animal cruelty

The house had dirt, debris, animal feces, litter scattered throughout.

Lt. Kevin Theis says officers found dead livestock buried on the property south of Gillette with parts of them sticking out of the ground.

The Senate Committee of the Whole ended up voting against the bill by a 21-7 margin, with two absent.

The bill would increase the maximum fines for an animal cruelty conviction to $2,500 for a misdemeanor charge and up to $10,000 for a repeat or felony conviction.

Winter added that evidence was recovered from the scene.

A man who killed the family dog in front is his children was sentenced Friday in Laramie County District Court to 18 to 36 months in prison.

The owner of the dog told officers she had been watering her lawn when she heard her dog, Smokey, barking.

While the investigation did turn up reports of dog fighting in the area three years ago, nothing more recent was found.

Gillette Police Sgt. Eric Dearcorn says Missy would have died of hypothermia because the temperature that day was about minus 3.

The bill would also increase the maximum fine for the elevated charge of aggravated animal cruelty to $10,000.