The Virginia General Assembly is working to send a message to would-be animal abusers in this year’s 46-day session in Richmond. As the State Senate is set to vote on legislation that would classify abusing a family pet a felony, regardless of whether the animal lives or dies, they are now setting their sights on providing the same measures against those who abuse or kill law enforcement animals.
S.B. 1675, introduced by Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania), would impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of six months for any person who “maliciously kills or injures an animal owned, used, or trained by a law-enforcement agency, regional jail, or the Department of Corrections while such animal is performing its lawful duties or is being kept in a kennel, pen, or stable while off duty.”
Moreover, the bill states that such punishment “shall be separate and apart from, and shall be made to run consecutively with, any other sentence.”
Currently, it is unlawful for any person to “maliciously shoot, stab, or wound or otherwise cause bodily injury to, or administer poison to or expose poison with the intent that it be taken by a dog, horse, or other animal owned, used, or trained” by any law enforcement agency, or division of the state’s criminal justice system. Violation of the law is punishable as a Class 5 felony, but does not, as of now, carry a mandatory minimum sentence.
In August 2018, a two-year-old K-9 officer was killed after a police chase on Interstate-95 ended in gunfire in Sussex County, Virginia. “Vader,” as the police dog was known to the force, was given full honors in his escort back to Richmond, according to a report from WTVR.
Although a majority of law enforcement animals are dogs, horses are also used, to which the legislation will apply, as well as any other animal that will potentially join the police force.
On Tuesday, Senator Reeves’ bill passed a 33-7 floor vote and was referred to the lower chamber where it will be deliberated and voted on by the Courts of Justice Committee in the House of Delegates.