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Coalition formed to fight animal cruelty initiative

A coalition has formed in opposition to the animal cruelty initiative that’s on the November ballot.

That initiative makes it a class “C” felony for cruelty to dogs, cats and horses. The group “North Dakota Animal Stewards” says the ballot measure is poorly worded, and may have unintended consequences. The group says an alternative measure – which would be introduced in the upcoming Legislature – would help prevent mistreatment of all animals.

"We think there's a need to do a comprehensive rewrite of the law to provide more clarity," said North Dakota Farmers Union Government Relations director Christie Schlosser Carlson. "This effort to put a measure on the ballotis not comprehensive."

"North Dakota Animal Stewards" says it has agriculture, hunting rights advocates and veterinarians as part of the opposition. And the group says the alternative is a much better proposal.

"We can address the issues on more animals," said Mandan veterinarian Del Rae Martin. "It includes definitions of what abandonment is, what neglect is, and answer some of those questions on puppy mills and those kinds of situations."

Martin says by themselves, they're not out-and-outright extreme forms of cruelty.

"The neglect could be due to a lack of education," said Martin.

The group also says it's skeptical of the Humane Society of the United States -- which is helping to push the measure. Opponents say HSUS is anti-agriculture and anti-hunting, and deliberately made the measure open to interpretation, so it can come back later and change it.

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