MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WDTN) - The brutal killing of a baby alpaca is breathing life into a stalled Ohio bill that could mean tougher punishment for people convicted of animal cruelty.
Jeff Pergram and Rebecca Hardin owned Masterpiece, a four-month-old alpaca that was beaten to death.
Pergram and Hardin hope House Bill 55 will give them some much needed closure.
Thursday, State Representative Courntney Combs and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones threw their support behind the bill that Pergram proposed back in 2007.
The bill would increase jail time for second time adult offenders to six months and require counseling.
Pergram says the passage of the bill would mean Masterpiece didn't die in vain.
As for the people responsible for the death of the baby alpaca, Pergram said, "It's all choices we make. They made bad choices. So, now you pay the price, and I want them to pay the price."
Two 17-year-old boys are charged with the beating death of Masterpiece.
Stacie Mullins, 22, is charged with complicity.
Ohio isn't the only state considering stricter penalties.
California is looking into registering animal abusers, just like sex offenders are registered.
This is so sad...Two juveniles...what WERE they thinking? Too bad they won't get a lot of jail time. In my world I think losing a hand or an arm would be justice for beating to death an innocent baby animal. Boy, their parents must be so proud of their parenting skills.
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