There are about 30 animal cruelty cases currently filed in Idaho and for local law enforcement agencies and shelters that can equal thousands of dollars in care.

Now animal welfare advocates hope to change that during the upcoming legislative session.

Animals that are abused and neglected, victims of animal cruelty cases, are now the focus of a new bill created by the Humane Society.

"If we we're having to hold onto those animals for three months, six months, a year, the result could be that the shelter would essentially stop operating," said Dr. Jeff Rosenthal, Director of the Idaho Humane Society.

Under current Idaho law the cost to care for neglected animals taken from their owners falls to the local agency or shelter until the case goes to trial. In some cases that process can take months before being resolved.

With help from state lawmakers the Humane Society wants to shift that financial accountability back onto the owner, in hopes of speeding up the hearing process and limiting the amount of money local agencies have to pay.

"In many cases, an organization, an agency will not enforce the law because their worried about the resources it will take to hold the animals," said Rosenthal.

Right now the Ada County Humane shelter has a Chow that's been there for almost a year, costing the non-profit organization several thousand dollars in care

"If you look at a larger case, you're looking at tens of thousands of dollars," Rosenthal told Local 2 News.

Last January over 80 neglected horses were taken from a ranch near Sweet. The owner was ordered to pay back the $70,000 it took to care for the horses before the case went to court, but so far the Humane Society has only seen $11,000 of that money.

To Senator Kate Kelly, who is sponsoring the bill, it's an issue that needs to be addressed.

"There is definitely, in the system we currently have, a financial disincentive for local law enforcement...and what we're trying to do is speed up the process and put some of that responsibility back on the owner," she said.

Supporters hope that by passing new legislation it will not only speed up the trial process but also provide local law enforcement resource incentives to help combat animal cruelty cases.