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Henry and Crookneck - two examples of why Utah lawmakers ought to strengthen the state's animal cruelty law!
You've likely heard about Henry - the little black dog that had his eye put out, and then was baked alive in an oven for five minutes by the former husband of the dog's owner. Henry has become a symbol of efforts to make willful torture of an animal a felony offense. Currently it is a misdemeanor.
The measure failed in the waning moments of last year's legislative session and then again during a summer special session. So, Utah remains one of seven states in the nation without a felony law regarding animal treatment.
Since those legislative sessions, we've learned about Crookneck the horse. On a Sunday morning in September Crookneck's owner found him dead in his corral in Washington County - shot as many as 50 times with a small caliber handgun. Authorities called it a malicious and senselessly cruel act of animal torture.
Other examples could be cited.
A stronger animal cruelty law won't summarily stop such senseless acts of animal torture, but it certainly would send a message that such behavior is unacceptable and contrary to society's will. Let's not let another legislative session pass without making egregious animal torture a felony.
