Torturing a companion animal will be charged as a felony in Iowa under a measure signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Reynolds, joined by lawmakers and advocates including a broad coalition of animal welfare groups, law enforcement, veterinarians and domestic violence advocates, signed House File 2348 into law at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa shelter in Des Moines in May. The law establishes a Class D felony charge for animal torture, defined as when a person “intentionally, willfully, and maliciously mutilates, burns, poisons, drowns, starves or causes intensive or prolonged pain or death to a companion animal, or provides anything of value to another person to do the same.”
A Class D felony carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine ranging from $1,025 to $10,245. The charge would increase to a Class C felony if the individual has been previously convicted of other offenses related to animal cruelty.
Joining politicians and advocates at the bill signing was Ember, a puppy rescued by the Animal Rescue league of Iowa in March that was the victim of animal abuse and torture. Colvin showed a picture of Ember when she first came to the ARL at eight weeks old. She had sustained a broken jaw, one broken leg and a severely injured other leg as well as a severely injured eye.
Iowa was the last of the 50 states to make animal torture a first offense felony.
“This is already the legal standard across the rest of the country, and it’s only common sense that we adopted here in Iowa, because this isn’t just about being punitive,” Reynolds said. “This is about cracking down on intentional, willful and malicious infliction of pain or prolonged death on innocent animals — horrible acts of violence that are evil in their own right and also certainly linked to the violent crimes against people.”
Preston Moore, Iowa state director of Humane World for Animals, noted that animal abuse has a “ well-documented link” [to] domestic violence and child abuse. Research consistently shows that individuals who commit violent acts against animals often escalate to harming people, particularly vulnerable family members.”
