Legislation signed to protect pets from violence

A bill that allows criminal and family courts to include animals in domestic violence restraining orders was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last month.

Senate Bill 353, which was written by state Sen. Sheila James Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), "will prevent abusers from harming or threatening to harm animals in order to exert power and control over their human victims," said Kuehl.

Anyone who violates the restraining order is subject to prosecution.