After weeks of wrangling, support appears to be coalescing around a bill that would make it a felony to torture domestic dogs and cats. A Senate committee gave SB297, sponsored by Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, unanimous approval on Monday, sending it to the Senate floor.
    Christensen, who had complained of being beaten up in a flood of e-mails from animal-protection advocates, acknowledged the divisive nature of the issue, and said he thinks the bill he is sponsoring is the best resolution.
    "It's come down to the point where there isn't any more to give on either side, so I guess that is the essence of compromise," said Christensen. "Neither side loves it. I guess that's where it's going to end up."
    The bill would make it a third-degree felony to torture a domestic dog or cat. Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah, said he was pleased that Utah is on track to become the 44th state to make torturing an animal a felony. - Robert Gehrke
   
   
   SB297
   The bill would make it a third-degree felony to torture a domestic dog or cat.