CRUELTY: Get it out of Idaho

Idaho 1 of 3 would like to thank the many Idahoans who supported our initiative to add felony penalties for the worst animal cruelty. We did gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot; unfortunately about one-third were invalid because of non-compliance with stringent legal requirements.

Even though they co-authored the language in our initiative which was presented as a bill in 2009, the Cattle Association and Woolgrowers convinced the Legislature to pass a felony in name only. The intention was clearly stated that it was meant to block our initiative. Why those groups find the language they helped write threatening remains a mystery.

There are five definitions of cruelty in Idaho law, but those groups convinced the Legislature to make only one a felony on a third conviction: “the intentional and malicious infliction of pain, suffering, injury or death upon an animal.” It is virtually impossible to prove malicious intent once, let alone three times by the same person! Idahoans have been duped into thinking we have a felony for animal cruelty; we do not. They even refused to make torture a felony on the third conviction.

Idaho 1 of 3 intends to reorganize and give Idahoans 18 months to gather signatures for the 2014 ballot. But we need a lot of help and money to accomplish this. Join us at [email protected] and let’s put real felonies in the law. Idaho remains one of three states without adequate felony penalties.

VIRGINIA HEMINGWAY

President

Idaho 1 of 3