TEXAS (KFDX/KJTL) — Legislators in Austin have been working for years to craft a law that would crack down on those who abuse animals. Now that House Bill 598 has become law, they hope it accomplishes exactly that.
The bill was first introduced in the 2021 legislative session and received unanimous approval in 2023. Now that it has Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, it’s cracking down on animal abusers.
“It made me happy to think that there is going to be some repercussions for individuals,” Amber Gilmore, the P.E.T.S. clinic executive director, said.
The Texas law imposes a five-year ban on people from owning any type of animal if convicted of animal cruelty charges.
“They give you some of the best days of your life, sometimes the worst when they pass,” Gilmore said. “But that’s how that’s what animals are. Companion animals, cats, dogs. That’s what you know, that’s how they are to our community.”
Kristi Perez is one example of this new law. She was convicted of animal cruelty in Wichita Falls, Texas, and received 280 days in jail. In Graham, Zachary Anderson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cruelty to an animal, or Niko who died from his abuse.
Perez and Anderson now face the five-year ban of owning an animal, but according to the law, if found with an animal within five years, it’s a Class C Misdemeanor.
“There’s fines associated and potentially if they do it twice, it becomes a class b misdemeanor or they could actually spend 180 days in jail,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore said if you adopt a rescue dog, be patient as they learn how to be loved.
“Some of the rescues that we’re a part of that we help out with, we definitely see those animals that get taken out of those situations. Give them the love and care because that may be the first experience they’ve had of that and they don’t understand,” Gilmore said.