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A bill in the Legislature would punish people for misdemeanor animal cruelty if they left their dogs tied up without access to shelter in inclement weather..
The Senate Business and Labor Committee unanimously approved SB253 Friday, sending it to the full Senate.
Sponsor Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, said he's trying to protect animals who are completely dependent on their owners for proper care.
John Fox, chief investigator at the Humane Society of Utah, said he has investigated between 75,000 and 80,000 cases of the type addressed in the bill — which specifies freezing temperatures, temperatures over 85 degrees, or during rain, hail, snow or wind above 40 mph. It is difficult to prosecute, Fox said, because current law has no minimum standard for shelter.
Sterling Brown, of the Utah Farm Bureau, said he was concerned about some of the bill's wording. Ranchers in rural Utah rely on their dogs for work and often will tie up an animal to take care of their business. Dogs routinely live under a porch, which is defined as inadequate shelter in SB253.
Davis said the problem could if solved if the dog owner tied the animal to a tree in a way that doesn't prevent it from reaching adequate shelter. Davis said he wasn't trying to interfere with ranchers, but was targeting urban residents who abuse dogs. The lawmaker said he is willing to work with the Farm Bureau on amendments before presenting his bill on the Senate floor.