A lifetime ban on animal/pet ownership should be introduced for severe cases of animal cruelty. Also, for severe cases of cruelty, longer prison sentences should be considered. The current laws should be harsher to deter owners of animals being cruel to their pets.
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A very distressing case of a woman letting a horse starve, which eventually had to be put down, is just one of the latest examples.
"starved her horse to the point of collapse which led to her eventual death". This story was highlighted on derbytelegraph.co.uk.