Hi everyone! Just wanted to let all the Virginia folks know about a bill that is going to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session to make second-offense cruelty to animals a Class 6 Felony, to allow judges more freedom to include psychiatric treatment as a part of sentencing for violent animal abusers and to give veterinarians immunity from prosecution for reporting suspected cases of animal abuse. Senator Ken Stolle, from Virginia Beach, is sponsoring the bill. We all know about the links between cruelty to animals and mass or serial murderers, etc. This bill can help! I've included links to the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, and the the Virginia Beach SPCA's weblink - to sign the petition online. Here are the links: For the membership of our delegates/senators: http://legis.state.va.us/vaonline/cg3.htm To track the bill once the session is active (starts Jan 13, 1999) http://leg1.state.va.us/991/bil.htm For the online Petition: http://www.vbspca.com/cruelty/petition.html Let everyone you know in Virginia about this bill. Its a good start. Write your Senators and Delegates that you support this bill, and hope they will, too. Let them know its important to you as a ferret owner and that it may decide on whether or not you vote for them in the next election. Lisa, Head Ferret The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea" URL: http://www.kozykingdom.com/ferrethaven Want to help The Ferret Haven By-the-Sea? Register at iGive.com by cutting and pasting this link: http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?CID=1236&MID=854 [Posted in FML issue 2553]