Victory! Susie’s Law Passes in North Carolina

On Wednesday, North Carolina’s Governor Beverly Perdue signed Susie’s Law, which reclassifies animal cruelty from a Class I to a Class H Felony, giving judges the ability to send convicted abusers to jail for up to 10 months.

Susie’s law, which will take affect December 1, was inspired by a puppy who was found in a Greensboro park last August and made a miraculous recovery after being severely burned, beaten and left for dead for approximately two weeks before being discovered.

Susie’s attacker, Lashawn Whitehead, received only probation for animal cruelty and six-eight months in jail for setting personal property on fire.

Whitehead’s sentencing inspired Susie’s supporters, who were disappointed with the sentencing, to fight for tougher laws to protect animals in North Carolina. Thanks to their hard work, it’s now a felony for a first offense to “maliciously torture, mutilate, maim, cruelly beat, disfigure, poison, or kill an animal.”

“Susie inspired a lot of us to stand up and say in North Carolina we value our animals,” said Perdue. “I can’t imagine what I would have done or what I would have said or how angry and hurt I would have been if somebody had done to our dog what was done to Susie. I think it’s absolutely unacceptable.”

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Sherlee M.

5:52PM PDT on Jun 14, 2011

susie is beautiful! its a damn shame it takes that before something is done ! now lets hope it gets the enforcement it needs and deserves!

send a green star

Lin M.

8:37AM PDT on Jun 12, 2011

poor dog

Pamela A.

9:50PM PDT on Sep 19, 2010

That such good could come from such tragedy: Susie's resilience is only exceeded by her gentle spirit of forgiveness.

Autumn M.

7:28AM PDT on Aug 15, 2010

Susie's Law's facebook page is still posting updates on how she is doing!!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susies-Law/403433747183

xochitl r.

10:50AM PDT on Jul 14, 2010

alto a la violencia contra los animales

Mandy D.

8:28AM PDT on Jul 7, 2010

What a beautiful yet sad story! I can not imagine the evil that did this to this sweet dog. Please always support our local Animal Shelters and speak for the innocent who cant speak for themselves. They need us:))

johan l.

5:02AM PDT on Jul 7, 2010

It is almost impossible to believe that the little puppy survived. You sure it was found only after two weeks?
In any case, the tougher they make the law, the more these sadists will think before they do something similar!
Hope the little dog makes a 100% recovery and finds a good home!
The little thing deserves it!

Jane J.

1:56PM PDT on Jul 6, 2010

Very moving! I'm glad she was able to get such good help and make such a wonderful recovery.

The law needed to be enacted. We have known for a long time that animal cruelty is a marker for anti-social personality traits. It's a shame Susie (and others) had to suffer so much before we attached a stiffer penalty to it. Hope this an effective deterent!

Annie B.

11:02AM PDT on Jul 6, 2010

I can't believe a puppy with such horrendous injuries that Susie had could possibly survive. All credit must go to the wonderful people who found her and put so much time and effort into healing this darling puppy, well done you amazing people. May Susie have a long, healthy and very happy life, she is a living testament not only to human wickedness but also to human love and compassion.

Peggy P.

6:29PM PDT on Jul 5, 2010

Thank you to all who found and cared for this sweet little survivor!! A huge "thanks" to North Carolina....this may get the ball rolling in the right direction for other states to follow suit. In all honesty, I think acts of animal cruelty should receive years on the sentence and not just months!!!!