Animal cruelty law passes, heads to Malloy

A bill sponsored by State Rep. Diana Urban, D- North Stonington, that will allow judges to assign volunteer legal advocates to assist prosecutors in compiling information in animal cruelty cases, has now been passed by both houses of the General Assembly and goes to Gov. Dannel Malloy for his signature.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed “Desmond’s Law” on Monday with just two members in opposition.

The house passed the bill last month.

The measure is named in memory of a New Haven pit bull mix who was beaten, starved, strangled and killed by his owner, who was upset that his wife had left him.

The man received accelerated rehabilitation, which means the charges were erased from his record after he served a period of probation and met certain conditions.

“Oh my God, we got it done,” Urban said Tuesday, during the busy final days of the legislative session. “This is game changing, and Connecticut is leading the way. It’s so huge. I think this is something that will go from state to state.”

She added that “to get such support this late in the (legislative session) shows that people really believed in this bill and know it will make a difference.”

She said that finally, after unsuccessful attempts in previous sessions to get the bill passed, people have acknowledged the clear link between those who commit acts of animal cruelty and instances of child and elder abuse, domestic violence and school shootings.

“This is not just about helping animals but helping people,” she has said.

Last month during a news conference at the Capitol, Urban pointed out that from 2002 to 2012, only 18 percent of animal cruelty cases in Connecticut resulted in convictions, as busy prosecutors dismissed the cases, did not pursue them or offered diversionary programs such as accelerated rehabilitation.

Urban said later Tuesday that from discussions she’s had with prosecutors, she has found they often do not have the resources to compile reports from police, animal control officers, veterinarians and others needed to prosecute the cases.

The bill will allow advocates, who will be law school students from the University of Connecticut and possibly other universities, to compile and provide that information to prosecutors at no cost while gaining real court experience. There is no cost to taxpayers.

It is unclear when Malloy will decide to sign the bill.