MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A bill in the Alabama legislature could impose harsher criminal penalties for abandoning pets like the pit bull found inside a trash bag with a bullet in his head in Grand Bay.
After pictures of Chance in the trashbag started circulating on social media, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said Chance’s story has sparked outrage in the community.
“I think anybody who decides to own a pet should be a responsible pet owner, and if they’re not, they should be held accountable,” said Sheriff Paul Burch.
Sheriff Burch said the Mobile County Sheriff’s office has an ongoing investigation into the case, and they’re looking for who’s responsible.
“I believe those types of people who would just harm an animal for no reason whatsoever wouldn’t hesitate to do that to a human being,” he said.
Abandoning a cat or dog in Alabama is already considered cruelty to animals, but the new bill, sponsored by Representative Brock Colvin, could add a separate criminal offense.
The proposed bill prohibits abandoning cats and dogs and, if violated, could mean spending a year in jail or paying up to a $3,000 fine.
Sheriff Burch said he’s in favor of harsher penalties for animal cruelty cases.
“I think there are many people in the legislature who are pet owners and pet lovers, and I can’t see a reason not to push that through,” he said. “But again, I’d like to see amendments to the current laws on animal cruelty, and I think the current laws should be much, much stiffer and even to the point of never being able to own an animal again.”
President of Friend of the Mobile Animal Shelter Anna Bush said that abandoning pets is a common problem.
“I’m one of the early people to get here at the shelter many days. I’ve seen them abandoned at the gate, I’ve seen them in dog parks, apartment complexes, people move out unexpectedly.”
Bush said she sees the importance of harsher penalties for abandonment.
“I think it’s important the legislature recognize these are important issues and that there be laws on the books,” she said.
But she said she isn’t sure if the new law would fix the problem.
“Most of these things are already crimes; it’s just increasing the fines which if you know who did it, okay, you can find them,” she said. “But if they’re judgment-proof, then good luck.”
The bill has been introduced to the state legislature but has not been voted on yet.
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