Landmark Ruling: Animals Can Legally Be Considered Victims, Just Like Humans

[n2doc]

The Oregon Supreme Court this month passed a landmark ruling that will change the way animals are treated under the law in the state for the better. The ruling will ensure that any animal can be seen as a legal “victim” in a case, affording animals more basic rights to protect them from abuse.

The ruling was made on the case of a man who was convicted of starving 20 horses and goats on his property. The judge’s decision allotted a separate count of second-degree animal neglect for each animal, noting that each animal was a separate victim on his own.

The distinction might sound obvious — but it wasn’t legally accepted at the time that Arnold Nix, the defendant, was first convicted in 2009. During his case, Nix argued that the law defines animals as the property of their owners, so the word “victim” shouldn’t apply to them. As of this month’s hearing, the word “victim” does apply.

“To acknowledge that animals are victims of crime, that’s really common sense to us,” said Lora Dunn, staff attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund in Portland. And the ruling could lead to longer prison sentences for those convicted of animal abuse in the state.

more

https://www.thedodo.com/landmark-ruling-animals-can-le-685596943.html

[COLGATE4]

1. Would be interesting to see what the court

actually said in its opinion.

[JJChambers]

2. So, in Oregon, are legally hunted and harvested Elk going to be murder victims?

Better call Homicide

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. I suspect people who aren't looking for reasons to roll their eyes

will simply apply the law more narrowly, and simply in the same way it was applied here, to single them out as 'individuals' for the purposes of laws that already apply to them. You'll still be able to eat a rack of ribs in Oregon.

[dballance]

4. Don't be so obtuse.

I think one can infer the ruling applies to domesticated animals like the horses and goats mentioned in the OP. Or, dogs and cats.

From reading the opinion, the word "victim" in this case is applied as to its meaning under the Oregon animal abuse and neglect statutes. Those statutes apply to domesticated animals and pets. Not to wild animals that are commonly hunted. Stop making silly statements in order to make fun of Oregon. My home.

Here is a link to the opinion: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/docs/S060875.pdf

[Helen Borg]

5. If corporation can, why not animals?

At least, they are biological organisms.

[greiner3]

19. "If corporation can, why not animals?"

Beat me to it...

[pintobean]

6. So, Spider Woman can be objectified?

[hifiguy]

14. Maybe just the "spider" part.

[pipoman]

7. Makes sense as long as properly worded to

Apply only to intentionally mistreating animals. Humane treatment in life and death for domestic animals. Property rights should still apply in regard to life or death of the animals.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Good. Animals have more in common with people than corporations

As I type, Swashbuckler is cleaning himself on top of the tall bookcase beside me. Senator Warren would recognize that Swashbuckler has a heart, unlike British Petroleum or JPMorganChase.

[gtar100]

9. Good step in the right direction. I'm sure some meat eaters will object to this but the point of

protecting animals in this way is to stop abuse. Obviously too many people are incapable of controlling themselves and this in itself won't stop them from mistreating animals, but why on earth would anyone deem animals suffering for reasons of neglect and malice as something we should accept as okay? It's sociopathic. It needs to stop and we need to stop pretending that the pain and suffering animals feel isn't real or not important. We share this planet with them; must we go on making it a living hell for so many of them?

[Garion_55]

10. I doubt it will help peoples dogs much

cops will still blow them away almost every day and get away with it

[LWolf]

15. In Oregon

when a cop shoots a dog, injuring, but not killing, the public shows up in person to protest. The same outrage is shown for the police dog shot by a suspect.

[procon]

11. I hope this sets a new precident

to give animals legal protections as the sentient beings they are and not just pieces of property like a sofa or table.

[EEO]

12. Now if only humans can be considered victims. We have corporations and animals now.

[packman]

13. Mark Twain said it best---

"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
- Notebook, 1894"

When I asked my cat about his views on being a victim, he replied by licking his ass and then throwing up on my wife's hand-stitched quilt.

[C Moon]

16. I think this is great!

[Cleita]

17. It's about time. I've seen too much in rural areas of the

abuse of farm animals either from neglect or out and out cruelty in the past.

[narnian60]

18. Hurray!!!

[MissDeeds]

20. About time

Anyone who would harm an animal, let alone a human is, in my opinion, depraved.

K&R

[BlancheSplanchnik]

21. About time. may this realization spread quickly. n/t

[arikara]

22. That is a wonderful law

now, does Oregon have factory farms? There are plenty of victims in those institutions.