Elsa's Law...if you can spare a few moments for the starved filly found frozen to the ground

[magical thyme]

Two petitions to change Utah animal cruelty laws. 18 month old Elsa and her mother Anna were trapped in a paddock and left without shelter, water or food to starve by an owner who said he "couldn't afford to feed them any more." There were resources to care for them, had he sought help. But he couldn't be bothered.

One petition is for Utah residents to sign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/senator-gene-davis-please-create-and-pass-elsa-s-law-for-utah-residents-only

The second petition is for the rest of the world to let Utah's government know that we are watching:
http://www.change.org/petitions/state-sen-gene-davis-please-create-and-pass-elsa-s-law-for-non-utah-signers-only

They were spotted by chance by a neighbor passing by. Anna was still able to walk, but Elsa had collapsed and froze to the ground.

Under Utah's current laws, this criminal has been charged with exactly 2 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

"Elsa’s Law", Utah Legislature, in 76-9-301. Cruelty to animals, Utah Code, please designate equines (horses) as “companion animals”, instead of “livestock”, and/or change the violation of Subsection 2, “fail[ure] to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody”, from a Class B or C misdemeanor to a Second Degree Felony with a sentence of 1 to 15 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.

[Auntie Bush]

1. I'm happy to take a few minutes to read this horrible story and sign the petitions.

[WillyT]

2. K & R !!!

[Suziq]

3. Signed

I really cannot understand how people can be so cruel. How do they live with themselves?

I cried for days after reading this.

[magical thyme]

4. I'm crying right now...

I wanted so much for her to make it...

[UtahLib]

5. Signed as a Utah resident - Thank you

[Triana]

6. Oh DAMN. I'd hoped little Elsa would pull through

[defacto7]

7. Signed by another Utah resident.

and thanks for watching and reporting! Utah needs watching, that's for sure.

[kentauros]

8. Signed the second petition.

My thought is that even if an animal is designation "livestock" it still doesn't deserve to be treated in any cruel manner. It's just too bad the factory farms would never go for any legislation worded that way.

I love horses, even if I can't own any. Someday I will, and will have people I know to care for them if or when I can't.

[sabrina 1]

9. That is so sad. What a horrible person that he would not even call to try

to get help for them.

[magical thyme]

10. kicked for signatures...nt

[LWolf]

11. I signed the petition,

but I cannot watch that video. I'll go out and give my own girls a hug instead.

[siligut]

12. Signed

Maybe post this over in the Vegetarian, Vegan and Animal Rights Group too, still need a lot of signatures.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1131

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. Done. K&R

[alsame]

14. Done

[Duppers]

15. Signed. R&K

"Some humans aren't human."

[joeybee12]

16. Very happy to...

No fricking way should anyone consider horses livestock.

[Curmudgeoness]

17. Do NOT watch that video, but

do sign the petition. This is such an inhumane and inhuman thing to do to any animal. That foal was in such bad shape, I thought I was going to be sick.

[magical thyme]

18. I started sobbing watching it

I cried before, but the video just left me sobbing...

If I did twitter or facebook I'd put the petitions out there. They need to go viral to get enough signatures to make a difference.

[G_j]

19. done

thank you

[Sunlei]

20. signed, thank you for promoting the petitions.

It's good the law even charged the people with a crime. So sad that some people will watch their animal starve to death rather than give it away free, drive it to some local auction or even stop suffering with a bullet to the head.

Should be a Felony in Utah like it is in many other states. This is what happened to the last devils spawn horse starver in a felony state. You can see he was charged with over 100 felony counts and convicted. He also broke his parole agreement (not allowed to live with animals) and is back in jail. Looks much thinner longer he's in jail.

http://dcs-inmatesearch.ne.gov/Corrections/InmateDisplayServlet?DcsId=71105