Working to send a message to would-be animal abusers, the Virginia General Assembly is set to institute a new law that would make abusing a family pet a felony, regardless of whether the animal lives or dies, and implement stricter punishments for animal abuse. The news comes just days after a young pit bull named Tommie was tortured and gruesomely killed in the state capital of Richmond.
Currently, the only way to charge someone with a felony for abusing a dog or cat in the Commonwealth is if the animal in question dies from its injuries.
S.B. 1604, patroned by State Senator Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach), dictates that someone could be charged with a Class 6 felony – up from a Class 1 misdemeanor – for “cruelly and unnecessarily beating, maiming, mutilating, or killing a dog or cat.”
The bill passed through the House of Delegates during the Wednesday session with a 99-0 vote after sailing through the State Senate with a 40-0 vote in early February.
If enacted, when one abuses a cat or dog they could be charged and receive up to five years in prison. Also in the bill, crimes that would be punishable as Class 1 misdemeanors include “depriving any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or emergency veterinary treatment, willfully inflicting inhumane injury to any animal, and soring an equine for any purpose,” the impact statement shows.
On his Facebook page, Senator DeSteph said, “We are thankful for the overwhelming support for SB 1604, my Animal Cruelty bill seeking felony charges against those who maliciously wound an animal.”
“We have heard from folks all over the Commonwealth who share our belief that anyone who intentionally tortures a dog or cat is a threat to public safety, and should be dealt with severely,” he added. “We were so saddened by the stories of Tommie, the pit bull who recently died after being set on fire, and Sugar, who was viciously attacked with a machete, but are grateful that their stories helped propel this important legislation forward.”
The bill, which awaits the governor’s signature, passed just as Richmond mourns the death of Tommie, a dog that gripped animal lovers across the nation after it was tied to a pole at Abner Clay Park, doused in accelerant, and set on fire on February 10.
Tommie suffered severe burns over 40 percent of his body, and just days after Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) began nursing him back to health, he passed away.
“He had just finished having his bandages changed and stopped breathing; his body simply gave out,” RACC said in a report from WTVR. “Tommie was pain free and surrounded by people that loved him when he passed. Needless to say, we are all devastated and angry and sad and terribly disappointed.”
A $25,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest of the person or persons that committed the heinous crime.
Initially, RACC planned to hold a public funeral for Tommie, but the response was so massive, a five-day memorial service has been commissioned that ends February 23 at the RACC building located at 1600 Chamberlayne Avenue in Richmond. According to the Facebook event page, over 6,000 people have indicated their interest in attending.