Via Bexar County Sheriff's Office[/caption]
While no one is questioning the severity of the case, many will undoubtedly wonder why a 25-year sentence was issued for animal cruelty. Fonesca's prior convictions, including possession of drugs and retaliation, enabled the City of San Antonio to put him behind bars for longer.
Buddy has since recovered from his injuries and is now living happily with a new adoptive family.
In Ireland, the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is up to five years in prison, a fine of up to €250,000 or both under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013.
In the UK, the maximum sentence for animal cruelty was changed from six months to five years in June 2021. The change was spurred after a public consultation in 2017 received over 9,000 responses and showed strong public support for proposals on tougher sentences.
Leading animal welfare charity Battersea was on the front lines of the law change, having launched their campaign after learning that "England and Wales had the lowest maximum sentence for cruelty in Europe."
Following the change, Battersea's Chief Executive, Peter Laurie, said: "We can't thank our supporters enough. Battersea is here for every dog and cat - not just those that come through our centres, but across the UK and beyond."Explore more on these topics:
