Group Seeks To Make Animal Abuse A Felony

Idaho is one of only three states in the nation with no felony punishment for repeat animal cruelty offenders. Now, one statewide effort is building to change the law.

“There really aren’t any serious penalties for it,” said Tracie Grant, a volunteer for Boise-based Idaho 1 of 3. The group is working to make animal abuse a felony after the third offense.

Last month, officers seized malnourished animals from a home on 17th Street in Idaho Falls. It wasn’t the first time.

Robert and Meachell Huffman have a laundry list of animal abuse charges. Meachell Huffman is awaiting sentencing at the end of February, and Robert is currently on probation for an inhumane treatment conviction.

But about a mile east on 17th Street is the Animal Oasis, a little pet grooming shop where owner Karin Drexler has Idaho 1 of 3’s petition laid out on the counter.

“I think it’s very important,” said Drexler. “A lot of people don’t know it’s not a felony in the state yet.”

Eastern Idaho’s regional organizer for the movement, Tracie Grant, said the group needs 48,000 signatures by April 30th to get an initiative on 2012’s ballot.

“It’s important for people in southeastern Idaho to have the same opportunity to sign the petition that the people over in Boise have,” said Grant.

Grant has taken to pet-friendly businesses across the region, hoping to add to the roughly 25,000 names already signed statewide.

“Over here we’ve probably collected about 1,000 signatures,” said Grant.

The group is also seeking mandatory sentencing guidelines for those who do offend. Idaho 1 of 3’s president Virginia Hemingway said it’s necessary.

“The punishment that we are asking for these felonies would be a term of imprisonment in the state prison of not less than 6 months but not more than 3 years, and a fine of not more than $9,000,” said Hemingway.

Idaho 1 of 3 has petitions across the southeastern Idaho region. If you’d like to add your name to the cause you can find a petition to sign at:

Upper Valley Humane Society – Idaho Falls The Pampered Pooch – Idaho Falls Animal Oasis – Idaho Falls 3’s Company Catering – Idaho Falls Snake River Animal Shelter – Idaho Falls Kinghorn Veterinary Services and Bramwell Animal Clinic – Rigby