Governor ceremonially signs bill co-authored by Baird to combat animal cruelty

Friday, May 1, 2026 at 10:25 AM

By Staff report

The governor recently ceremonially signed into law a bill co-authored by State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) to combat animal cruelty and abuse.

Indiana has seen troubling stories in recent years of animal cruelty, neglect, pet theft and harm to law enforcement animals. House Enrolled Act 1165 responds directly to these concerns by modernizing and strengthening Indiana's animal cruelty laws.

"This gives law enforcement the tools they need to hold animal abusers accountable," Baird said. "Indiana will not turn a blind eye to animal cruelty, and this law reinforces our commitment to preventing it."

Under the new law, liability for damages is removed when a person rescues a pet from an unsafe, locked vehicle. Furthermore, it enhances the theft of a pet from a misdemeanor to a felony, creates harsher penalties for the killing of a law enforcement animal and adds stricter language to the crimes of torture, abandonment and neglect of an animal.