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• However, the measure would make cruelty to animals a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $4,000. Cruelty is defined as the intentional, willful and malicious infliction of physical abuse that causes prolonged pain, serious injury, or the death of an animal.
• Rep. Elizabeth May, R-Kyle, tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to remove all references to local humane societies, which many cities pay to deal with abandoned or unwanted pets. She said ranchers want those references deleted because they could relate to the Humane Society of the United States.
• "If we're going to go along with the felony and endanger our No. 1 industry in this state, then there should be no objection to taking the word 'humane society' out of anywhere in the bill," May said.
• But other lawmakers said existing law merely refers to local humane societies that are not connected with the national lobbying group, which has criticized some livestock handling practices.
• Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, argued that the bill should be defeated because the Humane Society of the United States is blackmailing South Dakota into passing a law making animal cruelty a felony. The group has threatened to put such a proposal on the ballot for a statewide vote unless the Legislature passes a law, he said.
• Other House members countered that the bill will better protect farmers, ranchers, veterinarians and others who work with animals.
• Rep. Gary Cammack, R-Union Center, a rancher and business owner, said farmers and ranchers support the bill once they study it.
• "For the ag community, this is an opportunity to steer their own ship and determine their own destiny," Cammack said.
•

• RAPID VALLEY, S.D. (AP) -- The parents of a western South Dakota child say a 15-year-old girl entered their home, grabbed their son and tried to get away in the family car.
• The Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/1cRAi4Z ) reports police took the girl to a hospital after she was found near the Rapid Valley home of Erin and Danny Banker.
• Witnesses said the girl had been going in and out of homes and vehicles in the neighborhood before she entered the Banker home, the Journal reported.
• Erin Banker says two of her children were downstairs Saturday night when the girl grabbed her 7-year-old son. She says she noticed something was off when their dog barked and went to investigate.

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