Yesterday, the Vermont Senate favorably voted passage of amended House Bill 421. The bill would (1) narrow the list of individuals authorized as “humane officers” who investigate cases of animal cruelty and (2) mandate the completion of trainings approved by the Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board (“Board”). As noted in this prior alert, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs (VT Federation) support HB 421. We thank everyone who previously contacted their state senator requesting support!
Because the bill was amended in the state senate, HB 421 returns to the House for further consideration. The House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry will meet today, Wednesday, May 5, starting at 10am to review the Senate amended text for HB 421.
VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR AMENDED HB 421 TODAY: AKC strongly encourages those who reside in Vermont to immediately contact their state representative and ask them to “support HB 421 as passed in the Senate.”
First, find your state representative’s contact information by entering your representative’s name, or the town where you live to identify your representative, on this site. Second, send an email with your name and contact information asking them to vote “yes” on HB 421, as passed in the Senate.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Vermont, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.