Stop Torturing Our Pets (STOP) is an Idaho legally registered non-profit organization that has been formed for the following purposes:
- To educate the citizens of Idaho to the plight of animals that are neglected and subjected to cruelty and to inform them that changing dog fighting to a felony did not affect any other sections of the cruelty law.
- To persuade Idaho legislators via e-mails, letters, letters to the editor and any other legal persuasive actions that the people of Idaho want felony penalties for repeat offenders and those who torture animals.
- To change the Cruelty to Animals Statute, by whatever legal means necessary, to provide misdemeanor or felony charges based upon the serious nature of the crime(s) and after two misdemeanor convictions, the third conviction becomes a felony.
- To protect the normal, legal practices associated with agricultural and legal sport animals.
This group has been founded by a fourth generation Idahoan who was raised on a farm/ranch and we understand that stockgrowers and hunters only benefit from appropriate animal care.
Idaho is now one of ONLY FOUR STATES (ID, MS, ND, SD) without felony penalties in their cruelty to animals statute.
STOP worked with many organizations including most of Idaho’s agricultural groups to write the bill that was presented in the 2009 legislative session before the House Agricultural Committee. Under the guidance and sponsorship of Representative Tom Trail, our bill was evaluated and rewritten to include concerns of almost all groups who gave us input and was reviewed twice by the Attorney General’s Office. The bill met the standards of protecting the normal, legal procedures of the agricultural practices while providing appropriate penalties (misdemeanors or felonies) depending on the nature of the abuse or neglect as cited in number 3 of the purposes cited above. Unfortunately, the House Agricultural Committee voted not to send the bill for a full hearing in the House.
Beginning in May, 2009, STOP worked with an informal legislative task force headed by Senator Tim Corder, Chair of the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee. This group was comprised of animal welfare groups and representatives from the agricultural associations. Using our draft from the previous legislative session as a template, the final bill revised many out-dated sections of the cruelty law. While it did not contain the felony penalties we want for repeat offenders and torture, it did revise the fines and penalties. It kept our definition of torture as a separate crime; clarified the difference between "production animals" and animals of the same breed not used for production activities, provided a definition of adequate housing and changed dog fighting to animal fighting so that cock fighting would be a felony also. There were many other changes which are too numerous to list. The final bill was approved by every member of the task force, proving that animal welfare groups and those engaged in agriculture in Idaho can work together for the betterment of Idaho's domesticated animals.
During the 2010 legislative session, Senator Corder presented the bill to the Senate where it was approved by a vote of 34-1. Unfortunately, the leadership in the House sent the bill to the House State Affairs Committee where Representative Thomas Loertscher killed the bill by not allowing it to even be presented.
During the 2011 legislative session, a piece meal bill was passed which better defines horses as either companion or production animals. However, the bill left many definitions open to wide interpretation. We opposed the bill for that reason. We find this approach to updating our outmoded cruelty to animals law unacceptable. As a result STOP will be joining a new organization which will include rescue and other animal welfare groups. The organization is now incorporated as
Idaho 1 of 3. Anyone can join this new organization by contacting STOP and we urge you join us in putting an initiative on the 2012 ballot! We have determined the Idaho legislature will not add felonies for any kind of cruelty, therefore, several groups are now incorporated as one Idaho group to add felonies for a third conviction of cruelty and a first conviction of torture, which we have defined in the initiative. We will need about 60,000 signatures of registered voters to put this on the 2012 ballot. We have until April 30, 2012 to collect all signatures. This will require a lot of time, money and commitment which Idaho's animals deserve. We are very excited to have developed this new concept and hope many Idahoans will join us in this new endeavor! PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE AND ENLIST EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO VOTE YES ON THIS BALLOT ISSUE.
If you care about Idaho's animals, we NEED YOU to join our organization, just contact us. Thank you.
In order to contact your legislators to let them know you want this law changed, please use the following links:
(Please be aware that some legislators only read and respond to their mail during the session, others respond all year.)
For your information, the code regarding cruelty to animals may be found by searching for Idaho Code, 25, 35. For your convenience, the administering agency and the inadequate misdemeanor sentencing guidelines are listed below. Please note that a person at most will receive not more than 12 months in jail or a fine of not less than $500 or more than $9000. This is not an acceptable punishment for the starvation, beating and/or other forms of torture inflicted upon innocent animals.
Idaho Code, Title 25. Animals, Chapter 35 Cruelty to Animals:
"The department of agriculture, division of animal industries shall be responsible for the administration of the provisions of this chapter and shall inform the public and animals owners concerning their legal responsibilities, and in cooperation with local law enforcement, investigate and develop cases for prosecution.
25-3520A Penalty for violations.
- Except as provided in section 25-3503, Idaho Code, any person convicted for a first violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished for each offense, by a jail sentence of not more than six (6) months or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
- Except as provided in section 25-3503, Idaho Code, any person convicted of a second violation of any of the provisions of this chapter within ten (10) years of the first conviction, shall be punished for each offense, by a jail sentence of not more than nine (9) months or a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or more than seven thousand dollars ($7,000) or both fine and imprisonment.
- Except as provided in section 25-3503, Idaho Code, any person convicted of a third or subsequent violation, within fifteen (15) years of the first conviction, shall be punished for each offense by a jail sentence of not more than twelve (12) months or a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than nine thousand ($9,000) or by both fine and imprisonment."
As mentioned above section 25-3503, Idaho Code refers to Poisoning animals and reads as follows: "Every person who willfully administers any poisonous substance to an animal, the property of another, or maliciously places any poisonous substance where it would be found by an animal or where it would attract an animal, with the intent that the same shall be taken, ingested or absorbed by any such animal, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding three (3) years, or in the county jail not exceeding one (l) year, and a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than five thousand dollars ($5000)."