Found frozen to the ground – yet still alive! – in Enoch, Utah, on January 2, 2014, 1½ year-old Elsa did not need to suffer fatal neglect, yet, because the penalty for cruelty to animals is little more than a slap on the wrist in Utah, Elsa’s former owner cannot be brought to full justice.

Elsa was taken to Dust Devil Ranch Sanctuary for Horses near Cedar City, Utah, but, despite valiant efforts to save her, she died on January 18, 2014, in the arms of Ginger Grimes, Founder, and surrounded by loving volunteers.

I am horrified by Elsa's story and created this petition to let the Utah Legislature know that outraged people around the United States – and the world! – support the citizens of Utah in refusing to stand for this injustice and demanding the law be changed.

We ask Senators Davis, Vickers, Madsen, Hilyard, Jones, Robles, Thatcher, Urquhart and Weiler, and Representative Westwood, to introduce a bill to change the inadequate punishment to a Third Degree Felony with a sentence of 0 to 5 years and a possible fine of up to $5,000.

"Elsa’s Law", Utah Legislature, in 76-9-301. Cruelty to animals, Utah Code, please change the violation of Subsection 2, “fail[ure] to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody”, from a Class B or C misdemeanor to a Third Degree Felony with a sentence of 0 to 5 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $5,000.