Animal Rights Group Applauds HB 281
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is applauding the recent passage of HB 281 by the Virginia General Assembly.
The bill dramatically increases the penalties for repeated acts of animal cruelty.
Church: The changes that the Legislature passed will make the penalties significant enough that people will not get away with the irresponsibility associated with failing to feed their animals or taking care of them otherwise.
Ann Church is Senior Director of Government Relations for the ASPCA. She explained that the fine for animal cruelty increased from $250 to a $1,000, six months in jail, or both. A second offense adds another $500.
Church: The penalty for failure to get your animal spayed or neutered after you adopt it from a shelter, it changes that from a $50 to a $250 fine.
People young and old who abuse animals and pay only an insignificant penalty, she said, are likely to continue that abuse and…
Church: When someone is cruel to an animal, especially when it’s their own animal, that can actually fuel their desire to be cruel to others, including people.
John Ogle, WCVE News
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