Animal Law Coalition

Ideally, shelters that take in animals impounded as abandoned or lost, seized for neglect or cruelty, or surrendered, work with private animal welfare organizations to find them new homes or caregivers. Yet, millions of animals are still euthanized every year in the U.S. in shelters.

BLM on road to slaughtering wild horses in holding?

Update Feb. 9, 2012: Yesterday, the Ohio House of Representatives voted to concur in or approve the Senate amendments to H.B. 14. This means the Ohio legislature has voted to repeal the breed discriminatory law that over the years has caused the death of thousands of innocent family pets, dogs that were or may have looked like "pit bulls".  The bill, H.B. 14, also makes substantial revisions in the state's dangerous dog laws.

Update Feb. 7, 2012: The Florida House of Representatives Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee today approved the bill that would repeal the Miami-Dade County pit bull ban. H.B. 997. The bill almost immediately was taken up by the State Committee and we are awaiting a report of that vote. Also, the Senate version of the bill, S.B. 1322 has been approved by the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and now moves to the Budget committee.

There is a growing movement to stop the devocalization of dogs and cats. Devocalization is nothing less than the cutting of a dog or cat's vocal cords. It is also known as "debarking", "silencing", or "bark softening". Devocalization is typically done by veterinarians paid by owners, usually breeders, who don't want to hear the dogs or cats they are breeding for profit.

Update January 31, 2012: Following a hearing last week, the Judiciary Committee has now voted to approve the substitute version of H.B. 1755. For more on the hearing and the bill as amended since last year, read Animal Law Coalition's reports below. 

Update January 24, 2012:  U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR) has introduced H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, the legislation that the Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Wayne Pacelle announced last summer was being drafted with the support of United Egg Producers.

A Washington state bill, H.B. 1226, would establish a program to subsidize spay/neuter of dogs and cats for low income residents and animal shelters, and also provide financial assistance for trap neuter return and other feral or free roaming homeless cat programs.

 by Valerie James Patton, Vice-President, Equine Welfare Alliance, and Laura Allen, Executive Director, Animal Law Coalition and Vice-President, Equine Welfare Alliance