A bill that would allow prosecutors to charge stalkers who threaten a victim’s pet, service animal, or horse is moving forward in the California Legislature.
Senate Bill 221, introduced by Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), passed the Senate floor with unanimous support and now heads to the Assembly.
Under current law, stalking includes threats that cause a person to fear for their own safety or the safety of immediate family members. SB 221 would amend California Penal Code Section 646.9 to also include credible threats made against a person’s animals.
“Stalkers often use pets as a way to terrorize their victims, and California law has largely ignored this issue,” Ochoa Bogh said in a statement. “With the introduction of SB 221, we aim to put an end to this. Threatening to harm an animal in order to control or intimidate someone is a form of psychological abuse and should have consequences.”
Stalking affects millions of Americans each year. Data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey shows that one in three women and one in six men in the U.S. have experienced stalking. Advocates say pets are frequently used as tools of coercion and fear.
According to a National Crime Victimization Survey, 40% of stalkers threaten not just victims but also their families, friends, co-workers, or animals. More than 87,000 stalking cases involving threats against pets have been reported.
If enacted, SB 221 would allow those convicted of stalking under the expanded definition to face up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or longer prison terms for more serious or repeated offenses.