Idaho Bills

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the crime of torturing a companion animal; and to revise penalties.

This legislation amends Idaho Code Section 25-3502 to define companion animals and to define torture to an animal. The legislation also provides a new Section 25-3504A which provides that any person convicted of torture to a companion animal is guilty of a felony on the first offense if that person has been convicted of voluntary infliction of bodily injury upon any human within the previous ten years. Any person convicted of torture to a companion animal is guilty of a felony on the second or subsequent convictions. The legislation provides that a court shall order a pre-sentence investigation that shall include a psychological evaluation. Current and normal livestock practices in section 25-3514 shall be exempt from provisions of this act.