Bill would make killing assistance animals felony

RALEIGH — The State legislature has approved a measure that would give prison time to anyone found guilty of willfully killing a K-9, seeing-eye dog or other law enforcement or assistance animal.

The bill makes the offense a felony.

It now goes to Gov. Easley’s desk after the Senate unanimously agreed to the House’s decision to remove a provision that would have also made it a felony to attempt to kill such an animal.

The measure also makes the killing or the serious injury of such an animal an aggravating factor when determining punishment for another crime.