NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Severe animal abuse cases in the Tri-cities led to an effort to change a law in Tennessee.
In January, a dog was dragged across a church parking lot in Kingsport. Earlier this week, a cat was tied up and stabbed in the parking lot of a funeral home in Johnson City. PETA is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in each case.
The crimes caught the attention of Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol). As state law stands, prosecutors must prove aggravated animal cruelty is done in a "depraved and sadistic" manner.
Lundberg has a new bill taking those words out of the law.
"'Depraved and sadistic' require a psychologist and psychiatrist to evaluate the defendant," Lundberg said. "We all know what aggravated cruelty is and that's what we're defining."
Aggravated cruelty to animals is a Class E felony. It is punishable by one to six years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $3,000.
So far, the bill has passed in the Senate and is pending in the House. It will be reviewed by the House Criminal Justice Committee on Monday.
