The Utah Senate took a courageous step today in passing a bill, 18-9 (2 absent) that would make torturing an animal a felony. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

Senate Bill 190 would make torturing an animal a third-degree felony. Utah is currently one of only eight states that have no felony provision for animal abuse.

People convicted of animal torture would face incarceration and possibly psychiatric evaluation. Generally, the court must order a psychological evaluation and any recommended treatment and can also order the defendant to pay for it, and has the discretion to bar the defendant from owning or keeping animals for a period of time, even for life.

SB 190 provides an exemption for animals kept for agricultural purposes, animals used to train hunting dogs and falcons, and animals kept or owned by zoological parks.

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