Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) formally introduced legislation designated as ‘River’s Law’ which would allow prosecutors to charge certain animal abusers with an escalated second degree crime.

“We’ve been working on this legislation for months behind the scenes to make sure that it does exactly what we want it to do: create an accurate punishment for abhorrent, malicious treatment of animals,” said O’Scanlon. “

O’Scanlon’s bill, S-3453, is named for “River” a puppy found left in a cage to drown in the Shrewsbury River this past summer. The bill would allow prosecutors faced with a deliberately malicious and violent case of animal abuse to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.

“Anyone who has ever come to my office has met my dog Fin, I bring him with me all the time. He is truly an important member of my family and a best friend to myself and my children. It is unfathomable to me that any person could deliberately hurt an animal. They put their complete trust in us, and anyone who would consciously and purposefully torture or kill them–like what was done to River–deserves the greatest punishment that we can deliver.” O’Scanlon concluded.