Virginia Senate Puts More Bite Into Dog Attack Laws

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on January 23, 2006

Last March, Ms. Sullivan was walking her dog Buttons in her front yard when three free-roaming pit bulls dragged her to the ground and killed her. Buttons did not survive the assault either. It was only the latest in a series of vicious dog attacks in Virginia, leading many to call for stricter punishment for the owners of such dangerous animals.

Senator R. Edward Houck, a Democrat, sponsored the bill in hopes of preventing future tragedies.

Under current Virginia law, if an injury is caused by a dog that has previously been declared dangerous, the owner receives only a misdemeanor. The new bill would create a progression of punishments that range from misdemeanors to felonies that carry up to $2500 in fines and 10 years in prison.

The new dog attack bill cleared the Senate panel today, and will move on to the full Senate later this week.

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