Duke’s Law: Why We Must Close the Legal Loopholes That Protect Abusers

Introduction: A Dog Named Duke and the System That Failed Him
On February 7, 2021, Duke, a beloved neighborhood dog in La Pine, Oregon, was shot and killed simply for barking. His death was not an isolated tragedy but the beginning of a horrifying pattern of violence that escalated to threats against children, arson, and psychological terror. Duke’s killer, Derek F, faced no consequences—not for Duke’s death, nor for the seven other animals he tortured, nor for the children he traumatized. His case exposes a chilling truth: our legal system is designed to protect abusers, not victims. Duke’s Law seeks to change that.

The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

Research shows that animal abusers are five times more likely to harm humans. Abusers like Derek F often start with animals to test boundaries, manipulate victims, and desensitize themselves to cruelty. When institutions dismiss these acts as “property crimes” or “family disputes,” they embolden perpetrators to escalate.

Derek’s Escalation:

Animal torture: Shot Duke, burned a pet bunny alive, killed goats with fiberglass.
Child abuse: Threatened to burn down a home, kidnapped his autistic son, and assaulted children.
Systemic indifference: Law enforcement ignored reports, CPS granted unsupervised visits despite red flags.

Duke’s Law recognizes this deadly pattern and treats animal cruelty as a violent felony—a critical step to preventing harm to humans.

What Is Duke’s Law?

Duke’s Law is a proposed legislative reform with four pillars:

1. Reclassify Animal Torture as a Violent Felony

Current law: In Oregon, severe animal cruelty is a Class C felony (same as stealing a bike).
Duke’s Law fix: Upgrade it to a Class B felony, aligning penalties with assault or homicide.
Why it matters: Abusers like Derek F exploit weak penalties to act with impunity.

2. Mandate Cross-Reporting Between Agencies

Current failure: Animal control, CPS, and police operate in silos. Derek’s animal abuse was never flagged during child custody evaluations.
Duke’s Law fix: Require agencies to share data, ensuring abusers can’t hide behind bureaucratic gaps.

3. Fund Pet- and Child-Safe Shelters

Current crisis: 50% of DV survivors delay leaving abusers because they fear for their pets.
Duke’s Law fix: Allocate state funds to shelters that accept families and pets.

4. Create a Public Abuser Registry

Current risk: Repeat offenders like Derek F vanish into new communities.
Duke’s Law fix: Establish a registry for convicted animal abusers and domestic violators.

Why Duke’s Law Matters

1. It Saves Lives

Derek F’s victims—animal and human—are alive today despite systemic failures, not because of them. Duke’s Law would:

Intervene sooner: Flag animal abuse as a predictor of human violence.
Protect vulnerable children: Alfred, Derek’s autistic son, was abducted and traumatized for weeks. Cross-reporting could have alerted CPS to Derek’s prior animal torture.

2. It Holds Institutions Accountable

When Derek kicked a disabled three-legged pig in 2023, officers dismissed it as “not a crime.” Duke’s Law forces law enforcement to act, with:

Training programs: Teach officers to recognize animal cruelty as a red flag.
Whistleblower protections: Shield officials who report institutional negligence.

3. It Empowers Survivors

For victims trapped by financial abuse or fear, Duke’s Law offers:

Restitution: Mandate abusers pay for therapy, housing, and pet care.
Pet-inclusive restraining orders: Protect all family members, human and animal.

How You Can Help Pass Duke’s Law

Contact Oregon Legislators:

Sample script: “Hi, I’m [Name]. I urge you to support Duke’s Law (HB 202X) to reclassify animal torture as a violent felony and protect families. Read the evidence: [Link].”
Key targets: @SenJeffMerkley, @RepLisaReynolds, @OregonDOJ.

Share This Story:

Use hashtags: #JusticeForDuke #PassDukesLaw #ProtectTheVoiceless.
Tag media: @TheOregonian, @OPB, @KGWNews.

Donate to the Cause:

Support legal funds and shelters: Give directly to the legal fund Justice for Duke
Share the petition: Justice for Duke at change.org
Reach out to your local DV resources, and see what you can do to support relocation or other safety measures for families with pets

Conclusion: Duke’s Legacy

Duke’s death was preventable. So was Alfred’s abduction, the burned pets, and the threats that shattered a family’s sense of safety. Duke’s Law isn’t just about animals—it’s about valuing every life and dismantling systems that enable predators.

We Are Not Broken