It made my day when I read the article in the Feb. 16 edition of the Butler Eagle titled, “Animal cruelty case changes. Felony charge refiled by DA.”

Last September, my heart broke and I was brought to tears when I read about Bailey, the Springer Spaniel, who was beaten about the face and head with a sledgehammer.

In October, I was appalled when I read that in preliminary hearing that it was agreed to drop the felony charge to a second- degree misdemeanor count of animal cruelty. The reason given at that time for the change in charges was to quote former Assistant DA Russ Karl, “Because the dog is mending fine, and that’s good news.”

Really? Would the same charges have been dropped if it had been a person who had been beaten with a sledgehammer? Poor Bailey. He was left with a badly swollen snout and jaw, missing and broken teeth and mental trauma. It’s not just about the physical injuries he sustained but also the change in his demeanor that likely will never heal.

Animals are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and they deserve legal protection. Too often, animal cruelty crimes are not taken seriously, and violent criminals walk away scot-free or with a slap on the hand just because their victim was an animal.

Innocent animal victims deserve justice.