Group wants stiffer animal cruelty penalties in Idaho

By Associated Press

Story

Summary

The Idaho Cattle Association introduced a bill Thursday in the Senate Agricultural Committee to make a third animal-cruelty conviction within 15 years a felony crime punishable by a year in jail.

Story Published: Feb 9, 2012 at 12:46 PM PDT

Story Updated: Feb 9, 2012 at 12:46 PM PDT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho cattle group is backing legislation to punish third-time animal cruelty offenders with a felony, part of its bid to sap momentum from a voter initiative that would be even tougher on people who intentionally hurt animals.

The Idaho Cattle Association introduced a bill Thursday in the Senate Agricultural Committee to make a third animal-cruelty conviction within 15 years a felony crime punishable by a year in jail.

Its bill also narrows animal cruelty's definition.

Animal cruelty in Idaho remains a misdemeanor.

To change that, animal welfare groups including Stop Torturing Our Pets are gathering signatures for a 2012 ballot initiative.

Their initiative would define animal torture, make it a felony on first offense, and levy escalating punishments for cruelty that would become a felony by the third offense.