Legislation providing a felony penalty for animal cruelty unanimously passed the South Dakota Senate late last week.  South Dakota Farm Bureau Lobbyist Mike Held says State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven did a great job of bringing together agriculture and animal welfare groups in working out the compromise bill. He says the measure was slightly refined in committee before gaining passage on the Senate floor.

Held says the law which brings South Dakota up to speed with other states needed refining.

Held says because of all the groups involved in putting together the measure and the fact it so easily passed the Senate bodes well for passage in the House.