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The state’s current law requires the animal to die from its injuries for the abuse to be deemed a felony. But under the new law, which comes into effect July 1, anyone who “tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain,” or “cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims or mutilates any dog or cat” can be found guilty of a Class-6 felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.
The bill was unanimously approved by both Virginia’s House of Delegates and Senate before advancing to the governor’s office.
According to the Humane Society, 48 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands now have laws making some types of animal cruelty a felony. Virginia was the most recent. There is no federal law that criminalizes animal cruelty, apart from animal fighting and creating or distributing videos that show the killing or torture of animals
This sounds like a good step. I doubt it will deter anyone from hurting an animal but when they do it will be good for the court to have an option beyond a slap in the wrist on the abuser.
I fully support longer sentences for animal cruelty.
There should also be a database in relation to people convicted of animal cruelty, as many go on to commit other violent crimes.
The UK Parliament has just passed legislation (Finn's Law) which will remove a section of the current law of self-defence, often used by those who harm a service animal. This change, coupled with the government’s plans to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty offences to five years in prison, will make sure those who harm service animals are punished accordingly.
Is there a penalty for leaving the parakeet out of the will ?
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