The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Steal a dog in Virginia and you can get 10 years in prison on a felony.
Swipe a cat and you may get... well, a cat.
There is no penalty for cat nabbing in Virginia except, maybe, a mild Class 1 misdemeanor for larceny.
A bill that would establish some parity between dogs and cats was killed Friday by the House Appropriations Committee on an 11-9 vote.
The sponsor of HB334 - Del. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond - said it's time for equality.
"When a pet is taken that you've spent years of love and money on, it's equally devastating whether it's a dog or a cat," she said.
Opponents disagree.
"To give an individual years in the pen for stealing a $100 mongrel cat is a heavy penalty," said Del. Johnny Joannou, D-Portsmouth.
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yes to increased penalties
If you steal or harm a cat the only daylight u should ever see again should be thru razor wire. Cats are loyal servants and protectors to humans. Lets protect them!
DOGS
Ten years for stealinga dog or any animal is stupid. SO peole love their animals. YOu can kill another human and get less time. Dogs are not better than human beings. I say a bunch of silly animal lovers have too much influence on old dinosaur legislators
Opponents disagree. "To give
Opponents disagree.
"To give an individual years in the pen for stealing a $100 mongrel cat is a heavy penalty," said Del. Johnny Joannou, D-Portsmouth.
But it's OK to give a big penalty for stealing a $100 mongrel dog?
this delegate is a moron.
Craziness in VA
This is just absurd.People have to much focus on animals when we have animal(humans) in the streets killing our children, mother, father need I say more. 10 years look at those kids who killed the poor young man in Norfolk a few months ago how much time did they get? One will get out when he is 21. my point is a human life vs.an anmials lifes. They need to be focused on how to get these gangs, drug dealer, killers, off our streets and stiffer penalities for them. Let the punishment fit the crime.
The reason dogs are a felony
is because in the 80's and 90's there was a nice rash of dog thefts where the animals were sold for lab research. The nice big chested dogs like danes and shepards were used for open heart research. Look it up.
Important issues, hmmmm...
Of all the important issues facing Virginians today this has to be at the top of the heap. Cat snatching. One thing about our legislators, they may be inept, but they can still give us a chuckle.
HIGHLY RATED DAY TIME TV SHOW MOVING TO VIRGINIA
It is rumored that the highly rated TV show, the Gerry Springer Show, is moving to and undisclosed location in Virginia. The TV shows producers have observed over several years that most of their talent (guests) come from the State of Virginia. Have followed numerous legislative bills being defeated and then the publics' reasoning for the support of these decisions made by their elected official is just "too enticing" to leave untapped for our show one executive was heard to say. It is a "double bonus" we have both legislators and the general public to draw from to entertain our national audience.
Common Sense
1) There should of course be no difference between dogs and cats in the eyes of the law.
2) While this legislation may not be as important or urgent as other legislation, people who claim that it is frivolous are simply callous.
Importance, of Biblical Proportions!
This is the most pressing issue of our time. It is far more important than any other bill before the Legislature. If immediate action isn't taken, life as we know it could end!
Is this why we send legislators to Richmond?
Cats and Votes
Here's a shocker for Del. Joannou and company - a lot of us crazy cat people are registered VOTERS! Do you really think someone loves their pet more or less based on the price tag? I guess there are no $100.00 mongrel dogs out there either - or is it OK to steal those too? I have a purebred Siamese cat who cost well over your hundred dollars and I also own a "mongrel" dog who actually did cost a hundred bucks. Here's the kicker, They are equally loved and treasured, and God help anyone who tries to take either one. The theft of someone's pet is wrong, be it dog or cat or whatever, it's not an issue of breed, or price tag. It's the the loss of a cherished companion caused by someone else's greed and/or stupidity and should be equally punishable.