A sweeping animal protection bill that would ban everything from bestiality to dogs’ riding unrestrained in the back of pickups was endorsed by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
The bill also would extend domestic violence protection orders to pets, make it easier to pursue felony charges in animal abuse cases, remove a requirement that veterinarians get a court order to euthanize some seriously injured or abused animals and change the definition of dangerous dogs.
Sponsor Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, said House Bill 1235 aims to close a number of loopholes identified in current law by those who investigate and prosecute cases of animal abuse.
But rural lawmakers objected to its broad nature and the pickup ban.
“What I see is a real difference between urban and rural Colorado,” Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, said of the pickup provision, which includes an exemption for ranching and farming.
“If anyone’s been out to the Western Slope lately, that’s how the dog goes to work. That’s how the dog travels with the family.”
Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, said the bill takes on too many issues.
Indeed, some witnesses expressed concern that the measure would hinder the ability of ranchers and rural law enforcement officers to shoot injured animals without a veterinarian’s consent.
Others questioned whether a provision to make pet owners more accountable for damage by their animals would fuel feuds between rural neighbors.
“We go from bestiality to riding in the back of a truck to a number of other issues. And I worry when we get this broad on this many issues about unintended consequences,” King said.
Stafford and witnesses testified that the sexual-abuse section was included because of studies that indicate people who involve pets in sexual activities are more likely to also abuse children and women.
According to the American Humane Association, more than 71 percent of battered women reported their abusers had harmed, threatened or killed animals.
Norm Renter, an investigator with the Dumb Friends League, cited serial murderer Jeffrey Dahmer as an example of criminals who as children abused animals.
“It closes some of the loopholes so police and investigators are able to intervene and collaborate on prosecution,” he said.
The bill also would extend protective orders in domestic violence cases to animals.
“Animals are often used as leverage” to keep spouses or significant others from leaving an abusive situation, Renter testified.
The bill also would make it easier to prosecute as felonies cases such as a recent one in Denver where a man threw his girlfriend’s 7-week-old kitten against the wall, injuring it so badly that it eventually had to be euthanized, said Diane Balkin, a deputy Denver district attorney.
The bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Capitol bureau chief Jeri Clausing can be reached at 303-954-1555 or jclausing@denverpost.com.
