Ky. bills to toughen animal cruelty penalty

Fort Thomas, Ky.-

State legislators are mulling three bills that would classify animal cruelty a felony, punishable by jail time, instead of the misdemeanor it is currently.

In an effort to further the cause, more than 10,000 Kentucky citizenshave signed petitions favoring stiffer punishment for persons convictedof animal cruelty and torture in the state. Petitions were signed at veterinaryoffices and pet stores.

"This is a measure that has a lot of broad support from citizensof all walks of life, and which we hope will receive the attention and backingof our state lawmakers," Jay Treft, Fort Thomas assistant city administrator,told The Kentucky Post. Treft, who also chairs the Northern Kentucky AnimalControl Board, coordinated the statewide petition.

Kentucky is one of 14 states that does not define acts of cruelty asfelonies, according to government officials. The bills under considerationin the legislature would make animal cruelty the lowest class of felony.