Iowa
Kim Reynolds signs ‘Ember’s law’ increasing animal torture penalties
See Governor Reynolds sign tougher animal torture law
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs a bill creating new felony penalties for animal torture at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
Ember was an 8-week-old puppy when she came to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa “horribly abused,” animal welfare advocates recalled.
Officers of the state’s largest animal shelter found the dog thin, shaking and stained with blood, unable to stand or sit, when they were called to assist Des Moines police during a domestic violence investigation in March.
The puppy, who they later named Ember, suffered from a broken leg and jaw, a severely injured eye and another injured leg, bruising and swelling and a fractured jaw — an injury veterinarians say is consistent with multiple instances of abuse.
“This poor puppy was tortured,” said Tom Colvin, CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
But on Monday, May 11, Ember joined animal welfare advocates, state lawmakers and Gov. Kim Reynolds at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa in Des Moines to witness Iowa’s chief executive sign a law that would impose stiffer penalties in animal abuse cases such as Ember’s.
House File 2348 makes it a felony to torture companion animals, answering animal welfare advocates’ calls to fix Iowa’s status as the only state without those penalties on first offense. Before the new law, it was an aggravated misdemeanor to torture companion animals on first offense in Iowa.
In April, the bill unanimously passed the Iowa House and Senate after it stalled in the Senate for several months. A final push from animal welfare advocates helped send it to Reynolds’ desk.
“You’re doing really good,” Reynolds assured the now-5-month-old puppy as she signed the bill, while onlookers cooed over the furry guest of honor. She ended the ceremony with a gentle paw shake.
“This is already the legal standard across the rest of the country and it’s only commonsense that we adopt it here in Iowa, because this isn’t just about being punitive,” Reynolds said. “This is about cracking down on intentional, willful and malicious infliction of pain or prolonged death on innocent animals — horrible acts of violence that are evil in their own right and also certainly linked to violent crimes against people.”
Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, who floor managed the legislation’s passage in the Senate, cited research showing linking animal abuse to violence against humans.
“This law protects companion animals from heinous acts and provides appropriate punishment for anyone committing these unthinkable actions against companion animals,” Bousselot said. “But it also protects our communities. … It’s the right thing to do for those pets like Ember (that) have received torture, have been tortured, have been put through pain, and now those perpetrators can be punished appropriately.”
Under the new law, a person would be found guilty of animal torture who “intentionally, willfully, and maliciously mutilates, burns, poisons, drowns, starves or causes intensive or prolonged pain or death to a companion animal, or provides anything of value to another person to do the same.”
The measures enhances penalties to a class C felony for repeat offenders of animal abuse, animal torture, injury to or interference with a police service dog, bestiality or an act involving a prohibited contest such as dog fighting.
In Iowa, a class D felony is punishable up to five years in jail or prison and a fine between $1,025 and $10,245. A class C felony is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of a maximum fine of $13,660.
Rep. Samantha Fett, R-Carlisle, who introduced the bill and owns three German shepherds, said the legislation was “long overdue.”
“It’s a commitment to what Iowa stands for, that in our character we want to protect our pets,” Fett said. “Our pets are there for companionship, for comfort, for therapy, for service, for working, and what better way to protect them … than by passing something like this? They deserve the value that they bring to our homes and our families, so elevating this penalty to a felony was the right thing to do.”
Colvin said this gives law enforcement another tool to crack down on animal abuse.
“Ember was fortunate enough to be a survivor of animal torture, but there are so many other ones that aren’t,” Colvin said.
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa City’s deer population is growing – with the latest data showing nearly 560 deer in just under five square miles.
On May 14, the city asked the state’s Natural Resources Commission for professional sharpshooting, but that request was denied.
The police department received 35 calls for deer collisions last year. According to the city’s 2026 drone survey, the population has risen 16% to about 116 deer per square mile.
Concern for driver safety is one of the reasons the city wants to bring the number down to a safer level of 25 deer per square mile.
City management’s perspective
Assistant city manager Kirk Lehmann said although an urban bow hunt is the long-term strategy for population management, the city is working towards a hard reset with the sharpshooting.
“We do believe the data suggests that some sort of targeted sharpshoot is going to be necessary and ultimately that will depend on approval by the Natural Resources Commission,” said Lehmann. “We look forward to continuing working with them and the DNR.”
He said the NRC wants to see more results from the city’s urban bow hunt program before signing off on it.
Participation in the urban bow hunt is growing, with only 3 deer harvested in 2020 and 62 deer by 22 hunters in 2025. Lehmann said that was a 40% increase from the past year.
“When it comes to urban bow hunts, that does allow hunters to get additional buck tags and so that’s a popular incentive,” he said.
Lehmann said the city is also working to increase outreach and the amount of land available for the hunt.
A professional sharpshoot would be paid for locally – and Lehmann said it was included in the fiscal year budget.
A resident’s perspective
Seeing deer is a near daily occurrence at George Rickey’s house on the east side of town – in sunshine, rain or snow.
“It’s a nice city, nice community, and I didn’t realize I was moving into a wildlife preserve!“ he said. ”Recently, it has really exploded.”
Although he enjoys seeing the deer, he points out the possibility of disease and the danger to drivers as concerns – as his friend has hit two deer in the past two years.
“I’d rather see them in my backyard and peacefully wandering around than in my windshield,” he said. “Because I’m a former EMT and I can tell you that those kind of accidents don’t end up really well.“
Rickey said he wouldn’t be a fan of a sharpshoot as he wants the management to be extra cautious and said a bow hunt would have more “control.”
In the meantime, Rickey said the deer are pretty friendly when he encounters them – recounting a recent time a neighbor was selling their house and five deer wandered through his backyard.
“I said, there’s a great selling point if you’re selling to a family that’s got kids… ‘Hey look, we’re going to move in right next door to a game preserve!’” he said, laughing.
Although he said he drives carefully on roads that deer frequent, he will continue to enjoy seeing them in the neighborhood.
“Well, they’re here, live with them. Just try to work it out where everybody can coexist,” he said.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
The Iowa State Cyclones have been making up for lost time recently, securing commitments from several high school football players to bolster their Class of 2027.
After some recent commitments, there are now 14 players committed to play for head coach Jimmy Rogers in the future. Two of them happen to be quarterbacks, Cash Hollingshead and Blake Moser.
Both players took part in camps recently in Ames and performed well enough to receive scholarship offers. They didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity, accepting the offers shortly after receiving them.
However, they won’t be competing against each other on the quarterback depth chart in the future. Instead, Hollingshead is going to be targeting Moser in the passing game, with the talented athlete officially accepting a challenge from the Cyclones.
Iowa State secures commitment from Blake Moser
Moser took part in the drills at camp at wide receiver and has committed to Iowa State, looking to give the skill position a chance instead of accepting an offer from the Portland State Vikings, Idaho Vandals, Montana Grizzlies or Northern Arizona Lumberjacks to play quarterback.
“I want to play receiver, and I really like what’s going on here,” Moser said, via Bill Seals of Cyclone Report (subscription required).
Listed at 6 feet and 180 pounds, Moser was as dynamic with his legs as his arm during his junior year. He completed 155-of-233 pass attempts for 2,612 yards with 39 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
On the ground, he racked up 850 yards and 16 touchdowns, showing incredible athleticism that Rogers and Iowa State are going to look to take full advantage of, initiating his transition to wide receiver.
Blake Moser has athleticism to successfully transition to wide receiver
Moser impressed during his opportunity at camp, showing incredible speed in his 40-yard dash and a skill set the coaching staff thinks will translate to wide receiver after playing quarterback and running back in high school.
“I ran a 4.37 for my 40, so I think initially they liked my speed and then my playmaking ability.
“When I was running one-on-ones, like even in high school I’ve been playing quarterback and running back, but was able to go out and get some really good reps. (Coach Jimmy Rogers) just told me I’m just good at football and one of those players that they really want to develop,” the Lake Stevens product said.
It will certainly be interesting to see how his senior year goes. Knowing that a positional change is coming once he begins his career with the Cyclones, it is fair to wonder if he will start the transition during his senior year with Lake Stevens.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Noah Gratias is an Iowa State alum from Waukee.
Whether in political debates, Bleeding Heartland essays, or everyday conversations, the idea that Iowa is in decline is frequently invoked. Many Iowans worry about brain drain, water quality, health care access, and the job market.
Still, Iowa is better off than much of this rhetoric suggests. By many measures that count, including affordability, education, and health care, Iowa remains one of the country’s best places to live.
-
Louisiana7 seconds ago
Louisiana Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for June 7, 2026
-
Maine7 minutes agoHeat, humidity on the rise across Maine ahead of showers, potential storms late this week
-
Maryland10 minutes agoAfter raft of appointments, District 16 voters will finally get their say
-
Michigan15 minutes agoCan Michigan tenants withhold rent if a landlord won’t make repairs?
-
Massachusetts22 minutes agoBeacon Hill Roll Call: House, Senate approve $1.35B fiscal 26 supplemental budget
-
Minnesota25 minutes agoGas Prices In Minnesota Drop To $3.96, Down 15.9 Cents This Week
-
Mississippi30 minutes agoSunday Conversation: Mississippi State’s Abby Grace Richardson
-
Missouri37 minutes agoMissouri governor names five members to state boards and panels
