FRANKFORT, Ky. — You aren’t allowed to neglect your pet in Kentucky. However, most cases, even where the life of the pet is in danger, are only misdemeanors.

That’s why House Bill 20 was filed.

“This is just another tool for our county attorneys to do their jobs,” said Rep. Chris Freeland (R-Benton), the bill’s sponsor.

Freeland’s bill adds “intentional gross neglect” to Kentucky’s existing animal torture law and makes the crime a Class D felony.

Most will remember the case of Ethan the dog, who was found in bad shape outside the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville last year. Freeland said his bill would put tougher penalties on the people who originally neglected Ethan.

“It kind of puts a face on what this bill does, and it happens across Kentucky,” he said. “Every sheriff’s department you talk to will have a case like this that they’ve worked and right now, it’s just a misdemeanor, so it’s hard to go after people who do these kinds of things.”

The bill has been in the works for multiple years now and has 52 co-sponsors, more than enough to pass in the House.

Freeland said he’s also had plenty of discussion with farming and hunting groups to make sure it doesn’t infringe on their rights.

“I’m more than happy to keep tweaking it to get it right, because I don’t want something to pass that’s going to have any unintentional consequences,” he said. “I’d like to get it right.”

House Bill 20 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee with no votes against it. Freeland said he’s not sure when the measure will reach the House floor.