- February 7, 2025
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If a newly filed bill is passed, animal cruelty convictions could become more severe under the state's criminal punishment laws.
House Bill 473, filed on Friday, Oct. 27, came about after a 9-month-old black Labrador retriever was beaten and killed in April 2017. Travis Archer was charged with a third-degree felony in the incident, which made national headlines.
The dog was later given the name "Ponce," and, since that time, an outpouring of support has come from the community. One organization, Justice for Ponce, has received thousands of signatures on a petition to enforce harsher punishment for animal cruelty.
According to the Senate's website, the bill, designated "Ponce's Law," would revise the classification of certain animal cruelty offenses while also authorizing the court to "prohibit violators from owning or having contact with animals."
One of the organization's leaders, Debbie Darino, said she has been working with legislatures to come up with the bill that was filed. Rep. Tom Leek filed the legislation, which now awaits committee references.
"This way, if you get convicted, you're going to jail and you cannot own an animal," Darino said. "You cannot have contact with an animal, and the judge will decide for what period of time, if that's forever or for a short period of time."
A statue dedicated to Ponce was unveiled during a memorial service Wednesday, Oct. 5.
"The public outcry following Ponce’s heinous death proves that out of the ashes, a community rises, but only if change occurs," Fabrizio said in a press release. "Ponce’s Bill will strengthen animal cruelty laws and show that something good can come from something evil."
