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RALEIGH -- Wednesday afternoon, state senators unanimously gave final approval for susie's law.

It's named after a puppy from Greensboro that was beaten and set on fire last summer. Susie barely survived the brutal attack.

But under existing law, the man who confessed to the assault could only be sentenced to probation. This new Susie's Law would increase the penalties for malicious abuse or torture of animals. It would become a Class-H felony, punishable by up to 10 years behind bars.

"If they had burned a piece of personal property, a car or a couch, they could have gotten a stiffer penalty," said Sen. Don Vaughan, (D.) Guilford County. "Now, this makes it a Class H felony so a judge will actually be able to sentence someone who intentionally abuses an animal to put them behind bars. So hopefully, that will be an important lesson for a lot of folks."

Susie's Law now goes to the governor to be signed into law. It would go into effect Dec. 1.