Ag Committee aims to ‘straighten out’ statute

SHERIDAN — The Wyoming Legislature Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee entered day two of discussion prepared to “straighten out” the state’s animal cruelty statute, as Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, said, though Sheridan County Prosecuting Attorney Dianna Bennett cooled some concerns about a need for complete overhaul within the statute’s due process provisions.

The Wyoming animal cruelty statute incorporates definitions of cruelty to animals, household pet animal cruelty, aggravated cruelty to animals and felony animal cruelty. The statute also provides guidelines for punishment, due process requirements in a criminal case, as well as what does not constitute animal cruelty, such as rodeo events and widely accepted agricultural practices within the industry.

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