SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) - About a decade ago, Congress passed a law that criminalized the creation and distribution of videos depicting the torture of animals, but not the actual abuse itself. A new bill recently signed into law by President Donald Trump addresses that loophole.
Erin Zacholl with Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in Dewitt says the new law will aid their efforts to find new homes for animals in need.
"At Helping Hounds and at all the other organizations, when we adopt animals out to people we expect them to be treated as a permanent member of a family, and permanent members of families should never be exposed to cruelty," Zacholl said. "So for our government to recognize that through this legislation, it really resonates."
Dee Schaefer with the Central New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CNYSPCA) says it's a good law, but its success will depend on the community.
"What it's going to take is people willing to speak up to make that change," Schaefer said. "We all have to speak up if we see something wrong."
Animal welfare groups in central New York are also getting a boost thanks to Staffworks' Save A Life Campaign. Through the end of the month, Staffworks is matching donations up to $10,000 dollars that are made to 29 organizations that provide support for abandoned and abused animals in the region. Additionally, it is matching $1,000 per $5,000 additional dollars raised up to $100,000. Any organization receiving $100,000 from public donations will get a bonus $2,000 match – for a potential total of $30,000 per organization.