Animal Torture Issue Booted from Special Session Agenda

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Animal lovers hounded the Governor for months to call a special session so lawmakers could pass a bill making it a felony to torture animals. Huntsman called the session, and today irritated lawmakers showed their disapproval:

"I think special sessions should be limited to those things that absolutely must be done," says Senator Lyle Hillyard. "This is not. There's no urgency. And I'd like to send a message to our leadership and the Governor that if you're going to have a special session, let's only do it on things we have agreement on."

Hillyard helped handily dispose of two animal cruelty bills proposed in today's special session. They promise to reconsider the issue during the general session in January. That was little consolation to supporters of the measure, including Rhonda Kamper, who brought her dog Henry to lobby lawmakers.

"That's telling me, as well as the public, that what Michael Vick did is okay," says Kamper. "They're okay with people who do heinous acts to animals. And it starts with animals and moves up to a child or adult or senior citizen."

Henry has become the mascot for supporters of stiffer penalties against people who torture animals. Kamper says her ex-husband cooked Henry in the oven, causing the pup to sustain serious injuries.

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