Animal Welfare Initiative in Works

(BOISE) – An animal welfare group is gathering signatures across the state in an effort to make animal cruelty a felony. Idaho is one of only three states without a felony penalty for extreme cases of animal cruelty. The group “Stop Torturing Our Pets” needs 47,000 signatures by next April to put the initiative on the 2012 ballot. The Idaho Humane Society, which supports the measure, says that the main goal is to put repeat offenders behind bars. Previous attempts to make stricter animal cruelty laws have failed to pass a Legislative vote.