Mississippi Legislature: Approve Senator Hill's bill to strengthen animal cruelty laws

Senator Angela Hill proposed a senate bill during the 2016 legislative session to strengthen Mississippi's inadequate animal cruelty laws. Though it did not pass, it will be amended and filed again this year. Please read the bill from 2016 and sign the petition to show your support for increased protections for Mississippi's animals! 

The legislature is now in session for 2017. We also ask that you contact your state representatives to voice your support. Phone calls and emails make a big difference!!

Mississippi's animal cruelty laws are grossly inadequate. We urge the Mississippi Legislature to pass Senator Hill's proposed animal cruelty bill, SB2600, in order to increase protections for cats and dogs. The proposed cruelty bill will do the following:

-Allow for a felony penalty for first time aggravated cruelty

-Allow law enforcement to charge multiple counts of cruelty, up to ten

-Require psychological counseling for offenders

Violence toward animals is inextricably linked toward violence against humans. By improving animal cruelty laws, we can prevent further violence and dissuade others from breaking the law.

As a state with some of the poorest animal cruelty protections in the nation, Mississippi's negative public image is detrimental to Mississippi's tourism and economic development revenue. It also is a deterrent for potential Mississippi citizens and encourages current citizens to move to places that are more humane toward animals. 

The proposed Cruelty Bill is not a threat to farmers and hunters, and will improve the quality of life for Mississippians and Mississippi's cats and dogs.

Who's signing

Kiley Forsythe
Tawanna Martin
Kimberlee Gibson
Paula Martin
Linda Hinshaw
Bruce McMillan
Vivian Hill
Reeca Elliott
Pat Flake
scottie Bennett-Wilkerson
Deborah Price
Karen Hardin
Deborah Hartpence
Dr. Elizabeth Smith, DVM
Sheila Clifton
Karl Schwab
Stephen Woodgate
Sarah Wigley
Robert Patteson
Jeremy England
Rhonda Myers
Deena Lamke
Mary Bethea
Karen Clark
Rebecca Miller
Debbie Mason
Melissa French
Chelsy Burchfield
Nikki Griffin
2,485 SIGNATURES
100,000 signatures

Will you sign?


Showing 2303 reactions

  • Kiley Forsythe
  • Tawanna Martin
  • Kimberlee Gibson
  • Paula Martin
  • Linda Hinshaw
  • Bruce McMillan
  • Vivian Hill
  • Reeca Elliott
  • Pat Flake
  • scottie Bennett-Wilkerson
  • Deborah Price
  • Karen Hardin
  • Deborah Hartpence
  • Dr. Elizabeth Smith, DVM
    I am a veterinarian, I’ve read the bill 3 times and cannot in any way understand why this would be lobbied against or voted down.
  • Sheila Clifton
  • Karl Schwab
    Animals are critical to our well being. Please protect them and make animal cruelty punishable under the law.
  • Stephen Woodgate
    Please support legislation that will protect “pets.” We need all the protection we can get for our pets. Parts of southern culture are not sensitive to the miss-treatment that borders on torture that comes from a detachment from the “pet” that lives in the back yard. We have seen malnourished dogs with open sores whose owners are indifferent to the plight of their “pet”. From that perspective hunted animals fair better as a good shot leads to an instant kill rather than prolonged suffering.
  • Sarah Wigley
    Mississippi, lets get real.
  • Robert Patteson
  • Jeremy England
    For Mooney, Foxy, and Mia.
  • Rhonda Myers
    I want first offense felony for abuse of cats & dogs. Stop letting a Farm Bureau tell you what to do
  • Deena Lamke
  • Mary Bethea
  • Karen Clark
    Mississippi Legislature: Approve Senator Hill's bill to strengthen animal cruelty laws for dogs and cats
  • Karen Clark
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Debbie Mason
    Debbie Mason
  • Melissa French
    Appalled at how lacking MS is with animal cruelty laws. Story after story of horrific abuse and tales of aweful puppy mills.
  • Chelsy Burchfield
  • Nikki Griffin