All Articles

One Mass Bill Takes on Spay/Neuter, Tethering, Breed Bans and Dangerous Dogs

lauraallen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:54:50 -0700

A bill chock full of controversy has been reported out of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government of the Massachusetts General Court or legislature. H.B. 5092 would:

(1) allow local governments to regulate or ban particular breeds of dogs, and if they do so, the local governments must set up a 3 member board consisting of 2 members of the public and animal control, apparently to implement and administer the law.

Breed Bans

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Court Advocates for Animals

lauraallen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:14:49 -0700

Joann and Ed Bray spend time in state and municipal courts the way other people spend time on tennis courts - they are there to serve.

Animal Cruelty

Help Convince Bartow County to Unchain the Dogs

lauraallen — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:59:37 -0700

Led by Dogs Deserve Better, http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/ advocates, a move to help dogs basically left chained in backyards, resulted in a new ordinance for Bartow County, Georgia. But the ordinance did not significantly restrict the chaining and tethering of dogs.

Instead the county improved at large and leash laws.

Some restrictions were placed on chaining and tethering animals:

Tethering-Penning

Horse Slaughter for Profit: Our Country Says This is Okay?

lauraallen — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:33:25 -0700

by Jennifer Swanson, Pure Thoughts Horse and Foal Rescue, http://www.pthr.org/ (reprinted with permission)

[During a brief debate last week on H.B. 6598, a bill that would end interstate and foreign trade and transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption,] Senator [Bob] Goodlatte [R-VA] made a statement that the horse rescues in our country can only take in 7000 horses.

Horse Slaughter

A Legal Challenge to Miami-Dade County Pit Bull Ban

lauraallen — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:54:53 -0700

Florida attorney, Rima C.

Breed Bans

Spokane Looks at Regulations, Not Breed Bans!

lauraallen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:59:09 -0700

Update Oct. 8, 2008: Your calls and emails are having an effect! Spokane's city council says they will not ban pit bulls but are looking at regulations. Animal Law Coalition has offered to prepare a potentially dangerous dog law.

Continue to urge the council to avoid all regulations that are breed specific. Give them the talking points listed below. Contact information for the council is below!

Breed Bans

More and More States Allowing Pet Protection Orders

lauraallen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:35:24 -0700

Pet protection orders have been a popular legislative proposal in the last 2 years.

A law allowing judges to issues orders of protection for pets was first passed in Maine in 2006, and in 2006 and 2007, Vermont, New York, California, Illinois and Connecticut passed similar laws.

Animal Cruelty

Greyhound Racing in Massachusetts is History!

lauraallen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:52:34 -0700

Update Nov. 5, 2008: Voters in Massachusetts have said no to any more greyhound racing in that state. By a vote of 56%-44%, voters shut down this cruel sport, approving the Greyhound Protection Act, Proposition 3 on the ballot.

The new law takes effect in 2010.

Animal Cruelty

Will Ohio Regulate Wild or Exotic Animals as Pets?

lauraallen — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:22:16 -0700

Ohio House Bill 45 is languishing in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee. There is little time left in the legislative session to pass this bill which would make it illegal to own or possess a "dangerous wild animal or an exotic animal" without a personal possession permit.

Wildlife

Are Government Officials Ready to Evacuate and Shelter Animals in Disasters?

lauraallen — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:38:32 -0700

As Hurricane Gustav washes over Louisiana, the full extent of its damage not yet known, on the anniversary of Katrina, Animal Law Coalition looks back at this disaster for animals in 2005 and the laws the federal and state governments have passed since then to address the needs of pets and other animals during disasters.

Animals and Politics

Stop the Cruel Killing in Pennsylvania

lauraallen — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:02:29 -0700

There is still time to pass a bill that would ban use of CO gas chambers in Pennsylvania animal shelters. The bill, H.B. 2417, would amend the Animal Destruction Method Authorization Law also by outlawing shooting as a means of killing shelter animals. 3 P.S. § 328.1 et seq.

The required method of killing would be an overdose of barbiturates or a derivative.

Gas Chambers

New Jersey Supreme Court Strikes Down Regulations for Treatment of Farm Animals

lauraallen — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:24:58 -0700

New Jersey law requires "humane" treatment of farm animals, and the court found some of the regulations could fail to meet that standard.

Farm Animals

Governor Signs California Pet Trust Bill

lauraallen — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:44:13 -0700

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law Section 15212 of the Probate Code which will make it much easier to set up enforceable pet trusts.

Planning for the Future Care of Animals

Explosion in North Carolina Gas Chamber - Will the State Finally Ban Them?

lauraallen — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:37:30 -0700

There was an explosion yesterday inside the animal gas chamber at Iredell County Animal Services shelter.

The fire department was called to contain the resulting fire. 10 dogs were inside the gas chamber at the time. The gas chamber was at the end of its cycle when the explosion occurred.

Gas Chambers

Trading in Bear Parts: The Bear Protection Act

lauraallen — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:05:16 -0700

Help stop the trade in bear products, specifically bile and gall bladder.

A bill pending before Congress would amend the Lacey Act of 1981,16 U.S.C. §§3371, 3372, and ban the import, export and interstate trade of these bear parts.

Wildlife

Third Circuit Strikes Down Law Banning Photos, Videos of Animal Cruelty

lauraallen — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:12:10 -0700

The 3^rd Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal appeals court, has found the statute, 18 U.S.C. §48 violates the First Amendment guarantee of the right to free speech.

This federal statute, passed in 1999, makes it a crime for anyone who "knowingly creates, sells, or possesses a depiction of animal cruelty" for interstate or foreign trade.

Animal Cruelty

Animal Adoption Contract Enforced

lauraallen — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:32:00 -0700

In a recent decision, the New York Supreme Court, upheld a liquidated damages clause in a dog adoption contract.

Animals and Politics

Jenny Won't Go to Exhibition Park

lauraallen — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:59:19 -0700

Update August 10, 2008: For weeks Dallas city officials insisted it was up to zoo officials whether or not Jenny, the elephant, would be sent to Africam Safari Park in Puebla, Mexico, about 80 miles southeast of Mexico City. Zoo officials insisted the park which is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, would be just fine for Jenny, with lots of other elephants and 5 acres of land in which she could roam.

Wildlife

Spain Considers Rights for Great Apes

lauraallen — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:50:15 -0700

The Spanish parliament's environmental committee has approved resolutions that would confer rights on apes. The resolutions are from the Great Apes Project which studies the lives and behavior of non-human great apes.

The Great Apes Project has declared great apes including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans, should have the rights to life, liberty and freedom from torture. Great apes deprived of liberty would be entitled to due process.

Animal Research

California Healthy Pets Act No Longer Mandatory Spay/Neuter

lauraallen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:13:33 -0700

California state Assembly member Lloyd Levine has backed away from efforts to mandate spay/neuter of dogs and cats statewide.

His bill, AB 1634, The California Healthy Pets Act, had been stalled for months in committee.

Spay-Neuter

Anti-Tethering Ordinance Passes in Dallas

lauraallen — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:43:31 -0700

Update June 25, 2008: The Dallas city council has approved the anti-tethering ordinance by a vote of 10-3.

Tethering unsupervised dogs to trees or poles will be prohibited except "for a period no longer than necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task."

Tethering-Penning

Miami-Dade County One Step Closer to Anti-Tethering Law

lauraallen — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:05:20 -0700

Update September 15, 2008: The Miami-Dade County Commission's Public Health and Safety Committee uanimously approved the proposed anti-tethering ordinance! The next step is a vote by the full Commission on October 7, 2008.

Tethering-Penning

Judge Orders Trial on Lawsuit Challenging Aurora, Colorado's Broad Breed Ban

lauraallen — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:50:58 -0700

The city of Aurora is headed to trial August 25, 2008 in the federal district Court for Colorado to defend its ban on a number of breeds.

Breed Bans

Tulsa Reverses Unwritten Breed Ban

lauraallen — Sat, 24 May 2008 13:55:19 -0700

Tulsa, Oklahoma has abandoned its policy of not adopting out pit bulls or pit bull mixes. The city's animal shelter has announced it will allow these dogs to be adopted.

Breed Bans

Rep. Galloway Backs Off Bill that Would Have Allowed Breed Bans in PA

lauraallen — Sat, 24 May 2008 11:48:52 -0700

Update Aug. 29, 2008: Rep. John Galloway has clarified that he did not intend to allow breed discrimination in Pennsylvania with his bill. Rep. Galloway has amended the bill to prohibit municipalities from banning specific breeds.

Breed Bans

Louisiana Enacts Puppy Mill Bill

lauraallen — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:31:35 -0700

Update July 10, 2008: This bill limiting dog breeders to 75 breeding dogs at a time has become law! It passed the Senate and became effective without the governor's signature on July 8, 2008.

For more on this new law read Animal Law Coalition's original report below.

Companion Animal Breeding

Ohio to Ban All Pit Bulls?

lauraallen — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:20:59 -0700

Update May 24, 2008: H.B. 568, the proposal to ban pit bulls from Ohio, has been assigned to the State Government and Elections Committee. Click here to find committee members. Please write or call and urge them to vote NO on H.B. 568. Contact information for Governor Ted Strickland and other Ohio representatives is at the end of the original report below.

Breed Bans

The Link Between Horse Racing and Horse Slaughter, Part II

lauraallen — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:41:59 -0700

Here is Part II of the HBO video. Click here to read the article and watch Part I.

Horse Slaughter

Treating Animal Cruelty as a Crime

lauraallen — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:00:20 -0700

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez (D) has introduced a bill that would help law enforcement track animal abusers. The Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act, Senate Bill 2439, would require the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the Law Enforcement National Data Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals as a separate offense category.

Animal Cruelty

The Link Between Horse Racing and Horse Slaughter, Part I

lauraallen — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:33:55 -0700

"37% of those horses are going to be slaughtered because they couldn't run fast enough....So, it's run for your life." Actor Paul Sorvino

Horse Slaughter

Sheriff Applauds Anti-Tethering Ordinance

lauraallen — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:15:42 -0700

Bibb County, Georgia has joined the anti-tethering movement! The county council has unanimously adopted a ban on all tethering or chaining of dogs or cats when the owner is not present. This includes tying the dog or cat to a pulley. Yes!

Even if the owner is there, the animal cannot be tethered in "unsafe or unsanitary conditions" or allowed to become tangled in the tether or when the weather might cause harm to the animal.

Tethering-Penning

Stop the Electrocution of Animals for their Fur!

lauraallen — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:35:29 -0700

This year New York became the first and thus far only state to ban the killing of fur-bearing animals by electrocution. NY CLS Agr & M § 353-c (2008) It is a common practice to use anal and genital electrocution to kill these animals that are raised and killed for their fur. This method is said to ensure their fur won't be damaged.

The animals, though, suffer terribly.

Wildlife

Animal Friendly License Plates Help Promote Spay/Neuter

lauraallen — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:55:03 -0700

Like several states, Tennessee offers an "Animal Friendly" license plate. Tenn. Code Ann. §55-4-290 The proceeds from the sale of these plates go into a fund "to be used exclusively for grants to non-profit organizations or governmental agencies to provide low-cost spaying and neutering of unsterilized animals to prevent and/or reduce animal overpopulation".

The fund receives about $15 per license plate.

Spay-Neuter

Save Delta, Colorado Feral Cats

lauraallen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:53:39 -0700

The City of Delta, Colorado has given Melissa Heinzen until May 4, 2008 to stop feeding a feral cat colony in Confluence Park. Animal Control Officer Tammy Holden has given Ms. Heinzen until then to relocate the cats. The city intends to trap and kill the remaining cats.

Feral Cats

A Decisive Move to Ban Research on Great Apes

lauraallen — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:42:35 -0700

Click here to stream Maria Danes' song, Monkey in a Cage. Click here to download.

Animal Research

Can More and Better Regulation Stop the Cruelty in the Cattle Slaughterhouses?

lauraallen — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:43:11 -0700

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Domestic Policy Subcommittee held a hearing on April 17 called "After the Beef Recall: Exploring Greater Transparency in the Meat Industry".

The Subcommittee, chaired by Rep.

Farm Animals

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McCain's VP Pick Works to Destroy Alaskan Wolves and Bears

lauraallen — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:22:25 -0700

Update August 30, 2008:   The voters in Alaska did not pass the ballot initiative to stop aerial gunning of wolves, wolverines and grizzly bears.

Wildlife

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Will Connecticut Stand Up Against Animal Cruelty?

lauraallen — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:11:58 -0700

It's hard to conceive of anyone stabbing a dog repeatedly with a power drill and then drilling holes in its head. But that is what Severino Cruz of Connecticut is accused of doing to Baby, his brother's dog.

Cruz claims Baby bit his son. His sons were playing with Baby's puppy which jumped on one of the children. The other child pulled the puppy away, and Baby, trying to protect her baby, bit the boy.

Animal Cruelty

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Justice for Rocky: Hearing Set Thursday, April 17

lauraallen — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:05:46 -0700

Read the story of Rocky and then write or call the prosecutor listed below and urge prosecution of Armando Preciado. Demand justice for Rocky.
Update April 11, 2008: Your calls and letters are having an effect. The prosecutors may be considering filing felony charges. Keep up the pressure. Here are names and numbers of 2 more Deputy District Attorneys involved.

Animal Cruelty

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Graphic Testimony at Hearing on Ohio's Animal Fighting Bill

lauraallen — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 12:45:41 -0700

Update April 14, 2008: The Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee heard compelling testimony in support of the Animal Fighting bill, H.B. 415.

Annette M. Fisher, Executive Director of Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary described how last year the Lorain County, Ohio's sheriff's department seized 44 roosters and several hens in a cockfighting raid.

Dog Fighting

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Will Monroe County Prosecute this Cruel Tethering?

lauraallen — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:14:57 -0700

Last week in Monroe County, Tennessee a dog literally chewed off its back leg to try to escape its tether. A neighbor noticed Panda, a 97 pound pure bred St. Bernard, was tied up and tangled in the cord. The next day the neighbor noticed a serious wound on the dog.

Tethering-Penning

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Tammy Grimes Hits the Road for Chained Dogs!

lauraallen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:48:10 -0700

March 27, Altoona, PA - What if someone wanted to prove that they could drive to any state and in the space of a few hours easily find, photograph, and videotape a minimum of 10 dogs spending their lives at the end of a chain?

Tethering-Penning

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Hawaii Legislature Passes Bill to Make Hoarding a Crime, But is the Law Strong Enough?

lauraallen — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:38:10 -0700

Update May 6, 2008: The Hawaii legislature has passed Senate Bill 3203, making hoarding a crime. In the final version, anyone with 20 or more dogs or cats or a combination, can be guilty of a misdemeanor if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:

Animal Hoarding

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Colorado Joins Other States in Mandating Spay/Neuter for Dogs, Cats Adopted from Shelters

lauraallen — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:52:51 -0700

A similar bill in Kentucky is pending.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter now has on his desk for signature H.B. 1185 which would require dogs and cats adopted from animal shelters or rescues to be spayed/neutered. The bill has passed the state legislature!

Spay-Neuter

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Mandatory Spay/Neuter for Dallas

lauraallen — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:42:22 -0700

Update June 25, 2008:  After sometimes emotional and at other times contentious testimony Wednesday, the Dallas City Council passed a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance.

Animal welfare advocates decorated the council chamber with 512 balloons, representing the number of dogs and cats killed each week at the city shelter.

Public Shelters

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Rhode Island Bans Use of Double Decked Trailers to Haul Horses

lauraallen — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 10:49:03 -0700

Update July 10, 2008: Rhode Island's bill, S. 2566, a ban on use of double decked trailers to haul horses, has now become law.

The new law is simple, straightforward and should be easy to enforce.

Horse Slaughter

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Bill to Make Torture of a Horse a Felony Passes Hawaii Legislature

lauraallen — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:30:57 -0700

Update May 6, 2008: This bill has now passed the House and Senate. It has been sent to Governor Linda Lingle for signature.

Update March 27, 2008: S.B. 2895 has now passed the House Judiciary Committee! It is on to the full House for a vote.

Animal Cruelty

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Chief of Staff for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison Apologizes for Staff Making Fun of Horse Slaughter

lauraallen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:55:35 -0700

Update March 19, 2008: Chief of Staff James Christoferson called Lucille Matte and apologized profusely for the conduct of the staff during her visit to Sen. Hutchison's office on March 5. But the senator still has not signed on as a co-sponsor to this important bill, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

Horse Slaughter

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Anti Fur Society Calls on the Mexican Government to Stop Horse Slaughter

lauraallen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:51:41 -0700

The Anti Fur Society is going head to head with the Mexican government in an all out bid to stop horse slaughter in that country. Now that horse slaughter in the U.S. has been shut down, horses are transported on long arduous journeys to Mexican horse slaughterhouses, most notably San Bernabe in the city of Almoloya de Juarez.

International

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Illinois Senate Committee Holding Bill to Ban Double Decked Trailers for Horses

lauraallen — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:50:47 -0700

Update July 1, 2008: The bill, H.B. 4162, has been sent to the Rules Committee. Click here to find committee members and write or call each of them and urge them to allow a vote by the full Senate on this bill to ban use of double decked trailers to haul horses.

Horse Slaughter

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