DENVER, Colorado (USA) — Strengthening the penalty for animal cruelty from "misdemeanor" to "felony" has come at no small price. But now Westy the tabby can rest a little easier knowing that his sacrifice ensured that any animal-torturing bonehead in the state of Colorado must now make a nice long visit to a concrete jail cell ...where he/she belongs!

On Friday, Governor Bill Owens signed a criminal omnibus measure containing a bill which defined the crimes of aggravated cruelty to animals as "knowingly tormenting, torturing or killing an animal"; and, most significantly, classified aggravated cruelty as a "Class 6 Felony" for the first offense and a "Class 5 Felony" for a second or subsequent offense.

Conviction of a "Class 6 Felony" could mean up to 18 months in prison; a "Class 5 Felony" carries the penalty of up to 3 years in prison. Both felonies carry fines of up to $100,000.

In other words, if a numbskull is convicted of knowingly hurting (or unknowingly killing or torturing) an animal once, it is a misdemeanor. However if the same numbskull gets convicted twice, that person is going to prison. Case closed.

But lawmakers did not always agree with Governor Owens, which made passing the bill extremely difficult.

According to The Denver Post, the legislation twice killed animal cruelty measures, with opponents stating that more attention should be paid to child cruelty, instead. However, in the last moments of the session, a potent little measure entitled "Westy the Cat" was inserted into a sweeping, bipartisan-sponsored crime bill that dealt with a range of crimes from sexual assault to substance abuse.

Westy's Bill finally saw it's victory!

How a Cat Re-Wrote the Laws

Both Westy and the people who fought for him have not always seen victories like the one we see today.

Westy's sad tale begins at the hands of two violent teenagers, who decided to torture this helpless animal by setting him on fire and throwing him out a car window. Westy, being a typical kitty with a strong will to live, survived the painful ordeal ...but only after losing his left rear leg, his tail and both his ears.

"Westy certainly looked like a victim of warfare," said Jenny Pace, the first nurse to see the feline, in a memoir to the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States).

Her account of the night continues: "A large tabby cat, he had third-degree burns over 40% of his body, which smelled of smoke and charred fur. His peppery coat had mostly melted onto his body, his hindquarters were burned to the muscle, and his whiskers singed away from the heat ... we weren't sure we could save Westy."

Westy's recovery entailed four grueling months of sterilized care as well as five operations. And through the entire ordeal, owners for this brave kitty were never found.

But, perhaps the biggest blow to everyone's morale came when the sentence was finally passed to the two teenage boys who were found guilty of setting Westy on fire: one night in jail and a fine of $500 apiece.

Things Eventually Looked Up.

Ms. Pace, who took Westy home with her when he was fully recovered, decided not to stand by and watch another laughable penalty be given out to a perpetrator of such a terrible crime. She, Westy and many others began working together to try and change the existing Colorado laws.

"When Westy is not promoting animal rights, he enjoys his numerous toys, kitty beds, and handmade quilts donated by his many admirers." Ms. Pace told the HSUS. "He, in short, behaves like a normal kitty, a minor miracle in itself."

So when the big day finally came for the "Westy the Cat" Bill to be voted on, a determined Ms. Pace - wielding a fiery-eyed kitty with 3 legs and no tail - marched to the Capitol and presented to the lawmakers little Westy: a tangible, flesh & bone & fur version of what they were voting about.

They were voting on life. And although it is not human life that Westy's Bill aims to protect, it certainly is legitimate life. Westy showed them that it's a life that feels pain, gives love, and has the ability to exhibit unbelievable bravery.

And they won.

They won for everyone!