February 6, 2009

On Wednesday, Arkansas became the 46th state to make any animal cruelty crime a felony. First-time offenders could not face up to six years in prison, as well as a cruelty fine of $10,000. (Zootoo News Photo Illustration)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Animal cruelty is now considered a felony in Arkansas.

Gov. Mike Beebe signed the law into effect Wednesday, protecting cats, horses and dogs under the state's watchful eye. First time animal offenders may now be subject to a cruelty fine of $10,000, and up to six years in a jail, as opposed to a $1,000 fine and one year in prison.

The bill flew through the State Senate, House Judiciary Committee and then the full House at the end of January before landing on Beebe's desk.

"I became convinced that a first-offense felony was appropriate for the definitions in the bill," Beebe said Wednesday at the bill-signing ceremony, according to The Associated Press.

"They satisfied me that it wasn't going to be used for things that were discussed as extreme and the language was there and protected to ensure that. I don't know who could argue against it."

Arkansas is now off the list of the few remaining states -- including North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Mississippi and Alaska -- that consider animal cruelty offenses a misdemeanor.

The Felony Animal Cruelty Law, which will be enacted in around 90 days, will also make cockfighting a penalty, grouping it within the general classification of animal fighting.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel negotiated a compromise between animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, and parties representing Arkansas' rural fraction.

Some farmers initially opposed the bill, fearing that they could be unfairly pinned for abuse while conducting their routine affairs, like euthanizing ill farm animals.

"It was about making sure that all of these people had a seat at the table and that everyone supports the bill," McDaniel's spokesman, Gabe Holmstrom, told ZT Pet News.

Several concessions were made over the 10-month negotiation period, including a dropped provision that relinquishes the HSUS of any investigative authority, as well as the ability to make arrests.

The potential of having the HSUS lose that power was a "big kicking point with the Farm Bureau," Desiree Bender, the Arkansas state director of the HSUS, previously told ZT Pet News.

The Arkansas Farm Bureau, representing 227,000 farmers in the state, decided to back the measure on in early January.

The encompassing law will also mandate that first-time cruelty offenders lose the right to re-claim their abused animals; they will, though, have to cover all medical and care costs of their displaced pets.

If the cruelty offense is conducted in front a child, an additional five year prison sentence can be tacked on to a person's sentence.

Arkansas is the 46th state to make cruelty to animals a felony, according to the HSUUS.

Dale Bartlett, deputy manager of animal cruelty for the Humane Society of the United States, expects other states to jump on-board with Arkansas' progress in the coming few years.

In Mississippi, a similar bill is presently pending in the House Agriculture Chairman Board; in South Dakota, the House Judiciary Chair, Joani Cutler, recently presented another version of a felony cruelty bill.

The HSUS also has "high hopes" for Idaho, which is expected to see comparable measures introduced in the coming weeks, Bartlett says.

Tell us what you think about "It's Official: Animal Cruelty is a Felony in Ark." below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

ZT Pet News reporter Amy Lieberman and The Associated Press contributed to this article.