What is Animal Cruelty?
Animal Cruelty is the act of creating physical harm or nutritional harm to a non-human animal. These usually result from neglecting an animal creating health problems for the animal by not feeding them, keeping them in a clean living space, not respecting their habitats, or abandonment of animal, which in result could case diseases, malnutrition, and even death. Some cases, an animal can suffer physical abuse from their owner creating physical pain, deforming of their body, and death.
Table of Contents
- Laws of Animal Cruelty
- Rates of Animal Cruelty
- Punishments of Animal Cruelty
- How to Report
- Agencies
- References
Laws of Animal Cruelty
It is illegal to cause any cruelty to animals or birds (Chapter 8, Section 5). Other laws provided that can add an effect to animal cruelty is foul smelling animals prohibited (Chapter 8, Section 9), diseased or injured animals: can not bring a diseased animal or an animal that is injured or carrying contagious diseases (Chapter 8, Section 10), and exposing a dead animal to view: only can move when animal is fully covered (Chapter 8, Section 14) [1].
Rates of Animal Cruelty
The rates of animal cruelty in Bloomington are relatively average compared to the United States with Bloomington. South Hill neighborhood sits in the 51st percentile meaning that 49 percent of neighborhoods in the United States are safer in the United States for animal cruelty. The rate for animal cruelty in Bloomington is 0.0345 per 1000 residents during a year and in South Hill neighborhood, the chance of being involved in animal cruelty may be as high as 1 in 13,062. With this average number, Bloomington can be a control for statistics in the United States as this is making this an average community for animal cruelty statistics. [2]
A factor to potential animal cruelty rates is Illinois's neighboring state Missouri has the most abusive mills for 11 consecutive years. Missouri is about 2 hours south on Interstate 55 from Bloomington-Normal which animals can be moved from Bloomington to Missouri to potentially make larger quantities of risk of animal cruelty. Another major statistic that is useful in relating animal cruelty rates in Bloomington-Normal is, according to USA Today, roughly 85% of people arrested for animal abuse or cruelty have had previous arrests (70% of those previous arrests are felonies). USA Today also shows that 70% of people that committed domestic violence were also found to be animal abusers. [3]
According to PropertyClub, Bloomington sits as the tenth most dangerous city to reside in as of 2021 (their latest FBI reports). Bloomington's crime rate is 1,899 per 100,000 with a 1 in 53 chance of being a victim for any crime. In 2021, Bloomington had an aggressive rate of four murders, nineteen robberies, 152 assaults, and 141 burglaries. [4] These rates paired with the national stat of repeated offenders rate can be a big factor in the rates of animal cruelty in Bloomington.
Punishments of Animal Cruelty
Animal cruelty results in a fine and minimal jail time depending on the severity of the crime. [1] Displayed below are summarized situations of animal cruelty in McLean county to specifically show results of different animal cruelty cases.
1. Case of Gary Eustice
This article goes over the incident of Gary Eustice who killed two dogs in his garage and leaving them out on a country road. He pleaded before a judge that he killed the dogs himself to save money on a humane euthanasia since he couldn’t afford it. He also stated that he was “clueless” that what he did was a crime. He was sentenced to 24 months of conditional discharge and 200 hours of community service. [5]
2. Case of Curtis Cleary
Peoria Journal Star explains the incident of Curtis Cleary, who pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty and received two and a half years in prison as the result of starving and killing more than 70 cats and dogs. There were dozens of decaying animal corpses in his basement and a nearby barn. Cleary blamed his struggles with alcohol and depression ass the reason he lashed out on the animals like that. [6]
3. Case of Judah Sliker
This article explains the incident of Judah Sliker as he was pulled over in between LeRoy and Downs on I-74 with an animal hauler with an injured zebra, 130 goats, six cows, and a sheep. He was arrested on animal cruelty charges and is currently awaiting trial at McLean County. [7]
4. Case of Top Paw
This article explains how a rural Hudson shelter was seized their license and their dogs from McLean County Animal Control after a notice of Impoundment. Over time there were plenty of allegations against Top Paw about their hording of animals and making the living conditions inhumane to the animals. A woman listed as the owner/operator for Top Paw refused to request for comment. People in the community did speak their thoughts to WGLT on their thoughts for the horrid conditions Top Paw put their furry friends through. The dogs are planned to be transported to other shelters like Wishbone and The Human Society of Central Illinois. [8]
How to Report
Per the City of Bloomington, persons with a complaint about animal abuse may contact the Bloomington Police Department at (309) 820-8888. Bloomington contracts with the McLean County Animal Control which can be contacted directly by calling them at (309) 888-5060.
Agencies
References
[1] “City of Bloomington, Illinois.” eCode360. Nov 13, 2023. https://ecode360.com/BL4015. Feb. 22, 2024.
[2] "South Hill, Bloomington, IL Animal Cruelty Rates and Animal Cruelty Maps." CrimeGrade. https://crimegrade.org/animal-cruelty-south-hill-bloomington-il/. Feb 22, 2024
[3] Sleight, Mandy and McGinley, Kara. “Animal abuse facts and statistics of 2024.” USA Today. Jan 22, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/pet-insurance/animal-abuse-statistics/. Feb 22, 2024.
[4] "10 Most Dangerous Cities in Illinois." PropertyClub. Oct 20, 2023. https://propertyclub.nyc/article/most-dangerous-cities-in-illinois. Feb 26, 2023..
[5] “Normal man tells judge he was “clueless” killing dogs was a crime: Reported” CBS News. Nov 29, 2018. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/animal-cruelty-normal-man-clueless-gary-eustice-guilty-plea/. Feb 22, 2024.
[6] "McLean County man sentenced for animal cruelty." Peoria Journal Star. June 7 2013. https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/2013/06/07/mclean-county-man-sentenced-for/42414908007/. Feb 20, 2024.
[7] Packowitz, Howard. “Injured zebra euthanized after traffic stop near Bloomington leads to discovery of more than 130 animals.” 25 News Now. Sept 28, 2023. https://www.25newsnow.com/2023/09/28/injured-zebra-euthanized-after-traffic-stop-near-bloomington-leads-discovery-more-than-130-animals/. Feb 22, 2024.
[8] Denham, Ryan. "McLean County animal shelter Top Paw faces investigation and allegations of inhumane care and hoarding." WGLT. March 30, 2023. https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-03-30/mclean-county-animal-shelter-top-paw-faces-investigation-amid-allegations-of-inhumane-care-and-hoarding. Feb 29, 2024.
