Over the last few years concerns about a rise in petnapping have occasionally struck our fair metropolis and now the folks up in Albany are doing something about it. Because punishing those who steal pets is clearly a top priority issue the State Senate easily passed a bill 58-3 yesterday that would make it a class E felony to steal a cat or dog, instead of the misdemeanor it currently is. Which means getting caught stealing a pet could send you to the slammer for up to four years. The Assembly is expected to pass its version of the bill later this month. more ›