LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A proposal to strengthen Nebraska’s animal cruelty laws won first-round approval on Friday from lawmakers.
Senators voted 25-0 on a bill that would allow longer ownership restrictions for people who have neglected animals. The bill was inspired by an eastern Nebraska woman who was convicted of animal cruelty and neglect.
Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha introduced the legislation in response a 2013 neglect case involving a puppy mill in Malcolm. Lancaster County Judge Timothy Phillips described the operation as an “animal Auschwitz,” with dogs living in cages crusted with feces and urine. Water left outside for the dogs had frozen in the January winter.
The judge prohibited puppy mill owner Julia Hudson from owning, living with or raising any animals during her two-year probation period, except for horses she might already own. But he voiced frustration that the law didn’t allow him to impose harsher ownership restrictions, because Hudson was only convicted of animal neglect.
State law identifies two forms of animal cruelty: mistreatment, which involves violence, and neglect, in which an owner fails to provide adequate care.
People convicted of mistreatment can be barred from owning or living with animals for up to five years in a misdemeanor case, and 15 years when the abuse is a felony. For animal neglect convictions, the restriction can only be imposed while an offender is on probation.
Chambers’ bill would allow judges to impose the same ownership restrictions in neglect cases as in mistreatment cases.
“This bill is designed to give the judge the discretion to restrict ownership or possession for five years” in neglect cases, Chambers said.
Mark Langan, vice president of field operations for the Nebraska Humane Society, told the Judiciary Committee in January that the dogs in the Malcolm puppy mill, Taj Mahal Kennels, had ear and eye infections, skin conditions and infected wounds. Some dogs had missing lower jaws and rotted teeth.
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The bill is LB674
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