The largest animal rights group in the state is praising an effort by a local legislator to further reach across the chasm that has developed at the state capitol in the debate over Utah's animal cruelty laws.

Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, has introduced a new bill that would make the torture of domesticated dogs and cats a third-degree felony on the first offense.

An earlier bill sponsored by Christensen, Senate Bill 117, would have made animal torture a felony, but only on the second offense in a five-year span.

SB 117 squeezed through the Senate last week on a 15-14 vote.

Christensen said the new bill, which is still in the final drafting process and has yet to be numbered, represents a compromise with the House, animal rights groups and agricultural interests.

"No one is overly pleased, but at least we have everyone on board now," he said.

Christensen has argued in the past against first-offense felonies for animal cruelty, saying it elevates animals to human status.

He said he was reluctant to make the concession, requested by House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, but added that compromise is often a necessary part of the legislative process.

"This pushes me right to my limit," he said. "I've tried so hard to keep common sense in the equation."

Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah, said he is glad to see "an animal protection bill that has some teeth."

While he would like to see a proposal that allows first-degree felonies for all instances of animal torture, Baierschmidt said dogs and cats are the best place to start.

"These animals comprise most of the cases that the Humane Society deals with, and the ones that are most frequently involved in domestic violence situations," he said.

The bill is designed to reach middle ground between SB 117 and House Bill 470, sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful. HB 470 included the first-offense felony for cat and dog torture, as well as first-offense felonies for torturing animals in the presence of children, or in conjunction with an episode of domestic violence.

Senate Bill 102, sponsored by Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, would have applied the first-offense felony to a wider range of circumstances.

Both of those bills, along with SB 117, will be replaced with the new bill, Christensen said.

He believes he has garnered enough support in the Senate, but couldn't say what its chances are in the House.

"There's no guarantee," he said.

The new bill will likely be heard by a Senate committee next Monday.