VERMONT Home Page: _http://www.leg.state.vt.us/_
(http://www.leg.state.vt.us/)
H769 - AN ACT relating to regulation of commercial dog breeders in Vermont

_http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/intro/H-769.HTM_
(http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/intro/H-769.HTM)

VIRGINIA - Home page: _http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal2/index.html_
(http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal2/index.html)
VIRGINIA HUNTING & HUNTING DOG ENTHUSIASTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT
_http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/staterk.html_
(http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/staterk.html)
for bills affecting your sport !!

Virginians should also visit _http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/stater.html_
(http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/stater.html) for further information and
updates on the following:
HB114 - A bill to amend and reenact § 29.1-521 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to trapping Hunting; trap identification. Permits hunters to attach an
identification number issued by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
to traps. Currently, hunters may not set traps without attaching their name
and address to the trap.

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb114_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb114)
(HB217) Tethering of animals; makes certain acts associated therewith Class 3
misdemeanor
Makes certain acts associated with the tethering of animals a Class 3
misdemeanor. The bill prohibits such actions as (i) tethering an animal that is
less than six months old, except in an emergency, (ii) tethering an animal that
has not been spayed or neutered, except in an emergency, and (iii) using a
tether weighing more than the animal can reasonably bear. Local governments are
authorized to adopt an animal tethering ordinance that can be more
restrictive than the proposed statute

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB217_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB217) (Update: Bill stricken by patron)
(HB538) - Commercial dog breeding operations; definition, penalty. (Bobby
Orrock) - Defines commercial breeders as persons who maintain 20 or more
unsterilized adult females for commercial breeding purposes. Commercial breeders
will be required to: (i) apply for a business license from their respective
locality; (ii) cooperate with inspections by animal control officers to ensure
compliance with state and federal animal care laws; (iii) create a fire
emergency plan and install fire safety measures; (iv) maintain records of animal
sales, purchases, breeding history, and veterinary care; (v) dispose of dead
dogs and confined waste in accordance with law; and (vi) maintain no more than
50 adult dogs at one time. Commercial breeders that violate any of these
provisions are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Pet shops must ensure that their
dogs are purchased from dealers that are properly registered and licensed
with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB538_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB538) (UPDATE: PASSED 2/8/08)
HB673 Animal welfare standards. Clarifies several standards of animal
welfare. The amount of time an animal must be deserted to be considered "abandoned"
is shortened from five consecutive days to 24 consecutive hours. "Adequate
shelter" for tethered animals will require an enclosure large enough to
provide separate eating and sleeping areas, both of which shall be at least 10 feet
from a toilet area. "Adequate space" for tether animals will require that
the tether is no more than 1/8th the weight of the animal and at least 20 times
the length of the animal. "Adequate water" will require refreshment at least
once every 12 hours and a container that cannot be overturned. The
definition of "adoption" is broadened to include transfers of ownership from dealers
(anyone).

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB673_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB673)
(HB690) Commercial breeding of companion animals; penalty. Requires state
licensure of any person who breeds companion animals and is also required to
be licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services will issue licenses and collect an annual
fee of $150, which will be remitted to the localities where animal breeding
facilities are located. Animal control officers are granted the authority to
investigate any commercial breeding operation to ensure compliance with animal
care laws
http://leg1._.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB690_
(http://leg1..state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB690) (UPDATE: Bill Stricken by patron)
(HB691) Animal control officers; inspection of breeding facilities. Requires
an animal control officer to make quarterly inspections of any premises in
his jurisdiction where dealers breed companion animals. The animal control
officer will ensure that dealers comply with state and federal standards for
sanitation, licensure, and adequate care. (Update: Bill stricken by patron)

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB691_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB691)
HB886 - A bill to amend and reenact § 29.1-520 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to bear hunting. Bears may be hunted without capturing or taking by day
or night during bear hound training season.
_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB886_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB886)
HB1465 - A bill to amend and reenact §§ 3.1-796.113, 3.1-796.124,
3.1-796.125, and 18.2-403.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to dogfighting.
Dogfighting; violations include attending a dog fight and possession of 'any device or
substance intended to train a dog for fighting or enhance a dog's ability to
fight' to the list of felony offenses. There are numerous other changes.


_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb1465_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb1465)
(HB1486)- A bill to amend and reenact § 3.1-796.84 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to dealer permits. Dealer permits; local ordinances pertaining to
real estate taxes for euthanizing companion animals.
_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb1486_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb1486) (Update:
tabled 1/29/08)
(HB1570) - A bill to amend and reenact §§ 3.1-796.66, 3.1-796.126:1,
3.1-796.126:2, 3.1-796.126:3, 3.1-796.126:4, and 3.1-796.126:5 of the Code of
Virginia, relating to companion animals, spay/neuter.
_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB1570_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=HB1570) (Update: tabled
1/29/08)
SB263 - A bill to amend and reenact § 18.2-136 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to retrieving dogs from the property of others; penalty. Requires the
revocation of the hunting license for the current and the next hunting seasons
as well as the forfeiture of the firearm or bow and arrow of any person who
is convicted of carrying such weapons on another person's property while he is
retrieving his hunting dogs.
_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=sb263_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=sb263)
(SB438) - Adds that humane education, including compassion and
responsibility in the treatment of companion animals, may be covered in character
education programs
_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+SB438_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+SB438) (UPDATE: Bill stricken by patron)
SB637 - A bill to amend and reenact § 63.2-1509 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to the reporting of child abuse. Adds animal control officers to the
list of persons required to report that a child is abused or neglected to
authorities.

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=SB637_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=SB637)
SB663 - A bill to amend and reenact §§ 3.1-796.87, 3.1-796.96, and 18.2-510
of the Code of Virginia, relating to companion animal fees. Local fees for
companion animals.

_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=SB663_ (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=SB663)
(SJ69) - That the General Assembly designate the first full week in
February, in 2008 and in each succeeding year, as Humane Education Week in Virginia
and encourage the Department of Education to require that all public schools
in Virginia participate. The Department of Education shall advise all public
school divisions that they are currently permitted to provide appropriate
instruction regarding the humane treatment of animals and animal safety utilizing
volunteers and external materials. The Department of Education is requested
to ascertain the best educational practices and programs currently employed
by school divisions in the Commonwealth to improve animal safety and the
humane treatment of animals.
_http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=SJ69_
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=SJ69) (UPDATE:
Stricken at request of Patron in Rules by voice vote on /8/20/08)

Richmond, City of - city is making an extra effort to get every dog and cat
in the city licensed. Licensing program, helps to make sure that pets are
getting their proper vaccinations & gives officials an idea of what type of
resources they need to keep up with the animal population.