Animal Law Coalition

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 31, 2012: The Ohio Senate voted today 27-5 to approve the Senate Committee Substitute version of H.B. 14. The repeal of the law that defines "vicious" dogs to include "pit bulls" regardless of the dog's behavior, is almost complete! The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for a vote on the Senate version. The House is not expected to take up the amended version before February 8.

A White Paper from Americans Against Horse Slaughter

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.

Florida state Sen.

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

Update Sept. 19, 2011: U.S. Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) have introduced the House version of the bill to ban horse slaughter for human consumption. H.R. 2966 is the House version to the previously introduced Senate Bill 1176.

For more on this bill, read Animal Law Coalition's earlier report below.   

Update October 13, 2011: PLEASE TAKE ACTION and PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES!

H.R. 1733, the Interstate Horseracing Improvement Act, sponsored by Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY) would ban all race day drugs and enact strict penalties for violators. Other than North America, NO other country in the world permits the race day medication allowed here.