HONOLULU -- Animal rights groups are demanding a tougher cruelty to animals law in Hawaii following the recent death of a pet pig in Mililani.

Porky was a 300-pound pet pig, described by his owners as gentle and good-natured. Last month, a man went on to the owner's property with dogs and attacked and killed Porky with a knife, police said.

"The pig ran into the garage for cover. The dogs followed. That's when the people came out --pleaded with the hunter to stop," Honolulu Police Department Detective Randall Borges said.

There is no serious charge to prosecute the man with, animal rights activists said.

Police arrested Joseph Calarudda, 28, in connection with the case. He has a criminal history of kidnapping and weapons charges.

For the pig's death, he faces charges of theft of livestock.

Cathy Goggel of Animal Rights Hawaii said lawmakers must upgrade statutes to cover a crime like such as the pet's death.

"We would like to see Hawaii catch up with the rest of the us mainland and make cruelty to animals a felony so he can be charged with the actual cruelty he committed," Goggel said.

Lawyers might argue that Porky's killer did not actually commit any theft.

"We need a law that says cruelty to animals is a felony," Goggel said.

In the past few years, there have been attempts at the Legislature to toughen animal cruelty laws, but they have failed.