Feel free to cross post
Legislative Report 11-21-07

Authored by: Ken Sondej & Linda D. Witouski

Ken Sondej - 4winds@viawest.net

American Kennel Club Legislative Liaison - Silver State Kennel Club

Legislative Liaison - National Pet Press

Legislative Liaison - Nevada Dog Fanciers Assc.

Director Government Affairs and Legislative Advisor - Adopt A Rescue Pet

Nevada Director - Responsible Dog Owners Western States (RDOWS)

Advisor - Indiana Animal Owners Alliance

Advisor to Clubs and groups in Southern Nevada, Arizona, California

Linda Witouski - dropfred13@aol.com

American Kennel Club Judge

American Kennel Club Delegate - Myrtle Beach Kennel Club - SC

American Kennel Club Legislative Liaison - South Carolina & Pennsylvania

Legislative Liaison/Staff Writer - National Pet Press/TDP

Legislative Chair/BOD - Myrtle Beach Kennel Club

Legislative Chair - Yankee Miniature Pinscher Club

Member: NAIA, MOF, ERPT, DSJA, DJAA, MBKC, YMPC, MPCA

Handy TOLLFREE NUMBERS - Capitol Switchboard
Here are some toll-free numbers for the Capitol Switchboard:
1-866-220-0044
1-866-340-9281
1-877-851-6437
1-888-355-3588
1-800-833-6354
1-800-450-8293
1-877-762-8722
1-877-762-8762

FEDERAL

Senate Could Act on Protections for Pets

This week, the U.S. Senate is expected to take up the Farm Bill- - an
omnibus agriculture policy bill that the Congress typically delves into
every five years. If you remember, the House passed its Farm Bill in July,
and there were two animal protection measures unanimously approved as
amendments on the floor- - a provision to prevent pet theft and abuse by
prohibiting the use in research of dogs and cats obtained from random source
dealers (known as Class B dealers) and a provision to restrict the use of
live animals in marketing demonstrations of medical devices. The Senate
Agriculture Committee approved its Farm Bill a couple of weeks ago, and the
measure is expected to hit the floor today. The Class B dealer amendment is
expected to be offered by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), and the live animals
in sales demonstrations amendment is also likely to be considered. There are
two other pro-animal amendments planned, and at least one amendment that we
must fight.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), the Majority Whip, is expected to offer an
amendment to restrict the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills - -an
ugly and largely unknown facet of an industry we thought could hardly be any
worse. This measure will require that any dog imported into the United
States for sale to the pet trade be at least six months old. and the rest of
the blog .... http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2007/11/senate-could-ac.html

STATES, IN ALPABETICAL ORDER

ARKANSAS

Arkadelphia - City Board approved on third reading and adopted an ordinance
placing several restrictions on owners of pit bulls and pit bull mixes. They
include a fenced enclosure, registration of the animal, implantation of a
microchip for identification and a liability insurance policy for $100,000.
It is estimated that the initial cost of complying with the ordinance totals
$1,000. The ordinance also establishes a $500 fine for violating the
measure, which also allows animal control personnel to euthanize a dog if it
is not reclaimed by its owner. Passed 10/18/07

North Little Rock - Dog Ordinance revised text available upon request

Salem (Fulton County) - council decided to review other communities' dog
ordinances to see what revisions could be made to improve Salem's own law.
They discussed the possibility of outlawing certain breeds of dogs such as
pit bulls to be kept within city limits. The city is trying to deal with
the problem of stray animals at large.

CALIFORNIA

Bernalillo County - Bernalillo County Commissioners and Animal Control
officers held a public hearing Monday evening to hear about plans to toughen
up the county's animal laws. Dogcatchers want to make the county animal
ordinances a lot stronger, especially on the issue of animal cruelty. The
new proposals include higher license fees and mandatory micro-chipping.
Cruelty laws would be expanded to include negligence, failure to provide
basic veterinary care, and the amateur practices of ear-cropping, tail
docking, and removing the dog's ability to bark. Commissioners will consider
higher permit fees for people who breed and sell animals, along with
stricter record keeping requirements and inspections.

Huntington Beach - Ordinance 3787, the mandatory S/N proposal was put aside
without a vote. The Council decided to revisit the issue on December 17th
when they will discuss other options.

Huntington Beach - conflicting information out of Huntington Beach. City
Council late Monday night turned a proposed mandatory spay, neuter and
microchip law into an incentive-based program with increased fines for
owning an unaltered dog or cat without a microchip. The heated, six-hour
meeting Monday night ended with council members directing the city attorney
to modify the sterilization and microchip program into a five-tiered
discount program that will mirror rules already set up by Orange County
Animal Care Services. There was no formal vote

Kern County - proposed regs change zoning, create animal ownership limits
and require an "animal fancier license" for anyone having more than 6 dogs
/cats.

Livermore - adopt an ordinance that will put restrictions on dogs that are
declared to be dangerous by the court. The liability insurance required to
own what is concidered to be a dangerous dog would be $300,000. The
ordinance is stricter than the current state law in several areas. This
ordinance is not breed specific, but does include attacks on livestock. The
ordinance A) prohibits transfer of the dangerous dog, B) requires special
restraint including outlining where the animal could be kept in secure
enclosures on the property, and C) requires owners of dangerous dogs to have
$300,000 in liability insurance. Passed by residents - voted 34-19

Marin County - changes to the county's animal control laws, aimed at putting
teeth in regulations for dealing with dangerous dogs, define owners'
responsibilities for dogs that have been declared "potentially dangerous" or
"vicious", require owners of the dogs to post warning signs on their
property and have the pets sterilized. The animals also would have to be
tattooed or have a microchip implant identifying them as potentially
dangerous. Owners who fail to meet the rules could be fined $500 in
addition to paying the cost of the Marin Mediation Service's hearing
process. Passed 10/23/07

Stockton - new city ordinance requiring pet owners to microchip their dogs
and cats starts Thursday, affecting thousands of pet owners. The ordinance,
which requires for the first time that cats be licensed, was adopted by the
City Council last month. Among other things: > Like dogs, cats older than
six months must be vaccinated against rabies and licensed by the city. Both
dogs and cats must have microchip identification tags. A microchip, which is
about the size of a grain of rice and is injected beneath the skin, can be
scanned to identify the animal. A license for a neutered or spayed dog or
cat costs $10 for one year, $15 for two years or $25 for three years.
Seniors qualify for a discount. A license for an unaltered dog or cat costs
$100 for one year, $120 for two years or $150 for a license that is good for
three years. Seniors qualify for a discount. text available upon request

CONNECTICUT

Hartford - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Monday announced a new hot
line for people to report suspected illegal cockfights and dogfights. It's
part of a nationwide crackdown against animal fighting. "This hot line is a
first step by Connecticut as part of a national effort to combat animal
fighting through the National Association of Attorneys. "The Humane Society
is joining us in this powerful partnership - providing a strong financial
incentive for citizens to report a crime that degrades our humanity." The
hot line number is (860) 808-5180. Humane Society of the United States
announced $5,000 in rewards for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of anyone involved in illegal animal fights.