What a tragic story! I only hope that some good can come from this family’s loss by Virgina passing a law against dog chaining. I admire the family for looking for ways to prevent this tragedy from happening to other families, rather than just seeking revenge.

This story is from WTVR.com.

It May Be Illegal To Chain Dogs Soon

A new effort is underway to pass legislation that would make it illegal to chain dogs. The effort stems from a deadly dog attack in Suffolk that claimed the life of a 2-year-old boy.

Dogs chained all day pose a serious threat. That is the message from animal rights activists here in the Commonwealth and they want to make it illegal for dogs to be tethered for more than three hours.

The cousin of a little boy mauled by two family pets is teaming up with people for the ethical treatment of animals. Their goal? To get a statewide law passed making it illegal for pet owners to chain their dogs up. Two-and-a-half-year-old Jonathan Martin was killed by two family dogs that had spent most of their lives chained up. Jonathan’s parents, Heather Frango and James Martin, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse and were sentenced to three years in prison. Supporters of the effort say chaining a dog for extended periods of time makes a dog mean and aggressive.

In Norfolk and Virginia Beach it is against the law for pet owners to chain their dog for more than three hours.

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