Felony Animal Cruelty Law
             Animals everywhere are abused and sometimes killed by their owners and before Busters Law there wasn't much law enforcement officials could do about it, these animals can not fight for themselves or hire a lawyer to defend them in a court of law. Usually these animal abusers have either a history of violent behavior or are on their way to a violent criminal lifestyle towards humans. Animal abuse is often considered a gateway crime to more serious violent acts committed against humans. When a fly or other small insect lands on me in the summertime, I swat it away and sometimes kill it in it's tracks, this isn't the type of abuse Busters Law deals with, Busters law deals with the intentional killing or serious injury of household pets. This law makes any crimes like this a felony, in hopes of protecting household pets from these violent individuals.
             When an 18 month old tabby cat was doused with kerosene and burned to death by a Schenectady teenager in 1997 it brought up major discussions about what should be done in these types of cases dealing with animal cruelty. Busters Law was named after this cat, Busters Law is also known as the Felony Animal Cruelty Law, this felony if brought on a person is punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Before this Law was put into action the punishment for such an act was a misdemeanor conviction and a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Governor George Pataki passed this specific law in June of1999. He signed this law live on a popular news segment of Channel 13 News WTEN, called "Pet Connection." During the segment he informed viewers that this law would go into effect November 1st 1999.
             Pets are thought of as a member of the family to many US families, this is why this law needs to be respected. With so many people caring so much about their pets something n...