Farnorth, I will be emailing my Senator, Assemblyman, and Congressman on this. The more that are informed the better. I applaud your efforts and admire your cause. All of you have a place in heaven.

Last session Rep. Nick Milroy introduced "WindChill's Law", drafted as a result of a 9-month-old colt being rescued in Douglas County after he was left to die, frozen to the ground, in February of 2007. He was just over half what he should have weighed (full story found on the non-profit's website www.thewindchilllegacy.org) AB 747/SB 555 passed the Assembly late in the session but was not allowed to come to the Senate floor. It's truly a grassroots effort from NW WI: 5 WindChill Legacy members re-wrote the WI animal abuse statutes after reading and researching EVERY animal abuse statute in every state in the U.S. We are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and have no ties to any activist groups. 3 of our group personally visited as many of the Reps and Sens as we could manage to answer questions and discuss our bill. We live 6 hours away in the Superior area, so each trip to Madison is a big one for our members. We would appreciate all the support you folks can give us throughout our state, as "WindChill's Law" will come up again next session. It covers abuse and neglect of all domesticated animals, and offers counseling as a sentencing option as well. Please help stop the circle of abuse and neglect in Wisconsin!

Amazing how many people are willing to be vigilantes. Even stupid and cruel people have the right to due process.

As far as Hixson goes, I think he is a political lightweight. If his constituents contacted him it is his job to propose legislation and see if he has the co-sponsors to get it introduced.

The story should note that though Rep. Hixson is drafting legislation now, it cannot be introduced (since the legislative session is over) until after the November elections in January.

So if Hixson proposes this law he is grandstanding. If he were to have done nothing, he'd be insensitive to the suffering of some of his constituents. Sounds like to some, he couldn’t win no matter what he does. Did you stop and think that maybe because this person is going on trial is why he is proposing it now? When it is in the public’s eye is the best time to get support. Then again for some of you that have stopped to think, maybe it’s time to start again!

The full article in the print edition mentions that Casey's owners contacted Hixson about introducing legislation. So I wouldn't call it grandstanding, I'd call it being responsive to constituents.
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The full article also states that the guy who shot the dog with the bow and arrow, when confronted by the owner, said, "You're lucky it wasn't a gun." This guy is sick and the punishment needs to fit the crime.

I don't care if Hixon is grandstanding, if that's what it takes to get a serious animal abuse law on the books then so be it. I'm tired of people getting off easy for abusing animals. This is an intentional crime and someone needed to step up and change the law.

Folks, a felony charge is very serious business. I'm in support of increasing the punishment for a crime such as this, but if we continue to make every crime a felony then a real felony crime is diminished.

We can all agree this act was dispicable, but Hixson is grandstanding and trying to win over voters. We need to enforce the laws we have.

Laws without proper enforcement, not worth that much.

Abuse of anything, any creature or any person should all be treated the same. People who lose control and punch walls, have that disorder to lose control...period. 1st its a wall, then a person. An object in their hands becomes a weapon, pets, children...all in danger. people like this need help. There are lots of emotionally unstable people in this society. When people have an emotional outburst they do not think logically.

Impala/ I may disagree with you on one subject but I'll always be your ally on another. This is how we all find in some twisted blogger world way that we are alike, but different, and it's okay.

Impala/ from good to bad or bad to good? Be gentle.

TJ my whole opinion of you just changed with that last post.

i hear this travesty happens to hundreds of deer every year

This is a very serious issue. Think of how many times you have read about young people who abused and killed animals and grow up to abuse and kill people. This guy was probably one of them who just got caught. Lock him up forever !

Hixson is far less concerned by the plight of animals than in his politcal future. That doesnt mean that the actions of Moore werent deplorable. I would support stricter punishment in this case but would be cautious about any feel good law, especially one drafted just before election. I also dont support vigilantes. Everyone deserves to be proven guilty before being punished.

Nothing makes me more furious than the abuse of animals, nothing. I took in a stray cat once and discovered all his teeth had been broken. He had to eat soft food for the rest of his life. Turns out the neighbor saw I had him and bragged how he had hit the cat in the mouth with a golf club when he caught him in his trash. I was living in a trailer park at the time and when this neanderthal went up north for a hunting trip, somehow the heat tape used to keep his pipes from freezing mysteriously became unplugged and his pipes burst. He came home to 8 inches of water in his trailer. Wonder how that happened.

My point is this law is good and if they need any additional punishments for these s.o.b.'s, I'll make myself available.

Hixson wants and got some publicity before the next election. He obviously wants to appear like he is doing something besides raising our taxes.

This is not the only animal that was shot by bow and arrow or a gun . In Hanover , a Woman was almost shot when she went out to feed a feral cat that she has been taking care of . As she got within 2 feet of the cat , a neighbor fired at the cat which killed the cat , richoched off the garage missing her by a few inches and went through her Picture window . I don't know if he even paid for the window and only got it for firing a gun in the city limits . I don't think he goy anything for killing the cat and the woman still cries trying to tell anyone about what happened . How's that for Justice !

42 months OR a $10,000 fine?? Seriously that is all this guy will get? That is just wrong!

You're probably right janesvillean....and in the send the actual time served will probably be probation.

That is just plain mean. I hope it becomes law. People who act so maliciously deserve to be locked up!

OK, but realistically, this is probably going to be something like a Felony I, with a maximum penalty of 42 months or a $10,000 fine.

I agree. Look at statistics of people who abused animals as children and all the sick things they go on to do as adults.

I really believe anyone who would shoot someone elses pet for the fun of it should be taken out of society before they go the next step and hurt someone.