Libre’s Law in Effect / Baby Boomers and Social Media

The Animal Abuse Statute Overhaul Act, better known as “Libre’s Law,” took effect on Monday. The law is named for Libre, an abused, seven-week old Boston terrier rescued from a Lancaster County breeder.  The puppy was dehydrated and starving with open sores and maggot infestations on his skin.

The law would protect animals in Pennsylvania by forcing convicted animal abusers to forfeit their animals to a shelter, it clarifies rules for tying up animals, increases fines and penalties and adds more protections for horses.

Libre’s Law is the first major overhaul of animal protection law in Pennsylvania for nearly 30 years.  Joining us on Thursday’s Smart Talk to discuss animal protection policy are Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director of the Humane Society of the United States and Amy Kaunus, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area.

Also, Baby Boomers take a lot of jabs about their trepidacious approach to social media, but a recent Penn State study found older adults to be the fastest growing demographic of Facebook users.  One could argue this is because younger users have already established accounts with various social media platforms, but the truth is seniors are becoming increasingly more comfortable with the learning curve and the drive to use these media as mechanisms of social bonding overtakes fears of intrusion or surveillance by nefarious presences on the web.

S. Shyam Sundar is a Distinguished Professor of Communications and co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Penn State; he and his colleagues researched senior use of Facebook and he will join Smart Talk to share their findings.

emails

– Great show, as always!!

Will you discuss how we can bring improvements to the farm animals?                   – Elizabeth

– Generally your show is very balanced.  But this one today is driving me crazy.  Why is the PA Farm bureau not part of this conversation?

This has a huge impact on farmers, fairs and other areas of our agricultural industry in PA.  Are they trying to close down our county fairs?  

Where is the farmers voice?  I love animals too, btw.                                  – Christine (farmer)

- Thank you for airing this subject today!
We adopted our precious Shih Tzu pair, Desi and Lucy, from the Lebanon Humane Society 2 1/2 yrs ago. We were told they were 6, but turns out they are more like 10-12yrs old. Inaccurate information was given by the previous owner. Not that it matters. They are the light of our lives. They came from a neglect situation and are doing fantastic now.

As far as education, more needs to be said about the dangers of puppy mills also, preventing them from existing in the first place, and the hazards that come from buying from them. People NEED to research their breeder they’re buying from, or better yet, ADOPT. There are too many animals that need homes.                     – Jennifer

- I think referring to divorce,job change,moving as “legitimate” reasons for permanently surrendering an animal is sending a wrong message.We don’t surrender our children for those reasons(most of us)because they are a life long commitment.Like your guest said- these animals are NOT DISPOSABLE.

I appreciate all the hard work these advocates do and I can’t express how relieved I am that you’re actually changing laws! Great job!

Unfortunately I still see too many people impulsively get a new pet and return or dump at a shelter.There is no flaw in the animal,usually an uneducated or uncaring person.

Thanks for all your very hard work!   – JL