The Humane Society of the United States added its support this week to Utah residents and lawmakers hoping to get an animal torture bill passed in the Utah Legislature.

The national group sponsored three "Lobbying 101" information meetings — one each in St. George, Ogden and Salt Lake City.

Residents concerned about animal welfare must learn how to approach their representatives in order to influence change, said Humane Society spokesman Jake Oster during the Salt Lake City meeting Thursday.

"We can't picket torture. We can't boycott for cruelty," he said. "We need a law." Oster encouraged the 60 people who attended the Salt Lake City meeting to learn their representatives' contact information and learn about their voting history.

Concerned activists should then call and visit their representatives' offices and should be willing to work with congressional staffers, he said. They should be armed with personal stories of conviction, Ostler said.

Utah is among only seven states that don't have a provision for charging animal torturers with a felony, according to Human Society representative Dale Bartlett, who believes Utah's animal laws are probably the worst in the country.

Henry's Law, SB190, was introduced by Utah Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake, in the 2007 legislative session. It would make animal torture a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The bill was named after a small black dog named Henry that was baked in a 200-degree oven and blinded by a leaf blower.

Henry's story shocked the public and bolstered support for the bill, but it nevertheless was never scheduled for a vote on the House floor.

Following a special session in August, lawmakers agreed to reach a compromise between the bill and a competing bill by 2008.

The competing bill, introduced by Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, would make animal torture a felony for two-time offenders.

Utah Human Society Director Gene Baierschmidt said Thursday he felt very good about the bill's chances of passing. If it passes, he hopes it will act primarily as a deterrent to those in Utah who would abuse animals, he said.

In all reality, animal abuse that would constitute torture is relatively rare, the director said.

For more information about Utah Humane Society efforts to have SB190 passed, visit utahhumane.org. To learn more about Henry and his owner's grassroots efforts to have the bill passed, visit helpthemhelpus.org.

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E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com