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PRESS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: Immediately (February 26, 2007)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gene Baierschmidt
(801) 261-2919 phone

HUMANE SOCIETY SCHEDULES PRESS CONFERENCE FOR NOON ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27 AT CAPITOL BUILDING REGARDING SB 190, FELONY-LEVEL ANIMAL TORTURE BILL

The Humane Society of Utah has scheduled a press conference to be held at noon on Tuesday, February 27, in the main lobby of the House building. The purpose is to emphasize the importance of getting SB 190, known as "Henry’s Bill," out of the House Rules Committee and onto the House floor to be voted on before the legislative session expires on February 28. The bill makes the intentional torture of an animal, like the recent case of Henry, the dog who was put into a hot oven for five minutes, a third-degree felony. The legislation has successfully passed all Senate hurdles. Henry the dog will be present at the press conference.

Officials of the Humane Society of Utah are anxious to get the bill made into law in 2007, having unsuccessfully sponsored it for the past three years. It has previously been opposed by a few rural lawmakers who fear that such action might hamper the rights of some groups like ranchers or rodeo promoters. HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt, however, emphasizes that the legislation is specifically written to exempt such activities, and he credits this with the bill’s successful passage in the Senate so far. "The bill does NOT limit any activities traditionally associated with people’s lifestyles or livelihood, like ranching or rodeo," he says . "It does NOT place penalties on animal torturers that are equivalent to those imposed on people who abuse other people. It does NOT apply to minor offenses or unintentional minor acts like forgetting to feed a pet for a day. And it does NOT establish any unusual or unprecedented standard. Forty-two other states and the District of Columbia already have felony provisions in their animal-cruelty statutes."

On Tuesday the Humane Society will be stressing the importance to the entire community of passing SB 190. "There is an overwhelming body of scientific evidence linking the torture of animals to violence against other human beings," says Mr. Baierschmidt. "The statistics speak for themselves. Almost half of U.S. prison inmates convicted of rape and sexual homicide reported histories of animal abuse, and an almost unbelievable 89% of serial murderers repeated that pattern. An equally high percentage of animal abuse occurred in homes where child abuse also took place."

He additionally pointed out that pet animals are an integral part of more and more people’s families. "Dogs and cats enrich our lives by providing unconditional love, stability, and loyalty," he said. "It is only right that we should protect them from mindless torture."

The Society urges the community to contact their representatives and urge passage of the bill in the House. "It’s time for this law to happen," says Mr. Baierschmidt. "In fact, it’s way PAST time. A lot of Utahans are hoping that 2007 will be the year that we finally catch up with most of the rest of the nation.

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