ANIMALS: Idaho can do much better

I agree with Tony Mangan in Saturday's newspaper that more severe penalties need to be given to people who are guilty of animal cruelty. Idaho should be ashamed to be one of only three states in the nation lacking felony penalties for animal cruelty. We're ranked 50th in the nation for effective animal protection laws.

Judges should have the option of giving first offenders a really stiff fine and possibly mandatory classes about proper treatment of animals. But by second or third offenses, no matter the time frame, the offender should face stiffer penalties including prison time and felony status. And law enforcement officials should always have the right to remove animals from inhumane settings.

Human beings have an obligation to care for those less fortunate than them. I know these are tough times and some people are having trouble feeding their animals, but it would be kinder to give them to an animal shelter, even if it means having them humanely put to death, than letting them freeze outside or starve to death.

I hope the 2012 legislature will pay attention to this problem.

FRAN HESSER

Athol