Soup de Jour: "Bigazzi in umido" -
Copyright Sharon McEachern
CATS ARE WITNESSES to Bigazzi's stewing, above, just as the loved ones of murder victims are invited to attend executions.
Ethic Soup continues its follow-up on Italy's TV chef 'Beppe' Bigazzi who was suspended from his 10-year job on Italy's public TV, after he outraged Italian viewers with his favorite dish -- cat stew, or casserole-of-cat.
You can read Ethic Soup's previous posts on Bigazzi here and here.
ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRIES
We need animal abuser registries, just like California has for sex offenders and arsonists -- an online registry. In fact, a proposal to create just such an online registry of animal abusers, complete with home addresses and places of work, was introduced last week in the California Senate by Dean Florez, the State Senate's majority leader.
If it passes, it would be the first of its kind in the country. Under this bill, any person convicted of a felony involving animal cruelty will have to register with the police, provide personal information and a current photograph.
"A registry of abusers would help ensure animals are not being adopted out to convicted abusers, end the cycle of abuse and increase the likelihood of finding these pets the forever home they deserve," says Florez, as reported by This Dish is Vegetarian Blog.
A registry could be valuable in tracking people who run puppy mills and animal-fighting rings, reports the New York Times, quoting California Attorney Gillian Deegan: "A lot of times these people will just pick up and move to another jurisdiction or another state if they get caught. It (the proposed bill) would definitely help on those types of cases where people jump around."
AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) helped to draft the bill in California and has announced its intention to create public registries in each state, identifying anyone convicted of felony animal abuse including violence, sexual abuse, animal fighting, and neglect. The group is promoting the registry not only as a way to notify the public but also as a potential early warning system for other crimes.
"We know there's a link between those who abuse animals and those whoperform other forms of violence," says Stephan Otto, director of legislative affairs for ALDF.
SERIAL KILLERS ALSO ANIMAL ABUSERS
ALDF Executive Director Stephen Wells adds that: "Animal abuse is not only a danger to our cats, dogs, horses, and other animals, but also to people. Many animal abusers have a history of domestic violence or other criminal activity, and there is a disturbing trend of animal abuse among our country's most notorious serial killers."
The Animal Legal Defense Fund has established a campaign which promotes model legislation that can be enacted at the state level at ExposeAnimalAbusers.org.
TO READ "HISSSSS -- ITALIANS OUTRAGED, TV NETWORK FIRES CHEF BEPPE BIGAZZI OVER CAT MEAT STEW" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "ITALY'S NEW SOUP DU JOUR: HEAD OF BIGAZZI" CLICK HERE.
by Sharon McEachern
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