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05-24-2006, 07:17 PM
Around the Nation:
Legislation That Affects YouMay 2006
ALABAMA – S82 passed both houses of the legislature and is now before Governor Riley. The bill establishes a procedure by which a dog can be declared dangerous, provides an appeal process and requires that a dog found to be a significant threat to public health and safety be humanely euthanized. Owners of dangerous dogs may be fined up $300 for the first offense and $600 for a second offense. The dog is also required to be registered with the city or county for an unspecified fee.
- Rep. Galliher’s H252 has been signed by Governor Riley. The measure requires any animal sold by public and private shelters to be sterilized.
CALIFORNIA – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has instituted a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for all dogs. The ordinance will go into effect June 3rd. Exceptions are made only if the dog is a law enforcement dog, a service animal or qualifies as a “competition dog.” In addition, owners of intact animals that qualify are required to purchase a $60 permit for each dog. AKC worked with local fanciers and concerned dog owners to oppose this measure. To find out more details about this proposal please read our Legislative Alert (http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2870).
- Asm. Hancock’s AB 2110 has been placed on the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File due to the amount of money it would cost to enforce. The bill defines “live field coursing” as “a competition in which dogs are, by the use of rabbits, hares, or foxes, assessed as to skill in hunting live rabbits, hares, or foxes.” The bill would outlaw AKC Basset Hound, Beagle and Dachshund Field Trials. The original bill language targeted events where the rabbit, hare or fox were killed. In AKC events, dogs track the scent of the rabbit, but do not kill the animal. Fanciers and concerned dog owners are asked to immediately contact their representative in the state assembly to oppose this legislation. In order to meet a procedural deadline, the Assembly Appropriations Committee must take up the Suspense File prior to May 26th.
- AB 450, sponsored by Asm. Yee, would require the Office of Emergency Services to adopt and incorporate the California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program into the standardized emergency management system. The bill is before the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.
- Sen. Lowenthal’s SB 1578 failed passage initially in the Senate Appropriations Committee, but the bill has been granted reconsideration. The bill prohibits tethering, chaining or tying a dog to a tree, house or stationary object.
- SB 1806, authored by Sen. Figueroa would make it a crime to leave an animal unattended in a car when conditions would endanger the animal’s health. A first offense would be punishable by a $100 fine and subsequent violations would result in a fine of up to $500 and/or up to six months imprisonment in a county jail. The measure has passed the full Senate and has now been referred to the Assembly.
- The Berkley Citizens Humane Commission is considering an ordinance to require "pit bull" owners to spay or neuter their dogs unless they obtain a $100 breeding permit and comply with a host of regulations. The ordinance defines "pit bulls" as American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and any dog displaying the physical traits of these breeds. For more information on this proposal, please see our Legislative Alert (http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2837).
- Sonoma County has adopted a breed-specific ordinance which requires spaying and neutering of all “pit bulls,” defined as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers or American Stafforshire Terriers. The Canine Legislation department sent a letter opposing breed specific legislation to the members of the county board of supervisors.
COLORADO – Governor Owens has signed S25. The new law requires that owners of a declared dangerous dog post warning signs on their property and requires that the owner disclose that animal’s status as a dangerous dog to certain service providers such as veterinarians and groomers. The measure further requires the confiscation and destruction of a dangerous dog that causes serious bodily injury or in a case where the same owner is involved in a subsequent violation of the dangerous dog statute.
CONNECTICUT – The Joint Committee on Environment’s H5743, a bill to establish a training and certification program for municipal animal control officers, failed to pass prior to the legislature’s adjournment earlier this month.
- H5751 also failed to pass prior to adjournment. The measure would have enabled animal control officers to issue citations and provided that the officer involved could not be a member of a hearing board if the citation is appealed.
- H5795 has been sent to Governor Rell. The measure will require any impounded animal to be spayed or neutered, even if the animal is reclaimed by the owner. Further, H5795 will establish low cost spay/neuter programs and increases redemption fees.
FLORIDA – Sen. Rich’s S1484, a bill to require that the shelter component of the emergency management plan include planning for shelters that accept pets, has died due to the adjournment of session.
- S1172, which would permit local governments to conduct a pilot program to allow dogs at certain designated outdoor portions of restaurants, has been sent to Governor Bush.
- Fort Lauderdale has passed an ordinance that restricts the tethering of animals. Under the measure, no pet under six months of age could be tied tethered and between 10am and 5pm, a dog could only be chained for fifteen minutes. In the evening, a dog could be chained but only if the leash is three times the length of the animal, or is an overhead pulley system. Violators would pay up to $500 or could be sentenced to up to 60 days in the county jail.
GEORGIA –Governor Perdue signed H1497 into law. The bill defines a vicious dog as one that is owned or trained for the purpose of fighting, or one that, on a previous occasion known to the owner, has attacked or injured any human being without provocation. Exemptions are included for dogs that attack people who are trespassing, or teasing the animal. H1497 further provides penalties for violators. The Georgia Canine Coalition supported the measure with reservations, as they would have prefered to see a complete overhaul of the state’s dangerous dog law in the 2007-08 session. For more information about this bill and other pending legislation in Georgia, please contact the Georgia Canine Coalition (outlander@laberge.org).
HAWAII – Sen. Hanabusa’s S2924 has been sent to Governor Lingle. The bill will allow a shelter or humane society that is holding an animal during an animal cruelty trial to petition a court for an order of forfeiture of the animal prior to the disposition of criminal charges. The court is required to hold a hearing on the matter within 14 days, and if the court finds sufficient evidence that the defendant has committed an animal cruelty offense, the defendant must post a security deposit or bond to cover costs incurred by the shelter or humane society.
Legislation That Affects YouMay 2006
ALABAMA – S82 passed both houses of the legislature and is now before Governor Riley. The bill establishes a procedure by which a dog can be declared dangerous, provides an appeal process and requires that a dog found to be a significant threat to public health and safety be humanely euthanized. Owners of dangerous dogs may be fined up $300 for the first offense and $600 for a second offense. The dog is also required to be registered with the city or county for an unspecified fee.
- Rep. Galliher’s H252 has been signed by Governor Riley. The measure requires any animal sold by public and private shelters to be sterilized.
CALIFORNIA – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has instituted a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for all dogs. The ordinance will go into effect June 3rd. Exceptions are made only if the dog is a law enforcement dog, a service animal or qualifies as a “competition dog.” In addition, owners of intact animals that qualify are required to purchase a $60 permit for each dog. AKC worked with local fanciers and concerned dog owners to oppose this measure. To find out more details about this proposal please read our Legislative Alert (http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2870).
- Asm. Hancock’s AB 2110 has been placed on the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File due to the amount of money it would cost to enforce. The bill defines “live field coursing” as “a competition in which dogs are, by the use of rabbits, hares, or foxes, assessed as to skill in hunting live rabbits, hares, or foxes.” The bill would outlaw AKC Basset Hound, Beagle and Dachshund Field Trials. The original bill language targeted events where the rabbit, hare or fox were killed. In AKC events, dogs track the scent of the rabbit, but do not kill the animal. Fanciers and concerned dog owners are asked to immediately contact their representative in the state assembly to oppose this legislation. In order to meet a procedural deadline, the Assembly Appropriations Committee must take up the Suspense File prior to May 26th.
- AB 450, sponsored by Asm. Yee, would require the Office of Emergency Services to adopt and incorporate the California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program into the standardized emergency management system. The bill is before the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.
- Sen. Lowenthal’s SB 1578 failed passage initially in the Senate Appropriations Committee, but the bill has been granted reconsideration. The bill prohibits tethering, chaining or tying a dog to a tree, house or stationary object.
- SB 1806, authored by Sen. Figueroa would make it a crime to leave an animal unattended in a car when conditions would endanger the animal’s health. A first offense would be punishable by a $100 fine and subsequent violations would result in a fine of up to $500 and/or up to six months imprisonment in a county jail. The measure has passed the full Senate and has now been referred to the Assembly.
- The Berkley Citizens Humane Commission is considering an ordinance to require "pit bull" owners to spay or neuter their dogs unless they obtain a $100 breeding permit and comply with a host of regulations. The ordinance defines "pit bulls" as American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and any dog displaying the physical traits of these breeds. For more information on this proposal, please see our Legislative Alert (http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2837).
- Sonoma County has adopted a breed-specific ordinance which requires spaying and neutering of all “pit bulls,” defined as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers or American Stafforshire Terriers. The Canine Legislation department sent a letter opposing breed specific legislation to the members of the county board of supervisors.
COLORADO – Governor Owens has signed S25. The new law requires that owners of a declared dangerous dog post warning signs on their property and requires that the owner disclose that animal’s status as a dangerous dog to certain service providers such as veterinarians and groomers. The measure further requires the confiscation and destruction of a dangerous dog that causes serious bodily injury or in a case where the same owner is involved in a subsequent violation of the dangerous dog statute.
CONNECTICUT – The Joint Committee on Environment’s H5743, a bill to establish a training and certification program for municipal animal control officers, failed to pass prior to the legislature’s adjournment earlier this month.
- H5751 also failed to pass prior to adjournment. The measure would have enabled animal control officers to issue citations and provided that the officer involved could not be a member of a hearing board if the citation is appealed.
- H5795 has been sent to Governor Rell. The measure will require any impounded animal to be spayed or neutered, even if the animal is reclaimed by the owner. Further, H5795 will establish low cost spay/neuter programs and increases redemption fees.
FLORIDA – Sen. Rich’s S1484, a bill to require that the shelter component of the emergency management plan include planning for shelters that accept pets, has died due to the adjournment of session.
- S1172, which would permit local governments to conduct a pilot program to allow dogs at certain designated outdoor portions of restaurants, has been sent to Governor Bush.
- Fort Lauderdale has passed an ordinance that restricts the tethering of animals. Under the measure, no pet under six months of age could be tied tethered and between 10am and 5pm, a dog could only be chained for fifteen minutes. In the evening, a dog could be chained but only if the leash is three times the length of the animal, or is an overhead pulley system. Violators would pay up to $500 or could be sentenced to up to 60 days in the county jail.
GEORGIA –Governor Perdue signed H1497 into law. The bill defines a vicious dog as one that is owned or trained for the purpose of fighting, or one that, on a previous occasion known to the owner, has attacked or injured any human being without provocation. Exemptions are included for dogs that attack people who are trespassing, or teasing the animal. H1497 further provides penalties for violators. The Georgia Canine Coalition supported the measure with reservations, as they would have prefered to see a complete overhaul of the state’s dangerous dog law in the 2007-08 session. For more information about this bill and other pending legislation in Georgia, please contact the Georgia Canine Coalition (outlander@laberge.org).
HAWAII – Sen. Hanabusa’s S2924 has been sent to Governor Lingle. The bill will allow a shelter or humane society that is holding an animal during an animal cruelty trial to petition a court for an order of forfeiture of the animal prior to the disposition of criminal charges. The court is required to hold a hearing on the matter within 14 days, and if the court finds sufficient evidence that the defendant has committed an animal cruelty offense, the defendant must post a security deposit or bond to cover costs incurred by the shelter or humane society.