ADLA Supports Bill to Strengthen Animal Cruelty Law
Posted on , updated onADLA and its partners in the Humane Legislation Coalition of Arizona in partnership with Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, worked to develop a bill that strengthens penalties against convicted animal abusers. Violent crimes against family pets are often part of a larger pattern of domestic violence, but current Arizona law only allows even the most heinous crimes be charged at the lowest felony designation – felony 6. This bill would make killing or torturing animals a felony 5.
UPDATE: The bill recently passed the Arizona State Senate and is now headed to the House of Representatives! Thank you to each of you who took action last week and contacted your Senator asking them to vote yes on SB 1295. Your actions are making an impact! Also, a special thanks to Senator John Kavanagh for sponsoring the bill. You can find out how your Senator voted here. If your Senator voted “Yes”, please thank them for supporting the bill. You can contact senators here.
There is still work to be done, and we’ll need your help in the coming weeks to push this bill through the House and to the finish line.