Supporters of tougher animal cruelty penalties say senate holding up the bill

Animal rights advocates say state Senate leaders are sitting on a bill which would toughen penalties for animal torture because it would pass. Laura Conti is director of Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Fairfield where two young men killed and tortured cats in March of 1997. She says the cat killers got away with virtually no punishment.She wants animal torture to be a felony on the first conviction.Senator David Miller — Conti’s Senator — wants to make animal torture an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense, which would bring a two-year prison term. Miller suggests the crime be a felony on a second offense, bringing up to five years in prison. Other legislators say it’s wrong to set the penalty for animal torture higher than for domestic abuse.Senate leaders say animal rights advocates are asking for too much, and that means the animal cruelty bill is dead.