Support Henry's Law

I am disappointed in Sen. Allen Christensen for sponsoring SB117. This bill would reduce the penalties in our current animal cruelty statutes. His bill actually exempts animals that are now protected in our current law. If his bill is passed, then cooking a dog — like Henry — in an oven is still just a misdemeanor. Only a second torturous, heinous act in a five-year period could be charged as a felony. We must not allow Sen. Christensen to compromise our current laws.

We need stronger laws, not exemptions. I support SB102, Henry's Law, sponsored by Sen. Gene Davis. This bill would give prosecutors a felony option on a first offense without reducing our current animal cruelty laws. Some 43 states recognize that violent animal cruelty is a serious crime and have felony provisions for torturing and killing an animal. We are sadly one of seven states that punish violent animal cruelty as a misdemeanor.

Larayn Clegg

Salt Lake City