Senate bill seeks harsher penalties for animal abandonment

OLYMPIA – Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, has introduced a bill to increase the penalty for abandoning an animal in Washington.

“The recent reports of puppies abandoned near Issaquah demonstrate just how important this bill is. Animals cannot defend themselves against neglect, and we need to send the message that animal abandonment is not OK in Washington,” said Tom.

Under current law animal abandonment is considered a second degree form of animal cruelty, punishable with up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Tom’s bill, Senate Bill 5227, clarifies the definition of animal abandonment and elevates the crime to a gross misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

“Animal abandonment is a horrible crime that doesn’t just affect animals – local government and police use resources investigating and prosecuting these people. We need to do whatever we can to deter people from abandoning their animals, and encourage them to be responsible by giving their pets to a local shelter if they can no longer care for them,” Tom said.

More information on the abandoned Issaquah puppies can be found by contacting Pasado’s Safe Haven, a shelter that is assisting with the case: http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/.

The bill received a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee late last week.

Return to Sen. Tom's home page