After reading the recent story ("Draper man accused of beating, killing wife's dog," July 11) I have a few questions. Apparently a Draper man (Kenneth Morley, 56) beat his wife's Yorkshire Terrier (a breed that typically ranges only 3 to 7 pounds) with a broom handle to the point where it had to be put down because its injuries were too severe.
First, am I the only one who is fed up with these cases of animal abuse?
Second, why are the owners of these animals (often women) with these animal abusers (often their husbands or boyfriends) in the first place? Did it really take their pet being beaten, tortured or killed for them to finally realize what kind of person they were with? Would it be the same story with a child?
And third, what is the law doing about this? Sure, Morley and others like him get arrested, booked into jail and mentioned in the news. Then what? Even with the long overdue animal cruelty laws now on the books, how many perpetrators serve the maximum time? Or, are the judges in these cases just adding insult to injury by giving them a slap on the wrist?
Jared Shipp
Lehi