Animal cruelty is now a class 6 felony in Virginia thanks to the signing of  “Tommie’s Law”. Governor Ralph Northam signed the bill into a law on Monday. “Tommie’s Law” was named after a pit bull who was found chained to a post and set on fire in Richmond.

The bill initially passed unanimously in the General Assembly. Under the new law, abusing or killing a cat or dog would involve up to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

The law goes into effect on July 1.