According to the Virginia-Pilot, two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), Andrea Florence Benoit and Carrie Beth Edwards, appeared June 27 before the Southhampton General District Court for stealing a hunting dog and removing its electronic tracking device. Prosecutors dropped the charges against Edwards. However, Benoit is still being charged with “felony theft”. General District Judge Robert B. Edward stated that while he did not doubt that Benoit believed she was doing what was right, “the right thing in this case was a felony.” The case is waiting to be set for a Circuit Court trial. The Associated Press reports that in response to this case, a new Virginia law will become effective next week punishing individuals convicted of removing a collar from a dog with penalties of up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.