A Senate bill that would create stiffer penalties for animal cruelty offenses appeared to be dead in the House Judiciary Committee yesterday. Bill to raise penalties
for animal cruelty failsBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comThe bill has not been scheduled for a hearing but still has a chance to be passed by lawmakers by the end of the legislative session.
Senate Bill 1581 would create new offenses for aggravated cruelty to animals as a Class C felony that include any "act against an animal that is especially heinous, atrocious, cruel or unnecessarily torturous and that manifests exceptional depravity so as to manifest a lack of conscience or pity."
Hawaiian Humane Society President Pamela Burns, who testified in favor of the bill, said: "We're extremely disappointed that this bill isn't being scheduled for a hearing and that the people of Hawaii are not given an opportunity to voice their opinion to such an important bill.
"The link between animal abuse and human violence was made even more so after the incident on Sunday," she said.
Burns points to a recent alleged animal cruelty case as reason why the bill should be passed.
Police and Hawaiian Humane Society are investigating a case involving a 52-year-old man who allegedly strangled his dog at Waimanalo Beach Park Sunday morning and with others allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man who had attempted to stop the strangulation.
The dog was later found dead at the suspect's Waimanalo home, and the victim was treated and released at Castle Medical Center for several broken ribs, facial cuts and scratches.
Rep. Eric Hamakawa (D, Hilo-Glenwood), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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