Dangerous Dog Bill Passes Va. House

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ABC7.
Richmond, Va. (AP) - The House of Delegates Wednesday passed a watered-down version of a bill designed to protect the public from dangerous dogs.

Delegate Robert Orrock's bill originally would have imposed criminal penalties on dog owners whose pets injure a person. But the Caroline County Republican stripped the penalty portion from his bill.

The bill will create a dangerous dog registry and ban owners of dangerous dogs in other states from bringing their pets to Virginia.

Orrock's bill is similar to legislation unanimously passed by the Senate last month. But Senator Edward Houck's bill includes felony penalties for serious dog attacks.

Both bills were drafted in response to the mauling of 82-year-old Dorothy Sullivan, who was killed by three roaming pit bulls in her front yard in Partlow last March.

The House vote on Orrock's bill was 86-to-11.