
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 27, 1990                   TAG: 9007280351
SECTION: SMITH MOUNTAIN TIMES                    PAGE: SMT-7   EDITION: BEDFORD
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THERE'S NO JUSTICE FOR PET DOGS

If you love and value your pet dogs, you should be aware that the laws in Virginia consider them to be of less value than a cow, horse or mule. This fact became clear when Franklin County Circuit Judge B.A. Davis III "reluctantly" dismissed charges against three men accused in the poisoning of 13 pet dogs in Callaway.

Those of us who sat through the (May 30) trial learned that, in this state, it is only a misdemeanor to kill a dog or other companion animal. On the other hand, it is a felony to kill a cow, horse or mule. Judge Davis stated that if it had been possible under the law, he would have had no problem convicting the defendants of conspiring to kill the dogs. "But," Davis said, "the General Assembly in all its wisdom says you cannot have a conspiracy in a misdemeanor case."

The laws must be changed. We are still in the planning stages of a petition campaign and welcome your suggestions. The court may have rendered its decision, but the people have yet to speak.\ Mary Kaplan Franklin County Humane Society

by CNB