in human society: Animals are increasingly being used for therapeutic purposes, such as in animal-assisted therapy programs for people with mental health conditions. They are also being employed in various roles, such as search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, and even emotional support animals. This reflects a greater recognition of the value that animals can bring to human society, and a desire to treat them with greater respect and consideration.
These are just a few examples of the ways in which animals are no longer considered mere property based on today's societal standards. Michigan's animal laws need to change to reflect today's standards to improve animal welfare and reduce the harm and suffering that animals experience at the hands of humans.
Animal Law: Reform or Revolution?
Animal Law: Reform or Revolution. A book written by Anne Peters that tackles one of the normative questions fundamental to this novel field of interdisciplinary legal research – the question of the appropriate legal status and means of legal protection of animals, and frames it in terms of a well-known reform or revolution? This is a must read for every animal advocate!
Our laws have made some progress in addressing animal cruelty and abuse, but we must do more. Our laws need to recognize companion animals as sentient beings and not just property. As a first step, I have taken action towards achieving this goal, as you'll see below.
One critical issue that has not been addressed in previous efforts to change our animal laws is veterinary malpractice and negligence. It is essential that we add this to our laws to ensure accountability when people's companion animals become victims of these unethical, bad actors. We must demonstrate to lawmakers the statistics on the number of cases of veterinary malpractice that occur without consequences, the financial losses and emotional harm to pet owners, and the legal protection needed for pet owners and their animals.
Many people believe that they have no recourse when their companion animals are injured or die due to veterinary malpractice. However, that is not true. Holding these practitioners accountable is essential to effect change in our animal laws.
If you suspect that your companion animal has been the victim of veterinary malpractice or negligence, please contact Joey's Legacy right away. This 501(c)3 registered nonprofit is the leading Veterinary Malpractice organization in the US, with a nationwide network of veterinary experts and animal law attorneys who seek to hold negligent practitioners responsible for their mistakes. Since losing my Roman, this organization has been a beacon of hope for me.
Not One More Animal
Michigan's animal laws need reform particularly when it comes to holding veterinary professionals accountable for their actions. While the majority of veterinary professionals truly care about animals and provide exceptional care, better laws are needed to hold the unethical, bad actors accountable for the harm they cause.
Current laws offer little protection to animals and their owners in cases of veterinary malpractice or negligence, resulting in injury or death. This lack of accountability has led to devastating consequences, with countless animals suffering needlessly at the hands of unscrupulous or incompetent veterinarians. It is essential that Michigan's animal laws be updated to ensure that veterinary professionals are held responsible for their actions and that animals are protected from harm, while also safeguarding their owners from undue harm and financial burden. This can be achieved by implementing stricter regulations that require veterinarians to adhere to higher standards of care, more extensive training programs for veterinarians, and stronger penalties for those who violate the law.
Healthy, happy Roman before visiting Wilson Animal Hospital
Roman 27 days after his visit with Dr. Manzo at Wilson Animal Hospital. My last picture with him, the night before he died.
Roman's Story
In October 2020, I lost my beautiful 5-year-old rescued boy, Roman, due to veterinary malpractice and negligence. He died 27 days after a visit to Wilson Veterinary Hospital in Washington Township, where a new veterinarian made a mistake with his medication. The grief of losing a pet you saved with your own hands is indescribable, and I am still devastated by his loss.
In September 2022, I filed a lawsuit against Wilson Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Sara Manzo, and other staff for their malpractice and negligence that led to Roman's death. I worked with the best animal advocate attorney in Michigan, Celeste Dunn, to hold those responsible accountable. My goal was not to seek financial gain but to raise awareness about the urgent changes needed in animal laws and encourage others to take action against veterinary malpractice or negligence.
I rejected a laughable settlement offer that came with a non-disclosure agreement and a requirement that I stop sharing Roman's story on social media. I refused to be silenced with hush money. I'm tired of bad actors thinking they can dodge accountability with a payout. I was prepared to take it to trial AT ANY COST to hold accountable those responsible for my dog's untimely and preventable death.
Unfortunately, in February 2023, another veterinary malpractice case in Michigan lost. That was going to reduce my chances of winning tremendously since judges often base their decisions on similar case outcomes.
After discussing it with my attorney, in June 2023 I agreed to settle out of court but did so WITHOUT signing a non-disclosure agreement. This means I am free to talk about what happened to Roman, the lawsuit, anything my broken heart desires (which is unheard of with settlement agreements). My sweet Roman was never going to return no matter what, so I'll take this outcome as a victory!
How You Can Help
By advocating for changes in animal laws, we can improve and save the lives of companion animals in the future. When veterinary professionals understand that they can be held accountable for their mistakes and negligence, they will take better care of our beloved animals. With stronger laws in place, those who act irresponsibly will lose their licenses, and innocent animals will no longer have to suffer and die.
I am calling on all animal lovers, pet owners, animal rescues, shelters, advocacy groups, and ethical veterinary professionals to join me in this advocacy effort. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that our companion animals receive the protection they deserve.
I'll post more content regarding animal laws as well as regular updates with more information about our efforts, events, and so on. Additionally, I'll be creating a group forum where we can easily communicate, brainstorm, and collaborate. WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK to make these changes happen, so if you're interested in supporting our cause and improving animal laws, please join our mailing list below. Our companion animals deserve better protection under the law, and together, we can make it happen! LET'S DO THIS!
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