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Virginia Lawmakers Pass Bill to Further Punish Animal Abusers

April 3, 2019

We don’t deserve dogs.

We, as human beings who are born inheriting sin, are not on the same level as dogs, at least in the realm of compassion. They are not livestock, or even pets, for that matter; they are family members whose entire lives are encapsulated by their relationship with you.

Dogs remind us of why goodness itself exists in the first place. The kindness of these animals is not only their gift, but their curse as well. This good nature makes dogs, and many other animals, vulnerable to the inherent sin of the recesses of mankind.

And while it is never preferable to have government intervene in our daily lives, new legislation in Virginia reminds us that this kindness and vulnerability should never be taken for granted.

The law makes animal cruelty a felony in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam.

Previously, the state required the animal to die as a result of the mistreatment to qualify as a felony.

Under the new law, 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.

Virginia’s legislation makes it the 48th state to outlaw any forms of Animal Cruelty, and it took a vile and heinous act to get there.

The bill was dubbed “Tommie’s law” after a pitbull was tied to a pole, doused in accelerant, and set on fire in Richmond in February.

Tommie was rescued by animal control but died five days later. Authorities are still searching for whoever was involved and are offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

While we may not ever understand why Tommie suffered such a fate, we do know that this good boy is wagging his tail in the direction of Virginia from across the rainbow bridge.

In this article:animal cruelty, dogs, Featured, pets, virginia

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