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New Animal Protection Laws Set To Take Effect In Louisiana
Baton Rouge, LA (AHN) – Animal rights advocates are hailing Louisiana’s adoption of stronger anti-animal cruelty laws. The new statutes take effect as the widely blogged case of two Baton Rouge brothers who let their pet pit bull eat a kitten alive continues.
“Increasing the penalties for animal cruelty will hopefully make people think twice before abusing an animal in Louisiana,” said Julia Breaux Melancon, The Humane Society of the United States’ Louisiana state director. “We also applaud a provision of the law that requires psychological counseling for repeat offenders because there is a documented connection between animal cruelty and human violence.”
The Bayou State has passed two new laws imposing tougher penalties on those who commit egregious abuse such as starvation and torture. HB 90 and SB 31 was signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and takes effect on Saturday.
HB 90, now Act 179, was authored by state Rep. Anthony Ligi passed the state House by a vote of 82 to 8. It strengthens protections for animals by requiring those convicted of a second offense of simple cruelty to face felony penalties, which is not less than $5,000 and not more than $25,000 or imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than 10 years, or both.
Second-offenders must also undergo psychological testing and anger management counseling, and will be ordered not to own any animals for a period of time determined by the court.
SB 31, now Act 106 and sponsored by state Sen. Robert Adley, had passed by a state Senate vote of 37-0 and a House vote of 68-18. It provides for harsher penalties for those who commit aggravated cruelty, which is causing or permitting unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death to an animal.
The adoption of the laws come as two Baton Rouge brothers are set to begin community service as part of their guilty plea to letting their pet pit bull eat a kitten alive. Jeremy Johnson, 18, and Travis Johnson, 24, were charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals last year; they pleaded guilty on July 22.
The new statutes also follow the arrest of a 54-year-old man in Lecompte who was charged with aggravated cruelty after his German Sheperd died tied up dehydrated and starved in his home.
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