Legislative Alerts

House Bill 2034 seeks to create the offense of unlawful restraint [tethering] of a dog when outside and unattended without access to shelter and water, subject to additional requirements and exemptions.  It is on the agenda of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee tomorrow, February 9, 2022. As introduced, HB 2034 sets out reasonable requirements for […]

Senate Bill 128 seeks to designate the Treeing Walker Coonhound as the official state dog of Kentucky. The bill states that the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a native Kentucky dog breed, developed in the 1800s by two Kentucky breeders.  Dog lovers in the state are urged to contact your state senators and representatives and ask […]

Today, the Massachusetts Senate agreed to the minor technical changes made to Nero’s Law by the House last week.  Now, HB 4431 has been sent to Governor Baker’s desk for consideration.  He has ten days to sign the bill, veto it, or return it to the Legislature requesting changes. The bill allows emergency care and […]

The Virginia Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee (ACNR) is scheduled to consider a bill at its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, February 8, 2022) that would require a dog or cat obtained from a pet shop to be spayed or neutered.  The meeting will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of the day’s floor […]

Dog owners in Florida are urged to take action in support of a bill that would remove an exemption under current state law that allows local breed specific ordinances enacted prior to October 1, 1990 to remain in force. This provision is included in CS 1/HB 721 , a bill that seeks to allow a […]

The Missouri Agriculture Policy Committee is considering a bill on Tuesday, February 8, that would make several changes to protect dogs and the rights of dog owners when animals are seized on suspicion of neglect or abuse.  The purpose of the bill is to ensure that the accused are innocent until proven guilty, and to […]

Yesterday, February 3, 2022, after making minor technical changes, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee advanced SB 2573, Nero’s Law, to the full House, which then approved the bill.  The bill allows emergency care and transportation for a police dog injured in the line of duty, while ensuring ambulance use remains a priority for […]

The Rhode Island House Health and Human Services Committee has scheduled a virtual public hearing for Thursday, February 3, 2022, on multiple bills, including, H. 7021, which would allow emergency care and transportation for a police dog injured in the line of duty.  Committee details are here. Police K9s work to assist law enforcement in […]

The Virginia House Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee’s Agriculture Subcommittee is scheduled to consider a bill at its 4:00pm meeting tomorrow, February 2, 2022 that will increase the level of proof required before a person can get a warrant for suspected animal cruelty. Those wishing to express support may do so by noon tomorrow […]

On Thursday, February 3, the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business is hosting a work session on LD 1885, An Act to Increase Maine’s Veterinary Workforce.  The bill would address the shortage of veterinarians in Maine by expanding the state’s scholarship program to practitioners of veterinary medicine in specialties related to emergency and […]