Supporters of a new law that expands protections for animals were in Frankfurt on Tuesday for the ceremonial signing of the bill known as Ethan's Law.

It was one of more than 200 laws that went into effect on Monday.

Ethan's law is named after a Louisville dog who survived extreme abuse.

It expands the definition of torture to a dog or cat to include situations where the animal is in extreme physical pain, suffers serious physical injury, or dies as a result of someone intentionally injuring them while they are restrained.

Examples of torture include breaking bones, burning, hanging or starving a dog or cat.

It also makes the torture of a dog or cat a Class D felony instead of just a misdemeanor, and allows each act of torture to constitute a separate offense.

The bill passed the General Assembly during the 2024 regular session, but it took more than a decade to get it across the finish line, according to the sponsor of the bill.

Republican state Representative Susan Tyler Whitten of Louisville.

It started 16 years ago when Senator Tom Buford saw the need to extrapolate cases of torture of dogs and cats from the animal cruelty statute through this law.

It was acknowledged that misdemeanors just don't fit certain extreme cases of inflicted pain when they are intentional.

As a rescue dog owner and animal lover.

I was proud to pick up this measure and work with my colleagues and other stakeholders to get it passed.

Secretary of State Michael Adams says the new law not only makes it safe for animals, but for humans too, pointing out that studies show 75% of violent animal abusers go on to commit violent acts against people.

Now that we can impose stricter penalties on the abusers torturing cats and dogs, they may not have the opportunity to move on to women and men.

While I'm passionate about helping domestic violence survivors through my office's Safe at Home program.

Wouldn't be great if we didn't need the program here too.

My hope is that with the passage of Ethan's law, we make Kentucky a better place for animals and for people to.

The legislature gave final approval to the measure on March 27th, and it was signed into law by the governor on April 4th.