Abused animals need your help again with regard to a bill before the General Assembly.
House Bill 1716 which was patroned by Delegate Scott was a very important bill that would have allowed courts in Virginia to include companion animals under the terms of protective orders. As we know from long and sad experience, abusers so often use a beloved and defenseless pet as a means of inflicting suffering on the spouse or partner who is the target of their cruelty by abusing the pet. We saw this most vividly this past year with Prince (pictured), the tiny little Yorkie who came into our care in desperate need. He was in a pet carrier that a male abuser spiked into the ground like a football repeatedly in front of his girlfriend who loved Prince. Prince suffered horrible injuries including a broken pelvis as a result. House Bill 1716 would have allowed judges to prohibit further abuse of beloved pets under the terms of protective orders protecting the victims of domestic violence.
Yesterday, we believed that House Bill 1716 had been stopped at the Criminal Subcommittee and would be passed over for the year. However, Delegate Rob Bell is rolling the substance of House Bill 1716 into his House Bill 2063. We are deeply grateful for this wonderful help and kindness. That House Bill 2063 will be before the Courts of Justice Committee of the House within the next few days.
Please call and write the members of the Courts of Justice Committee as soon as possible and tell them how important it is to you that they report out House Bill 2063 because of its inclusion of the content of House Bill 1716. It is crucial that they hear by Monday how many of us want to be sure that companion animals can now be protected under the terms of protective orders from continuing abuse. Here is the link to the information on how to contact them.
It also would be very helpful if you would call and write your own Delegate to urge him or her to vote for this bill when it comes to the floor of the House, assuming that we are successful with the Courts of Justice Committee.
I thank you and the animals thank you.
Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
Comments