A group of animal protection advocates has turned in more than 25-thousand signatures on a petition to strengthen the state’s animal cruelty law.
The proposal would make animal cruelty a class “C” felony, which has a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a five-thousand dollar fine. Current state law makes animal cruelty a misdemeanor, with a maximum one year in prison.
"North Dakota is one of only two states that does not carry any felony penalties for malicious acts of cruelty," said North Dakotans to Stop Animal Cruelty chair-person Karen Thushelle of Minot. "This measure is to make a class 'C' felony for any individual who maliciously or intentionally tortures any dog, cat or horse. There are specific acts of cruelty, such as burning, crushing and impaling."
A coalition of North Dakota farm groups opposes the measure.
The North Dakota Stockmen's Association, the Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union are among the organizations that don't like the idea. Stockmen’s Association president Jason Schmidt of Medina says the involvement by the Humane Society of the United States raises a lot of red flags for animal agriculture.
"Every time they (HSUS) come into a state, they direct it at something benign, but until they get done with all the definitions and the language after the fact, there's something that's going to affect animal agriculture," said Schmidt. "HSUS has not been kind to animal agriculture, and we're opposed to anything they are pushing in our state."
Schmidt says there are efforts to present an alternative proposal to the 2013 Legislature.
Supporters need about 13,500 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.