Compromise on animal torture bill moves forward

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Richard Piatt reportingAnimal torture is one step closer to becoming a first-offense felony. A Utah Senate committee passed a compromise bill as the 2008 Legislature continues today.

The call for a tougher animal cruelty law has been simmering on Capitol Hill for years. This is the year it's getting significant attention.

Senate Bill 117 was the subject of a lot of negotiating this year. In this latest version, specific acts of animal torture to dogs and cats can be prosecuted as a felony on a first offense. Originally it was a felony on a second offense, which angered those who support animal rights.

This compromise also satisfies farmers and ranchers, who are concerned they could be charged if someone doesn't like how they work with their animals.

Sen. Allen Christensen, a Republican from Plain City, said, "I think this will accomplish what we're really after, and that is strengthen the animal torture statutes without giving too much away on the other side for agriculture."

Gene Baierschmidt of the Utah Humane Society said, "It's not for it you don't feed your dog. It's just for an egregious, heinous act that someone would do. We think those people should be punished the first time, because a law that doesn't punish on the first time is no law at all."

Not everyone is satisfied. The owner of Henry, the dog that was put in an oven a couple of years ago, still wants stricter penalties for animal cruelty.