NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee lawmakers are working on a plan to give anyone who is caught abusing animals more than once mandatory hard time.
There is a hearing for House Bill 852, also known as the Tennessee PAWS Act, on Wednesday afternoon.
Under this proposal, if someone is caught for a second time being especially cruel to animals or it's their first time, but there were five or more animals involved, they'll have to spend 180 days in jail.
Right now, those crimes are class E felonies and don't carry a mandatory minimum sentence. Rep. Bruce Griffey wants to up the crimes to a class C felony so the punishment is tougher.
The bill would also require suspects in animal cruelty cases to pay shelters or rescues caring for those animals which would cover medical expenses and boarding the animals.
