A few weeks ago, it was a pit bull whose ears had been sheared off with scissors.

Tomorrow, there will be another example.

But some lawmakers hope that when that next case comes up, the offender will face a much more serious penalty.

Four legislators have proposed a bill that would make it a felony to torture a pet. House Bill 242 also would enhance an animal-cruelty crime if committed in front of a minor.

Supporters of the bill say increasing the penalties could prevent future abuses, and also stop offenders before they move on to harming humans.

"Our goal is to protect people as much as it is to protect animals," said bill sponsor Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, noting several high-profile cases in which serial killers started down the path to murder by torturing animals.

Currently, the highest penalty an animal abuser can face in Utah is a class A misdemeanor, which could result in a one-year prison sentence. Wyatt, a former Cache County attorney, says that penalty isn't enough when people intentionally injure an animal.

"We want to turn the corner on abuse," he said.

Last year, Salt Lake County animal services reported nearly 1,300 cases of abuse or neglect.

In all those incidents, the maximum penalty prosecutors could charge was a misdemeanor, according to spokeswoman Temma Martin.

"I would hope that [HB242] would be a deterrent, but it also might give us a tool to stop repeat offenders," Martin said while holding a malnourished pit bull that looked more like a Chihuahua after being locked away for days in a basement without food.

Though it's too late now, HB242 could have changed the outcome of charges against four Utah County men and three juveniles who accused of slaughtering more than 1,200 turkeys in Sanpete County.

Prosecutors say the men and boys clubbed the turkeys over the head with tree branches.

The seven were not charged with animal cruelty, which now only carries misdemeanor penalties, but with felony criminal mischief and a class C misdemeanor of criminal trespass.

Under HB242, which has yet to be assigned to a committee, a prosecutor would have to prove that abuse of an animal constituted torture.

Prosecutors also would be able to bump up any penalty if the crime occurred in front of someone under age 18.

Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden - who is co-sponsoring the bill with Wyatt and Reps. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, and John G. Mathis, R-Naples - says that provision could prevent juveniles from thinking it is OK to harm animals.

And in turn, Hansen says, that could stop the abuse from leading to something more serious.

"If we can prevent animal abuse, maybe we can prevent murders," Hansen said.

tburr@sltrib.com