Favola’s animal cruelty bill passes the Senate

A bill introduced by Sen. Barbara A. Favola, D-Arlington, surrounding pet ownership and animal cruelty passed the Senate 39-1 on Jan. 31.

The bill, SB 11, was originally assigned to the Companion Animals subcommittee and reported from the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on Jan. 23.

SB 11 states that those convicted of animal felonies may be restricted from the ownership of animals for life and those convicted of misdemeanor cruelty toward animals may be restricted from pet ownership for as long as five years. There was also an amendment in the bill agreed to on Jan. 31, giving the opportunity for citizens convicted to earn back their animal owning privileges after five years.

“If the court rules that you have been convicted of a felony assault of an animal – this would be a companion animal or an equine – and the court decides that you shall not possess or own an animal for up to a lifetime, this amendment would allow you to petition the court after five years to regain the right to own or possess a companion animal or an equine,” Favola said during the Senate’s Jan. 31 regular session.

During the session, Sen. Mark J. Peake, R-Lynchburg, thanked Favola for making the amendment.

“I think it does make the bill better so there’s not a lifetime ban that cannot be reviewed,” Peake said, offering his support of SB 11.

Before the vote to pass the Senate, Favola praised the bill in front of the committee, saying that SB 11 works to protect companion animals and equines.

“[SB 11] offers some penalties with the acknowledgement that there is an opportunity for rehabilitation,” Favola added. “I think this is the best legislation we can get from a legislative process.”`

Since the bill’s passing in the Senate, it has had a first reading in the House of Delegates and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, both of which took place on Feb. 13.