Senate bill increases penalties for animal abuse

Kris Hill

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 | 11:10 a.m.

A Las Vegas pet owner told the Senate Judiciary Committee about the suffering her family went through when her dog was injured last fall after someone poured pool acid onto him.

Karen Wagner said her German shepherd puppy, Nikeo, was the victim of that attack, which was one of two high-profile abuse cases last fall that prompted a state lawmaker to draft a bill that would make such acts a felony in Nevada.

A person prosecuted for torturing an animal under current laws would be charged with a misdemeanor, which carries less severe penalties.

The other animal attacked in October, Centennial High School's mascot Blu, was kidnapped, forced to fight another dog and then staked to the football field overnight.

"This type of cruelty seems to be finally getting the attention it deserves," Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, said.

O'Connell agreed to sponsor the legislation, Senate Bill 62, after Wagner contacted the senator to request help because she said local authorities weren't returning her phone calls.

The bill proposes changing the current law, which allows a person to be charged with a misdemeanor.

All 11 of Blu's accused abusers accepted plea agreements and were sentenced to a variety of penalties depending on their level of participation. The punishments included community service, letters of apology, and restitution to Blu's family.

A person accused of animal abuse under the proposed law would be charged with a Class E felony. First-time offenders could be sentenced to a minimum of one year in jail and a maximum of four years. In addition to a jail term, a $5,000 fine would be assessed.

O'Connell had some reservations about the new penalties. She suggested that a graduated penalty structure be added in an amendment to the bill so that appropriate punishments would be doled out on a case-by-case basis.

Others who testified after O'Connell supported her suggestion.

There has to be some way to determine the penalties based on the severity of the offense, Lucille Lusk of Nevada Concerned Citizens said.

"But we feel strongly that there needs to be restitution for people whose animals were abused," she said.

Ann Herrington, president of Media Partners for Pets, said she hoped the new law, with the proposed amendment, could be implemented very soon.

Wagner agreed saying "I don't think people should be getting away with this."

The problem of animal abuse is vast, Herrington said.

"Abuse is on so many levels we don't even know where to begin," she said.