NC governor and dog toughen animal cruelty laws

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina has a new law bearing its
governor’s signature and a dog’s paw print that could put people in
jail for the worst cases of animal abuse.

Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday signed a measure that threatens
jail time for those who torture, starve or kill an animal.

The punishment could be up to eight months behind bars, but a
judge could agree to community service instead.

On hand was Susie, who was a puppy last year when she was
burned, beaten and left to die. A judge said state law allowed him
to sentence the Greensboro man who abused Susie to no more than
probation.

After Perdue signed it, the owners of the female pit-bull mix
placed Susie’s paw on an inkpad and added her mark to the document.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)