The Iowa Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to create new felony penalties for torture of companion animals, with supporters citing research linking extreme animal cruelty to violent crimes against people.
As amended by the Senate, House File 2348 states that a person commits animal torture if they “intentionally, willfully, and maliciously mutilates, burns, poisons, drowns, starves or causes intensive or prolonged pain or death to a companion animal, or provides anything of value to another person to do the same.”
“This is heinous behavior by anyone’s definition. In fact, by the amendment we have today, it would also need to be malicious behavior,” Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, said.
He cited research by the National Sheriffs Association and FBI linking animal torture and future violent crimes against humans, including assault, rape, murder, arson, domestic violence and sexual abuse of children.
“We know what is happening. We know the link between that behavior and how it will affect society as a whole in the future, that it is predictive of not only malignant personality, but predictive that they are going to harm a person,” Bousselot said.
Violations would be a Class D felony, which is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,425. Current law penalizes animal abuse causing injury as a serious misdemeanor and an aggravated misdemeanor for animal abuse that causes death.
The bill also includes enhanced penalties for repeat offenders of animal abuse, animal torture, injury to or interference with a police service dog, bestiality or an act involving a prohibited contest such as dog fighting.
The bill returns to the House, which passed the original legislation unanimously on March 5.
