(South Kingstown, RI) -- Animal rights activists are claiming loopholes in the state's law are allowing people to get away with animal cruelty. Activists were outside a pretrial hearing held for Eugene McQuade in South Kingstown yesterday. McQuade, who is charged with animal cruelty, claims he raises the dogs for hunting, which provides an exemption. Activist Anita Pimental says the laws aren't protecting the animals, they're protecting the owners.