Citizens Demand Stricter Penalties for Animal Abuse

Public outrage over the brutal attack on a horse by three youths has spilled from social media into the streets. News Five spoke with several people who expressed their disgust and called for stricter penalties and better enforcement. Many citizens criticized the current laws, which only impose a maximum fine of one hundred dollars. On Thursday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams mentioned that the youths face other charges that could lead to prison sentences of six months or more. Meanwhile, a petition on Change.org by concerned citizen Liz S has gathered over two thousand signatures, urging authorities to take immediate action to protect animals like dogs, cats, and horses from neglect and abuse. The petition calls for tougher laws and penalties for animal cruelty, better enforcement of animal ownership regulations, and educational programs to promote compassion and responsibility. Here are some of the views shared by Belizeans in downtown Belize City earlier today.

 

Lawrence Vernon, Concerned Citizen

“It’s most disgraceful for the country of Belize. We are supposed to be compassionate people and not even our own human beings are we are being compassionate with and now we are extending it to animals. It’s a big black eye for the country. The poor animals can’t think for themselves and you’re going to abuse just for nothing? I think that’s most disgraceful. Quite a few of the laws need to be revised and looking at this one of a hundred dollars to chop up a horse, that’s ridiculous. I think definitely, the government or the politicians should look into it and address it.”

 

Gloria Fritz, Concerned Citizen

“I think its cruel and I think that human beings are a little bit higher than animals because they communicate different from us so an animal is like a person. You need to treat them good and they can be faithful friends and they are reliable.”

 

Marion Ali

“So when people abuse them, what should happen to these people?”

 

Gloria Fritz

“They should receive some kind of punishment.”

 

Marion Ali

“Is a hundred-dollar fine punishment in your eyes?”

 

Gloria Fritz

“No. No, it should be more severe.”

 

Jose Uc Espat, Activist

“In 2019 I had rescued a horse that was left for dead. Ms Chandra Nisbet had contacted me and the horse was right in front of her mom’s house. We rescued the horse. I brought the horse back from almost death’s door and I don’t know if it was the kids that had the horse came into my yard and chopped the horse on the back and the forehead just the way these guys chopped this one. Myself and Ms Rudon have been trying to advocate – because I’m the one they have as the Humane Society’s horse expert. We can no longer have hundred-dollar fines or anyone that abuses animals. We have to have some jail time or we have to have some public whipping. Whip them in public, the same way they abuse animals, we have to have them feel that pain because this is no joke.”

 

Voice of: Concerned Citizen

“It’s totally disgraceful because dehn animal can’t talk fi dehnself and we as human beings should share the love of God. Nuh di abuse up animals cause that nuh me no sense. What can an animal do to you – actually a horse, what can he or she do to you? So they should get the full extent of the law for abusing a dumb animal.”

 

Marion Ali

The full extent of the law at this point is a hundred-dollar fine.”

 

Voice of: Concerned Citizen

“That’s too lenient.”

 

Connie Hyde, Concerned Citizen

“I felt it’s wrong because the horse nuh have no sense and what can a horse do to a person that they going to hurt him? So what do you feel ought to be done now that they have done this to the animal? The police have charged them and by the current law, the fine will be a hundred dollars each. Jail, fine and community service, all three.”

 

Anthony Chan, Concerned Citizen

“I have dogs myself and I love my dogs and when I see stuff like that ih mek I feel bad.”

 

Marion Ali

“What do you think about the penalty though – a hundred-dollar fine for abusing an animal that severely?”

 

Anthony Chan

“That’s not fair. Ih need fi be more than that.”

 

Marion Ali

“What do you recommend.”

 

Anthony Chan

“Maybe time in jail.”

 

Jose Uc Mena, Concerned Citizen

“Some of the people think that they are animals and we could work them, we could lash them, we could hurt them, but they don’t realize that they have feelings like we. Apart from that, that animal help we in our life, in our work. Horses, donkeys, all the animals – we use to make our work easier. So we have to educate our children from small. They have to respect all the living animals or plants.”