HSUS and PETA trying to eliminate Food Animal Agruculture........ 
HB1146 – An Act to prohibit the torture of animals and to provide certain
penalties therefor
This bill would make it a Class 6 felony to intentionally torture any animal, defined as "any intentional,
malicious act or omission, including mutilation, whereby unnecessary, unjustifiable, or unreasonable
serious bodily injury or death is caused, permitted, or allowed to continue."
We ask you to oppose the measure for the following reasons:
South Dakota currently has a sound, workable animal cruelty law.
Chapter 40 – Cruelty, Abuse and Injury to Animals – was rewritten in 1991 following a year's
worth of work by veterinarians, the livestock industry, local humane societies, researchers, and state
government. This chapter deals with mistreatment, torture, cruelty, neglect, abandonment, mutilation, or
inhumane slaughter of animals. The state Animal Industry Board enforces the provisions of the law as it
relates to livestock and dangerous animals. Local law enforcement officers and humane societies
enforce the provisions relating to dogs, cats, and other animals.
Because all known complaints have been effectively addressed under this law, we believe it has
worked well in South Dakota for the past 18 years.
This is being driven by a radical animal rights group.
An earlier version of HB 1146 was brought to South Dakota last summer by the Humane Society
of the United States (HSUS). The HSUS, based in Washington, D.C., is publicly championing its effort
to get felony animal cruelty laws on the books in Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Despite its name, the HSUS has no affiliation with the local humane societies working in
communities throughout South Dakota to provide shelter for lost, stray, or unwanted animals. HSUS
has been linked by the FBI to terrorist groups, most notably the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a
criminal group responsible for millions of dollars of damage through arson and vandalism.
South Dakota's farmers and ranchers believe in proper animal care.
No one has more at stake than farmers and ranchers in ensuring their livestock are healthy,
comfortable, and well-managed. The livestock industry has undertaken efforts such as the Pork Quality
Assurance and Beef Quality Assurance programs, and National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative, to
foster improved care and handling for livestock. South Dakota farmers and ranchers do not condone
mistreatment or torture of any animals.
HB1146 amends the section of law dealing with "generally accepted training, use and husbandry
procedures for the species, breed, physical condition, and type of animal." If passed, this law could be
used to turn farmers and ranchers into felons for employing livestock management techniques.
South Dakota Association of Cooperatives
South Dakota Biotech Association
South Dakota Cattlemen's Association
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
South Dakota Farm Bureau
South Dakota Pork Producers Council
South Dakota Poultry Industries Association
HB1146 – An Act to prohibit the torture of animals and to provide certain
penalties therefor
This bill would make it a Class 6 felony to intentionally torture any animal, defined as "any intentional,
malicious act or omission, including mutilation, whereby unnecessary, unjustifiable, or unreasonable
serious bodily injury or death is caused, permitted, or allowed to continue."
We ask you to oppose the measure for the following reasons:
South Dakota currently has a sound, workable animal cruelty law.
Chapter 40 – Cruelty, Abuse and Injury to Animals – was rewritten in 1991 following a year's
worth of work by veterinarians, the livestock industry, local humane societies, researchers, and state
government. This chapter deals with mistreatment, torture, cruelty, neglect, abandonment, mutilation, or
inhumane slaughter of animals. The state Animal Industry Board enforces the provisions of the law as it
relates to livestock and dangerous animals. Local law enforcement officers and humane societies
enforce the provisions relating to dogs, cats, and other animals.
Because all known complaints have been effectively addressed under this law, we believe it has
worked well in South Dakota for the past 18 years.
This is being driven by a radical animal rights group.
An earlier version of HB 1146 was brought to South Dakota last summer by the Humane Society
of the United States (HSUS). The HSUS, based in Washington, D.C., is publicly championing its effort
to get felony animal cruelty laws on the books in Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Despite its name, the HSUS has no affiliation with the local humane societies working in
communities throughout South Dakota to provide shelter for lost, stray, or unwanted animals. HSUS
has been linked by the FBI to terrorist groups, most notably the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a
criminal group responsible for millions of dollars of damage through arson and vandalism.
South Dakota's farmers and ranchers believe in proper animal care.
No one has more at stake than farmers and ranchers in ensuring their livestock are healthy,
comfortable, and well-managed. The livestock industry has undertaken efforts such as the Pork Quality
Assurance and Beef Quality Assurance programs, and National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative, to
foster improved care and handling for livestock. South Dakota farmers and ranchers do not condone
mistreatment or torture of any animals.
HB1146 amends the section of law dealing with "generally accepted training, use and husbandry
procedures for the species, breed, physical condition, and type of animal." If passed, this law could be
used to turn farmers and ranchers into felons for employing livestock management techniques.
South Dakota Association of Cooperatives
South Dakota Biotech Association
South Dakota Cattlemen's Association
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
South Dakota Farm Bureau
South Dakota Pork Producers Council
South Dakota Poultry Industries Association