This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals were betrayed.

A few months ago, we shared an alert calling for justice for Deron, a dog who was brutally killed just days after his adoption. While his abusers are still making their way through the court system, in response to this incident a bill has been introduced by Sen. J.D. Ford that would increase penalties for animal cruelty.

SB 41 would enhance certain animal cruelty crimes from a level 6 felony to a level 5 felony, which would change the sentencing from six months to two and a half years to one to six years in prison. Now, Indiana's lawmakers need to hear from us in support of this important piece of legislation!

Deron was adopted last summer and was brutally killed by his adopters just days after they brought him home and then thrown out like garbage. Four people were arrested in connection to this horrifying crime, and while they're still moving through the court system the outrage that ensued prompted the introduction of this bill.

Sen. Ford stated on Twitter that he introduced it to “ensure that the penalty for animal cruelty better aligns with the crime after listening to the folks who want justice for animals in these cases.”

This bill will protect all domestic animals. The language includes an act of cruelty to intimidate a family or household member, and a second offense with a prior misdemeanor conviction becomes a felony. An adult or youth may be ordered to undergo psychological, behavioral, or other counseling as part of sentencing which we strongly applaud.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals were betrayed.