Proponents of reform are confident legislation will pass

By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press

BOISE -- A bill introduced by Senate Ag Affairs Chairman Tim Corder would overhaul Idaho's animal cruelty law and help protect livestock production from animal activist groups.

The legislation adds definitions for neglect and torture to the animal welfare statutes, expands the definition of production animals and distinguishes production animals from companion animals.

It strengthens current law by providing that any animal fighting, not just dog fighting, constitutes a felony, said Corder, R-Mountain Home.

It also clearly defines that oversight and enforcement concerning production animals lie with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and issues concerning companion animals lie with law enforcement.

Amending current statutes and adding more statutes is necessary to prepare for growth and to protect Idaho producers, he said.

"We need to clean up a number of issues and make sure our law could withstand national scrutiny by HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) or others," he said. "We want to demonstrate we're being proactive, our animals are safe and distinguish production animals from companion animals."

HSUS just released a report rating all states on a range of animal protection laws, and Idaho was ranked in the bottom eight. In 2008, the Animal Legal Defense Fund named Idaho one of the worst states in the nation with regard to animal cruelty laws.

HSUS has been taking its campaign to ban certain production practices, including gestation crates, veal crates and battery cages, to the state level. Such measures have been passed into law in California, Arizona, Florida and Michigan. Maine, Colorado and Oregon state legislatures have passed related laws, according to the organization, and a campaign is under way to get a similar measure on the ballot in Ohio.

Animal activists "are already maneuvering the public to see things their way," Corder said. "It got me motivated to be proactive. It's important to Idaho agriculture to be in that position."

A chicken facility planned for Burley will no doubt catch the attention of HSUS and other groups, Corder said. "I want Idaho to be ready, on the offensive."

Carl Ellsworth, president of Idaho Cattle Association and a Leadore producer, said he's reluctant to talk about bills until they're final, but he thinks the bill will provide some safeguards for animal protection.

"We feel the bill's reasonable and still can be proactive," he said. "It'll hopefully prevent abuse of animals but still allow normal production practices."

The bill also doubles penalties, which would be distributed at 25 percent to local prosecuting jurisdictions, 25 percent to the Department of Agriculture and 50 percent to the courts, instead of 100 percent going to the courts.

Corder is confident the Legislature will pass the bill.

"It'll pass; its chance is excellent," he said. "We worked on this all summer with (animal) advocacy groups and producer groups. There will be no detractors from our attempt here."

More online

To find S1317: www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/S1317.htm