Animal Welfare Bills in the 2014 Washington State Legislature
The regular session of the 2014 Washington State Legislature begins on January 13. Because the session occurs in an even-numbered year, the duration of the regular session is only 60 days (regular sessions in odd-numbered years run 105 days). Although special sessions may be called to extend the time the legislature convenes, the 60-day deadline makes it especially challenging for the legislature to consider the many bills before it.
In this newsletter we highlight the key animal welfare bills before the legislature in the 2014 session. Once the session begins, we'll alert you to any new bills affecting animal welfare that are introduced. In addition, we'll make sure you know about upcoming hearings, committee actions, and senate/house floor actions that affect the key bills.
If you've followed our state legislature over the years, you'll know that passing bills that support the welfare of animals can be very challenging. That's why it's so important that you continue to use your voice during the legislative process to speak up for the animals.
Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation thanks you for your continued efforts to improve Washington's animal welfare laws!
SB 5202 Companion Animal Spay/Neuter Assistance. A substitute spay/neuter bill passed the senate in 2013, representing the most significant progress the bill has made in the legislature since it was originally introduced in 2009. Although the substitute bill does not include the original pet-food fee funding source, it does provide a framework for a statewide spay/neuter assistance program that can be built upon. The bill (SSB 5202) will need to be reconsidered in the senate in 2014 before it proceeds to the house.
SB 5203 Limiting Sales of Animals in Public Places. This bill would restrict certain sales of animals in public places (e.g., roadside sales). A draft substitute bill is being prepared that improves the original bill introduced in 2013.
SB 5204 Animal Cruelty Prevention. This bill covers a range of issues. It tightens up the animal fighting law; addresses the problem of animals confined in extreme temperatures in vehicles and other spaces; and cleans up language defining second degree animal cruelty. A draft substitute bill has been prepared that we hope will be heard in the Senate Law & Justice Committee. A key feature of this substitute bill is a new provision that corrects weaknesses in the first degree animal cruelty statute.
HB 2117 Breed Based Dog Regulations. In Washington State, more than two dozen cities ban certain breeds of dogs (typically pit bulls) or place restrictions on possessing such breeds. HB 2117, being introduced in the 2014 session, would prevent the use of a dog's breed as a factor in banning or classifying it as dangerous or potentially dangerous. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Sherry Appleton.
Action Alert for HB 2117: Contact Your State Representatives This Week
All members of the Washington State House of Representatives have until 2 pm on January 13 to sign on as cosponsors to HB 2117. We encourage you to contact your two state representatives by January 10 and encourage them to sign on and support this bill. (Please ONLY contact the two state representatives serving your district). You can find your state representatives by entering your address on this map. Your representatives' phone numbers are here. If you cannot call or would prefer to use a quick email, please consider using this template prepared by Best Friends Animal Society.
If you call, please offer a brief, polite message with your full name, address and phone number, asking your representative to cosponsor HB 2117, a bill that addresses dog breed discrimination, and mention why that's important to you.
To learn more about dog breed discrimination and position statements, you'll find helpful resources online, such as the websites managed by Best Friends, the Animal Farm Foundation, ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States. lf you need further help, please contact us at info@savewashingtonpets.org.
Please keep in touch Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation/Save Washington Pets at our website, www.savewashingtonpets.org and on Facebook.
Save Washington Pets is a registered trade name of Washington Alliance for Humane
Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation/Save Washington Pets
info@savewashingtonpets.org
In this newsletter we highlight the key animal welfare bills before the legislature in the 2014 session. Once the session begins, we'll alert you to any new bills affecting animal welfare that are introduced. In addition, we'll make sure you know about upcoming hearings, committee actions, and senate/house floor actions that affect the key bills.
If you've followed our state legislature over the years, you'll know that passing bills that support the welfare of animals can be very challenging. That's why it's so important that you continue to use your voice during the legislative process to speak up for the animals.
Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation thanks you for your continued efforts to improve Washington's animal welfare laws!
SB 5202 Companion Animal Spay/Neuter Assistance. A substitute spay/neuter bill passed the senate in 2013, representing the most significant progress the bill has made in the legislature since it was originally introduced in 2009. Although the substitute bill does not include the original pet-food fee funding source, it does provide a framework for a statewide spay/neuter assistance program that can be built upon. The bill (SSB 5202) will need to be reconsidered in the senate in 2014 before it proceeds to the house.
SB 5203 Limiting Sales of Animals in Public Places. This bill would restrict certain sales of animals in public places (e.g., roadside sales). A draft substitute bill is being prepared that improves the original bill introduced in 2013.
SB 5204 Animal Cruelty Prevention. This bill covers a range of issues. It tightens up the animal fighting law; addresses the problem of animals confined in extreme temperatures in vehicles and other spaces; and cleans up language defining second degree animal cruelty. A draft substitute bill has been prepared that we hope will be heard in the Senate Law & Justice Committee. A key feature of this substitute bill is a new provision that corrects weaknesses in the first degree animal cruelty statute.
HB 2117 Breed Based Dog Regulations. In Washington State, more than two dozen cities ban certain breeds of dogs (typically pit bulls) or place restrictions on possessing such breeds. HB 2117, being introduced in the 2014 session, would prevent the use of a dog's breed as a factor in banning or classifying it as dangerous or potentially dangerous. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Sherry Appleton.
Action Alert for HB 2117: Contact Your State Representatives This Week
All members of the Washington State House of Representatives have until 2 pm on January 13 to sign on as cosponsors to HB 2117. We encourage you to contact your two state representatives by January 10 and encourage them to sign on and support this bill. (Please ONLY contact the two state representatives serving your district). You can find your state representatives by entering your address on this map. Your representatives' phone numbers are here. If you cannot call or would prefer to use a quick email, please consider using this template prepared by Best Friends Animal Society.
If you call, please offer a brief, polite message with your full name, address and phone number, asking your representative to cosponsor HB 2117, a bill that addresses dog breed discrimination, and mention why that's important to you.
To learn more about dog breed discrimination and position statements, you'll find helpful resources online, such as the websites managed by Best Friends, the Animal Farm Foundation, ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States. lf you need further help, please contact us at info@savewashingtonpets.org.
Please keep in touch Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation/Save Washington Pets at our website, www.savewashingtonpets.org and on Facebook.
Save Washington Pets is a registered trade name of Washington Alliance for Humane
Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation/Save Washington Pets
info@savewashingtonpets.org