BRYAN, Texas — A Bryan man is in custody after being accused of abusing a dog. Because of a bill signed into law last year by President Donald Trump last November, this man is being charged with third degree felonies.
A local animal advocacy group said they are appreciative of the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, but still feel more can be done when it comes to handling the cases.
“The number one problem that I get called about, because of my resources and so forth, is because animal control won’t come out," said Judy LeUnes, the president of Wienerspiel, a non-profit that helps homeless, unwanted and neglected animals.
LeUnes said that when it comes to animal abuse and reporting it to authorities, it depends on where alleged abusing is located.
“In the rural areas an animal issue isn’t going to be a high priority," LeUnes said.
According to LeUnes, police departments and animal control services are in need of better funding in order to handle these cases appropriately.
"I'd like to see funding go towards a whole unit of animal control (specialists)," LeUnes said. "College Station has a good one, but there are more calls coming in now. People are reporting more and more animal neglect, abuse and so forth.”
LeUnes believes it is important for people to continue to report animal cruelty to authorities even if people must go through multiple sources.
"Unless the police departments and sheriff’s offices are held accountable, it really isn’t going to change much," LeUnes said. "Sometimes you just start at the top. If you call animal control and don’t get anything then call the chief of police."
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