|
A felony? Humane
Society has launched a
billboard campaign.
BY GLEN WARCHOL
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
In support of an anti-animal
abuse bill in the upcoming Leg-
islature, the Humane Society of
Utah has launched a billboard
campaign guaranteed to get
commuters' attention.
"Ted Bundy started out tor-
turing animals," proclaims a
billboard strategically located
on Interstate 15 at 3600 South.
Linking a measure that
would stiffen the penalty for tor-
turing domestic animals to one
of America's most infamous se-
rial killers on billboards
throughout Salt Lake County is
not hyperbole, says Humane So-
ciety Director Gene
Baierschmidt.
"There's a direct link be-
tween animal cruelty and vio-
lence toward people. Ted Bundy,
Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert De-
Salvo all had it in their past,"
Baierschmidt said. "Before they
brutally murdered their human
victims, they all tortured |
animals."
Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, a
former Cache County prosecu-
tor, is sponsoring the bill (HB61)
that would upgrade intentional
torturing of an animal from a
petty crime to a felony.
"We dealt with a few of these
cases and the last one was really
outrageous and troubling," said
Wyatt. "We are not talking about
minor abuse. We are talking
about torture."
The bill stalled in last year's
Legislature, but Wyatt says he
has won over hunters, farmers
and even the Hogle Zoo, assuring
them the l aw would not affect
traditional hunting, trapping,
falconry, farming or ranching.
"They still can brand cattle," he
says.
Utah has had several spectac-
ular animal cruelty cases in re-
cent years, including setting
dogs afire, dismembering kit-
tens and mutilating horses.
More information on animal
cruelty and Wyatt's bill can be
found at www.utahhumane.org.
|