This bill amends West Virginia Code §19-20-18, which outlines the responsibilities of dog owners when their dogs cause harm to livestock. The proposed changes include the insertion of the phrase "or her" to ensure gender neutrality in referring to the owner or keeper of the dog. Additionally, the bill modifies the timeframe for the owner to kill the dog from "forty-eight" hours to "48" hours after receiving written notice from a reliable source.

Most notably, the bill expands the definition of livestock to include "any other livestock" as defined in §19-18-1 of the code, thereby extending the penalties for dogs that wound livestock to encompass a broader range of animals not specifically listed in the current law. This change aims to ensure that all forms of livestock are protected under the same penalties for damages caused by dogs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 19-20-18