HUMANE SOCIETY PLEASED WITH POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF "HENRY'S LAW" IN SPECIAL SESSION; BALLOT INITIATIVE ALSO NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF UTAH 4242 SOUTH 300 WEST SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84107-1415 (801) 261-2919 phone * (801) 261-9577 fax www.utahhumane.org Page 1 of 1 PRESS  RELEASE RELEASE DATE:  Immediately (April 21, 2007) FOR MORE INFORMATION:   Gene Baierschmidt (801) 261-2919 - cell phone        HUMANE SOCIETY PLEASED WITH POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF "HENRY'S LAW" IN SPECIAL SESSION; BALLOT INITIATIVE ALSO NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION        The Humane Society of Utah today responded with approval to the news that Governor John Huntsman might add the so-called "Henry's Bill," which would make the deliberate torture of an animal a third-degree felony, to the agenda of a special legislative session that he plans to call in the fall.  "This is a highly encouraging piece of evidence that the Governor's office does in fact hear the voices of the people," said HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt.  "Our own office has been flooded with calls and letters expressing disappointment and outrage over what happened to the bill in the regular session, and we are extremely gratified to learn that these messages have also gone to the highest levels of the state government, and people at those levels have listened."        Mr. Baierschmidt indicated that the issue is far from being forgotten among a large segment of the state's general population. "I have already been contacted by representatives of other organizations who are already putting the wheels in motion to introduce a ballot referendum that would put Henry's Law to the vote of the people themselves," he said.  "And such a bill doesn't pass via that route at a future date, or in the special session, we will again present the bill in the regular session of the legislature in 2008."        The reasons for the widespread and continuing support for a stronger animal torture bill in Utah are both valid and numerous, says Mr. Baierschmidt.  "Forty-one other states already have such provisions in their animal statutes, and with good cause," he says, citing the following points from a lengthy list: "There's a tremendous body of recent scientific research showing a strong and unmistakable  link between the callous torture of animals and violence against other people.  In a majority of homes where animal abuse takes place, the abuse of children, spouses, and other less powerful members of the situation also occurs.  A large proportion of violent criminals - rapists, child molesters, serial killers - admit to having started out by abusing animals first."        Mr. Baierschmidt says that the opposition to a felony-level animal torture bill in Utah springs largely from persons who do not adequately understand what the bill is saying.  "The bill specifically exempts animals used for agriculture or rodeo in accordance with accepted practices of animal husbandry.  It also clearly emphasizes the distinction  between deliberate, sadistic torture and minor slips like forgetting to feed a dog for one day.  There is obviously a difference between that and cooking a small dog in a hot oven for five minutes. These are the reasons why we need to make lawmakers understand what the bill is all about, and why it is so important for every citizen of this state to get Henry's Law passed one way or another."        #          #          #

Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007

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