Virginia’s Attorney General gets special visit for Humane Society award
Virginia Attorney General’s Office Picture
Richmond SPCA Chief Executive Officer Robin Robertson Starr; Waggles, the Richmond SPCA “Spokesdog”; Nemo, a Pit Bull who is the Richmond SPCA’s mascot; and a volunteer costumed as a chicken all showed up to congratulate Attorney General McDonnell
Published: November 24, 2008
Some surprise visitors paid a visit to the 6th Floor office of Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell this morning. Richmond SPCA Chief Executive Officer Robin Robertson Starr; Waggles, the Richmond SPCA “Spokesdog”; Nemo, a Pit Bull who is the Richmond SPCA’s mascot; and a volunteer costumed as a chicken all showed up to congratulate Attorney General McDonnell and his office for being awarded the 2008 Humane Law Enforcement Award, presented by The Humane Society of the United States.
McDonnell received the award for his successful animal fighting legislation, passed during the 2008 session of the General Assembly. That legislation, patroned by Senator Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) and Delegate Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), significantly strengthened Virginia’s animal fighting laws.
The legislation:
- Provides that engaging in the fighting of any animals is a Class 1 misdemeanor, while dog fighting remains a Class 6 felony. Lawful hunting or farming activities are excluded.
- Makes possession of any materials intended to enhance the ability of animals to fight, permitting a minor to become involved in animal fighting, or wagering on animal fighting a Class 6 felony.
- Mandates that animals involved in any such cases may be forfeited to the locality in order to receive humane care. Owners may post bond to retain ownership interest and repossess the animals if the court issues a finding of not guilty.
- Allows law-enforcement officers to conduct searches at any time upon the issuance of warrants. Law enforcement officers were often limited to conducting searches during the day, greatly limiting their ability to stop animal fighting operations.
The Office of Attorney General Bob McDonnell was one of 5 recipients nationwide of the 2008 Humane Law Enforcement Award. The others were San Bernardino County, CA; Hickman County, TN; Pima County, Arizona; and Prentiss County, Mississippi.
Photo courtesy: Virginia Attorney General’s Office
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Reader Reactions
WOW! Our Attorney General siding with animal rights extremist. Though I am Republican by most part, I will take pleasure in voting democratic in the next Gov election. I would like to know if a political contribution was involved? My guess is since our AG has a questionable past with revealing sources of contributions, he won’t speak of any contributory favors from the Humane Society either. These groups our AG supported by strong arming animal fighting legislation through our legislature for are also against hunting, fishing and animal agriculture in general.. What the media is not revealing is that felony legislation already existed for animal fighting. This situation is nothing more than a publicity stunt to gain attention for a less than popular attorney general. The legislation referenced basically made a felon out someone for fighting a chicken and if its believed you intend to fight in the future, it also gives the Commonwealth an avenue to kill your fowl before a guilty decision is reached from the courts. In Virginia, we have hundreds of misdemeanor laws punishing people for violent crimes against humans, but now, thanks to Bob McDonnell, we have a felony chicken law. Boy, do we have our priorities in order. Hunters, anglers and farmers, I hope you remember this come next election. He sided with groups that are dead-set against what you do as well! His decision to push this law was not and is not pushed by the public or popular demand…
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