Critics say animal cruelty law inadvertently keeps cases secret

CARSON CITY -- The sponsor of a new law intended to toughen penalties against severe animal cruelty said Monday the purpose of a late-session amendment to the measure was to allow people to report cases anonymously -- not to keep abusers and cases confidential.

But some animal rights activists say the good intentions may have backfired.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported Sunday that the new law makes animal abuse cases confidential and gives criminal penalties to officials who release reports or talk about cases. State Sen. Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, an animal lover and prime sponsor of the bill, was surprised to learn of problems with the amendment's language. The intent was to allow people to report crimes without fear of retaliation, not to "stifle public knowledge of events," he said.

The measure, SB233, took effect Oct. 1. Known as Cooney's Law, it was named after a dog that died after being gutted by its owner. SB233 makes it a felony to maliciously torture, maim, mutilate or kill a companion animal.

The questionable language is: "Any person, law enforcement agency, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or animal control agency that willfully releases data or information concerning the reports, except for the purposes of a criminal investigation, is guilty of a misdemeanor."