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Update: WV Bill to Increase Specific Forms of Animal Cruelty to a Felony Fails - National Humane Education Society

March 3, 2021

Paws Down!

To the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee for not passing Senate Bill 309 that sought to increase the punishment for some forms of animal cruelty.


Many animals throughout the U.S. are suffering and dying from lack of food, water, veterinary care, proper shelter, abandonment, and confinement in motor vehicles. Recently, the heartbreaking story of an emaciated dog named Ethan found abandoned in The Kentucky Humane Society’s parking lot is bringing to light the need for stricter penalties for individuals convicted of these cruel crimes in Kentucky.

Legislators in West Virginia have also been advocating for increased penalties for these types of animal cruelty crimes. At the beginning of 2020, Senate Bill 191 was introduced by Senators Ryan Weld (R), Stephen Baldwin (D), Sue Cline (R), William Ihlenfeld (D), Mike Woelfel (D), and Mike Romano (D), but it failed to pass the House.

This dog was rescued by NHES’ animal care facility

West Virginia residents, do you feel that individuals convicted of these animal cruelty crimes should face felony charges?

A similar bill, Senate Bill 309, was reintroduced this year, but, according to a recent news article, it failed to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 17, 2021. SB 309 sought to increase the penalty for individuals who knowingly allow animals to suffer by: (1) not providing proper food or water for them, (2) failing to provide adequate shelter or veterinary care for them, (3) abandoning them, and (4) leaving them unattended or confined in a vehicle. If any of these actions caused an animal severe harm or death, a convicted individual would face a felony charge.

SB 309 was sponsored by Senator Ryan Weld (R), Senator Michael Woelfel (D), Senator William Ihlenfeld (D), Senator John Unger (D), Senator Eric Nelson (R), and Senator Stephen Baldwin (D). SB 309 would have amended W. Va. Code §61-8-19(2) that states, “Any person in violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $2,000 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both.” It would have increased the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony, the fine would have been $1,000 up to $3,000, and the jail time would have been one year up to three years.

This cat was rescued by NHES’ animal care facility

West Virginians, YOU can help abused animals by contacting your representative to show your support for a similar bill to be introduced next year.

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