Lock 'em up and throw away the key? : Community opinions regarding current animal abuse penalties

Using data drawn from a sample of the general community in Central Queensland (n=1237) the aims of the present study were threefold. Firstly, to assess public opinion regarding the need for the criminal justice system (CJS) in Australia to take animal abuse seriously, secondly, to assess opinions regarding the appropriateness of current penalties for deliberate animal harm (that results in the death of the animal in question), and thirdly to assess factors that may impact upon these opinions. Over two-thirds of the sample indicated that they thought it very or extremely important for the CJS to take this type of crime seriously. The majority of people also indicated their belief that the current penalties for deliberate animal abuse are not strong enough. Variables which affected these responses included the status of the abused animal, i.e., whether respondents deemed them to be members of the family or not, whether respondents considered the animal in question to be a ‘pet’ or a ‘pest,’ gender, occupation and income of respondent. Following a discussion of the need for the CJS to respond more harshly to animal abuse the authors conclude that the public would be in favour of such a move.