Today, the Vermont House of Representatives agreed to minor H. 626 changes made by the Senate Committee on Government Operations, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk for consideration. With strong support of the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs (VT Federation), and others, amended H. 626 would:
- Establish a Division of Animal Welfare at the Department of Public Safety staffed by a single employee as the Director.
- Charge the Director with developing a plan for the development, implementation, and enforcement of animal welfare laws and consulting with state agencies that respond to complaints; and
- Create an “Animal Welfare Fund” to fund Division expenses by receiving the proceeds of a $2 surcharge placed on town dog or wolf-hybrid licenses.
For two decades, many have sought unified oversight of stronger animal welfare protections in Vermont. Deep appreciation is extended to Representative Waters Evans, H. 626 bill sponsor, and Mary McFaun, President of the VT Federation, for their tenacity in pursuit of the passage of H.626. More details are here.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Contact Governor Phil Scott in support of amended H. 626 regarding animal welfare by completing this form. In the “message subject” box, use the drop-down menu to select “public safety.” Share your thoughts about Vermont’s response to animal cruelty concerns described in the media.
If you prefer, you can alternatively contact the Governor:
By Mail: Executive Office of Governor Phil Scott, 109 State Street, Pavilion, Montpelier, VT 05609
By Phone: 802-828-3333
AKC Government Relations (GR) will continue to provide updates on these and other legislative issues in Vermont as developments warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.