By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/Arizona Daily Star
State lawmakers agreed to create special exemptions from animal cruelty laws for farmers and ranchers despite complaints that it would ease penalties on those who abuse and beat farm animals to death.
The 33-24 vote came after Rep. Brenda Barton, R-Payson, agreed to remove two of the provisions from HB 2587 that foes considered most onerous — and that likely would have condemned the measure to failure.
One would have stripped police departments entirely of the power to investigate any allegations of cruelty against livestock, giving that exclusively to the state Department of Agriculture. That would have included not only what occurs on a ranch but even stopped police investigation of those who abuse the horses, goats and sheep they raise in their backyards.
If you’d like to discuss equine law, contact Adam Trenk, atrenk@roselawgroup.com
