Virginia has decided that chickens being terrorized and ripped apart by dogs isn't that big of a deal

VIRGINIA - A new law is creating a more lenient punishment for dogs who attack livestock.

The previous Virginia law forced dogs to be euthanized or moved to a non-adjacent state if the dog attacked chickens.

The new law will allow the dog to stay with its owner under strict housing rules, or live with a new owner. The dog will also have to be micro-chipped.

Owner’s anguish after pet hens attacked

Pet organizations say this is a great decision because the previous penalties were too harsh.

Debra Griggs, the President of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies said, "It is complicated to transfer a dog to a non-adjacent state and we do not believe a death sentence is appropriate for a dog that has killed a chicken. There is absolutely no evidence that a dog that has killed a chicken will be a threat to people or other animals."

The new law goes into effect this Friday, July 1.

UNITED KINGDOM: “I could hear screaming and growling. It was
horrendous. I saw one of them with my black cockerel and they were eating
it alive like something from a horror film."

SOME OF THE COMMENTS: 
So what they're saying here is chicken lives don't matter? That the interest of people who keep and breed in some cases expensive fowl are less important than a dog whose owner doesn't care enough about the dog to keep the dog safe on their own property? Keep your killer dogs on your own property, period, end of statement! "Debra Griggs, the President of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies said, 'There is absolutely no evidence that a dog that has killed a chicken will be a threat to people or other animals."' Sooooo a chicken is not another animal? If a dog has killed one chicken, doesn't it stand to reason that the dog could kill another chicken?

This is awful. It's bad enough now that dog owners are seldom held accountable, even when their dog kills a PERSON. This nonsense has to stop. If you choose to have a dog then you should choose the responsibility that goes with it.

I had a neighbors dog kill several of my chickens a few years back and all that animal control did was to tell me that I could sue in small claims for 2 to 5 dollars per chicken! Wasn't worth my time and the dog/owner got off scott free! Where was this law then?

So chicken's lives don't matter? Last I knew, they were living beings. So what's next? Dogs that slaughter cats get off free too? We already have too many lax laws that provide NO consequence to dangerous dog owners when their pit bulls slaughter other domestic pets and/or livestock. They get a free pass already .... so let's make it worse? Why not just have a free for all and allow these dogs to take down anyone they want? That's pretty much what the pit bull lobby is pushing for. Whatever keeps the dogs in circulation so they can continue their billion dollar dogfighting industry unnoticed in the background. Disgusting!

(WDBJ7 - June 27, 2016)

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• UNITED KINGDOM: “I could hear screaming and growling. It was horrendous. I saw one of them with my black cockerel and they were eating it alive like something from a horror film."