Mississippi Animal Cruelty Law

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour recently signed a new bill into law, making “aggravated cruelty” to cats and dogs a felony on the second offense. The Mississippi Dog and Cat Protection Law of 2011, introduced by Mississippi Senator Bob Dearing, also allows courts to ban animal abusers from working with animals and outlaws keeping dogs outdoors without shelter, among other provisions. Lydia Sattler, Mississippi state director of the Humane Society of the United States, says of the new law, “We applaud the legislature for recognizing the link between animal cruelty and human violence, and for taking steps to protect our animals and our communities.”