Posted April 2, 2003

Summary of the three bills that just passed which are important to the animals and FOHO and you!

• SB 205 If any person intentionally tortures or maliciously kills an animal. It is a felony. The penalty (if convicted) is confinement in a correctional facility not less than one nor more than three years, and be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than fiive thousand dollars.
• HB 2301 In all cruelty cases the defendant if found quilty is responsible for all costs incurred by the holding facility after the case is heard. This law changes that to post a bond up front in the amount of what is estimated to be the cost for 30 days. If this case is continued, they must post another bond. This will prevent the animal shelters from losing thousands of dollars and having the case continued repeatinly.
• HB 2753 This is making all animal fighting except gamecock a felony. Gamecock would still be a misdemeanor.The penalty (if convicted) is a fine of not less than a thousand dollars and not more than five thousand dollars and inprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisioned.

Submitted by Sylvia Shafer

Be sure to pass the word and thank everyone who made phone calls for you. Include your senators and delegates in the thank you calls or notes. They worked with us (most of them) and they deserve recognition.

We got 3 animal bills passed this year! Unbelievable. Now please send your senators and delegates a note of thanks for their support. Their addresses can be found on the state web site. www.legis.state.wv.us I will give you the addresses for the chair of the House and the Senate so you can send to them also. These two have been very, very helpful! It is very important to let them know how much we appreciate their support and hard work.

The Honorable Jon Amores The Honorable Jeff Kessler
Chairman of House Judiciary Chairman of Sen. Judiciary
914 Chester Rd. 514 Seventh St.
Charleston, WV 25302 Moundsville, WV 26041

The numbers for Governor's office are 304 558-2000 or 1 888 438-2731. You can send an email to governor@wvgov.org.
Thanks again for all your work.
Betty Burkett

Legislative Session 2002

LEGISLATIVE NEWS:
This legislative session saw several animal friendly bills submitted, but none were successful for passage. We would like to thank all of you for your many emails, letters, phone calls and visits to legislators concerning animal friendly legislation. We will not be deterred and we will regroup to begin working on legislation for next year's session.