HARRISBURG — New rules for tethered dogs and other changes to animal cruelty laws passed the Pennsylvania House by a wide margin Wednesday, a package supporters argued was long overdue.

The bill would establish grades of violations up to a felony for intentionally torturing an animal or neglect or abuse that causes it severe injury or death.

It also would presume an owner neglected an unattended tethered dog if there’s excessive feces where it’s tied up, the animal has open sores or the owner has used a tow or log chain, choke collar or similar devices.

“Our cruelty laws are outdated and far too lenient in many instances,” said the prime sponsor, Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery.

Violations would be classified as neglect, cruelty or aggravated cruelty. The least severe, a summary offense, would involve denying an animal necessary food and drinkable water, clean and sanitary shelter or required veterinary care.

Cruelty, a misdemeanor if the animal is harmed, would apply when someone intentionally, knowingly or recklessly ill-treats, overloads, beats, abandons or abuses an animal. The most severe violation would be a third-degree felony.

A tethered dog would not be considered abused if it spent less than nine hours tied up over a 24-hour period, had access to water and shade, and did not spend more than 30 minutes tied up when temperatures were lower than 32 degrees or higher than 90 degrees.