Senate approves compromise animal cruelty bill

A compromise bill that would create a first-offense felony penalty for the crime of torturing a dog or cat survived a motion on the Senate floor to reduce the punishment to a class A misdemeanor and passed to a third reading on Tuesday.

SB202, sponsored by Sen. Allen Christensen, R-Ogden, is the result of a compromise reached by legislative leadership and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. It is the fourth bill introduced this session proposing changes to Utah's animal cruelty code.

"This has been the subject of a long, ongoing debate," Christensen said, "and I think we have something we can all live with in this bill."

Christensen noted that divergent interests, including the Utah Farm Bureau and the Utah Humane Society, had either not voiced opposition or supported SB202.

Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, proposed an amendment to reduce the penalty for torture to a class A misdemeanor, but found little support among his Senate colleagues.

SB202 passed to a third reading on a vote of 22-6.