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(Des Moines, IA) -- The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is urging lawmakers to increase penalties for animal torture. A bill in the Iowa House would reclassify animal torture from an aggravated misdemeanor to a Class D felony. It advanced out of a subcommittee last week.
The ARL argues that because animal torture is not currently a felony, many law enforcement agencies can’t justify devoting resources to pursue cases against alleged abusers. The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks Iowa among the bottom five states in the nation for animal protection laws.