Bolding in the following news article is my own.
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Source: KTVA
Anchorage, Alaska USA
New animal cruelty laws in the works for Alaska
By Andrea Gusty, CBS 11 News Reporter
Article Last Updated: 03/28/2008 05:47:43 AM AKDT
The National Humane Society is praising the state Senate for unanimously passing legislation Thursday that would make the most blatant acts of cruelty to animals a felony.
As the law stands now, Alaska is one of only six states with no felony penalties for malicious acts of animal cruelty. Senate Bill 273 would make it a felony offense to intentionally inflict severe or prolonged physical suffering on an animal, intentionally poison a pet or farm animal, or intentionally kill an animal by a decompression chamber.
If it is made law, it would increase penalties for attending an animal fight to a class A misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony for any other offenses.
The Humane Society is now asking the state House to follow suit and work quickly to get the bill passed.
