Virginia Cracks Down on Cruelty with Two New Laws - National Humane Education Society
August 30th, 2024
Paws Up! Governor Glenn Youngkin Signs House Bill 62 and Senate Bill 11 to Bring Accountability to Animal Cruelty Offenders
The serious issue of animal cruelty is one of the difficult realities all animal advocates face. As rescuers, our focus often stays on the animals, providing them with the care and love they so desperately need after being delivered to safety. But a difficult question remains: What can be done to prevent more animals from finding themselves in these dire situations? Governor Glenn Younkin of Virginia has taken action to prevent future animal cruelty by signing House Bill 62 and Senate Bill 11 into state law.
HB62 prohibits citizens convicted of felony animal cruelty from becoming the guardian of any animal for life, and prohibits those convicted with a misdemeanor from acquiring an animal up to five years. This bill also bestows permission to the courts to sentence animal cruelty offenders to anger management courses or counseling. Furthermore, SB11 legally permits any locality in Virginia to charter a public registry for all animal cruelty offenders. Subsequently, these two new laws will reduce harm by limiting the future access to animals these wrongdoers have, and encouraging local communities to raise awareness for the protection of animals in their community. The journey of HB62 and SB11 to the governor’s office was not a brief one: bills to enact a statewide animal abuse registry have been proposed in Virginia over the years, as our humane education team covered back in February 2018.
Undoubtedly, the fact that these bills have been passed into law are a sign that the people and their governing bodies in Virginia are ready to tackle this difficult issue with the seriousness it deserves. Such bans and registries could also assist law enforcement in tracking and punishing those engaging in other harmful practices towards animals such as puppy-mill breeding and animal fighting. We at The National Humane Education Society congratulate the legislators of Virginia for taking a stand for a more humane world, and encourage all state legislators to follow in their footsteps.
Take Action: Contact Governor Glenn Youngkin to Thank Him for Signing HB62 and SB11!
