House passes felony animal torture bill

BOISE (AP) — The House has passed a bill that would put felony animal abuse laws on the books in Idaho for the first time.

House lawmakers voted 64-4 Tuesday to pass the legislation, an effort to deflate a ballot initiative by animal rights groups that would carry much stiffer penalties.

Support for the bill is split among those groups.

Lava Hot Springs Rep. Ken Andrus' says under his bill people convicted of torturing pets or companion animals on the third offense would face a felony charge, as would organizers of gamecock fights where drugs and gambling are present.

Idaho's powerful agriculture industry is wary of animal cruelty measures, but livestock and production animals are exempt in this measure.

Idaho and the Dakotas are the lone states without a felony animal cruelty law.