Making animal cruelty a felony in Arkansas got a big push. The Farm Bureau has announced its decision to support the proposal which is expected to be filed next week.
Earl Pepper runs this horse and cattle ranch in Wrightsville for the Department of Correction. "We raise about 30 to 50 colts a year," Pepper says. Pepper is backing legislation to make aggravated animal cruelty a felony on the first offense. "I think its something both sides can live with. I think there's protection in there for farmers and ranchers," says Pepper. Protecting farming practices is the reason why farmers didn't support the bill in years past.
"When definitions are unclear, you leave that up to someone else to determine," says Steve Eddington, Arkansas Farm Bureau.
"None of us in the livestock industry want to mistreat an animal because that's what we make our living with," says Pepper.
According to the Arkansas Farm Bureau this proposal clearly defines cruel and inhumane treatment that causes injury or death to the animal. "The AG looked at from a legal perspective, everything before had been looked at from an emotional standpoint," says Eddington.
Another reason the Bureau says it supports the bill, only certified law enforcement officers will make arrests. With the backing of the farming community, Eddington is confident this bill will pass.
"With a name like the Attorney Generals behind it and the support he seems to have garnered from all sides of the issue. We're very hopeful that it can pass and be successful," Eddington.
Right now, Arkansas law makes animal abuse a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a thousand dollar fine. If this bill passes, you're looking at up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The session starts Monday, January 12th.
