FW: THE MONTHLY NATIONAL LEGISLATION REPORT Date: Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:13 pm ((PST)) THE MONTHLY NATIONAL LEGISLATION REPORT FEBRUARY 20, 2008 Authored By: Ken Sondej 4winds@xxxxxxxxxxx & Linda D. Witouski dropfred13@xxxxxxx Handy TOLLFREE NUMBERS - Capitol Switchboard 1-866-220-0044 1-866-340-9281 1-877-851-6437 1-888-355-3588 1-800-833-6354 1-800-450-8293 1-877-762-8722 1-877-762-8762 If you are receiving this report via internet, the blue links are active. Please email one of the above authors to contribute information, update information, send corrections or ask questions. ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________ STATES - IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ALABAMA Colbert County - County's animal control director is asking the county's larger municipalities to consider an ordinance that would outlaw chaining dogs. Dothan - City has put aside the proposed ordinance that gives AC officers right of entry, defines regulations for "dangerous", "vicious" and nuisance .and has agreed to the formation of a ten member panel of community experts to construct a new ordinance that meets the needs of all interested parties. Fultondale - City Council discussing a proposed ordinance regarding owning and keeping dangerous animals in the city. The proposed ordinance would be breed specific and includes sections on notification of people currently owning animals, and insurance requirements for those who continue to keep dogs. The only breed to be banned under the proposed ordinance would be pit bulls, although current owners would be able to keep their dogs. However, officials are considering revisions to the proposal. http://www.alabamacaninecoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content < http://www.alabamacaninecoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&; Itemid=2> &task=view&id=68&Itemid=2 ARKANSAS Rector - City Council continued its discussion on how best to approach the implementation of a new vicious dog ordinance during Monday (01/04/08) night´s monthly meeting. In the city´s current ordinance, a dog deemed "vicious" is required to be kept by its owner in a pen and hat constitutes a vicious dog? On the topic of vicious dogs, one breed was constantly mentioned: Pit Bulls. Mayor Ron Kemp suggested the council members meet with people in the city over the next month to gain a better understanding of what the residents of Rector would like to see included in the ordinance and whether or not specific dog breeds should be named ARIZONA Home Page: <http://www.azleg.gov/> http://www.azleg.gov/ HB2011 - AN ACT amending section 13-1208, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to vicious animals. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2011p.htm HB2153 - AN ACT amending sections 13-1802, 13-2910.01 and 13-2910.02, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to offenses against public order. Relating to dog fighting http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2153p.htm HB2485 - AN ACT to be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Title 13, chapter 29, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-2914, to read: START_STATUTE13-2914. Unlawful public sale of animals; classification; definitions http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2485p.htm HB2516 - proposed law will prohibit persons from owning or keeping a dog or cat that is more than six months old if the animal has not been spayed or neutered, unless the person has acquired an intact permit for the animal. Will require breeders to pay an undetermined annual fee for every intact dog they possess. http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2516p. htm HB2553 - AN ACT Amending title 3, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to veterinarians. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2553p.htm El Mirage - City Council will consider an intergovernmental agreement with the county for full-time animal control services. Law-enforcement officials hope the city's long-standing problem of strays and vicious dogs will be tamed. City Council will review a measure tying the city to an agreement with the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. Under such an agreement, the county would respond to every animal-control call. Such calls would include dog bites and stray animals. The cost for the fiscal year is $58,500. CALIFORNIA Home Page: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/ AB0667 (2007) - An act to amend Section 600 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes. Law enforcement animals. Existing law makes it a crime to willfully and maliciously injure any horse or dog used by a peace officer in his or her duties, as specified http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_667_bill_20080107 _amended_asm_v98.html SB0685 (2007) - An act to repeal and add Section 15212 of the Probate Code, relating to pet trusts. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0651-0700/sb_685_bill_20080123_a SB0902 (2007) - An act to add Section 13159.85 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to firefighters. Requiring the State Fire Marshall to update regulations for accelerant canines and their handlers. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0901-0950/sb_902_bill_20080128_amended_sen_v97.html SB0986 (2007) - An act to amend Section 122350 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to pet stores. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0951-1000/sb_986_bill_20080107 _amended_sen_v98.html Huntington Beach - City Council opted out of any programs requiring pet owners to sterilize or microchip their pets - whether mandatory or incentive-based - or to license cats. The council also voted to make it mandatory for anyone advertising dogs or cats for adoption to display a business license number in the ad, which was the only original language added to a city law concerning pet licensing. PASSED 01/04/08 Kern County - County Animal Control Commission answered questions and debunked myths about proposals affecting dog owners and breeders. There are no mandatory spaying and neutering laws in the proposals. Proposals, which have not yet been set, cover issues such as increasing annual license fees for unaltered dogs and animal facility permits. Long Beach - City Council's Public Safety Committee is expected to meet Feb. 19 or 26 to discuss a proposed "dangerous dog ordinance" that could tighten laws and increase penalties for owners with potentially dangerous dogs. Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske believes the proposed model should include elements from policies advocated by The Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs in the state of Colorado, according to the newspaper. Some of the elements include: .. well-defined procedure for determining if a dog is potentially dangerous, increased penalties and a spay or neuter requirement for dogs found running loose more than once, an option for first-time animal ordinance offenders to choose an education program over costly fines and mandatory pet micro-chipping. http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8180925?source=rss Los Angeles - Most dogs and cats in the city of Los Angeles would have to be spayed or neutered by four months of age under a proposal approved Monday by a City Council committee. The proposed ordinance is intended to reduce the number of animals in the city's shelters and decrease the rate of euthanasia, which costs the city about $2 million a year. The proposed law would require pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats by four months of age. The proposal includes exemptions for animals who show and have competed in at least one legitimate show or sporting competition; dogs that are in the process of earning an agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, hunting, working or other title; guide, signal or service dogs; dogs that are actively used by law enforcement agencies; and animals with valid breeding permits. Update 2/1/08 - passed first reading 10-1 UPDATE: PASSED Modesto - City Council proposal regarding dangerous dogs could send their owners to jail and ratchet up penalties for canine attacks. Napa - City Council adopted new regulations Tuesday (01/22/08) for dealing with dangerous and vicious animals. The new rules should speed up enforcement of animal control laws, with greater fines for owners and reduced animal stays at the county shelter for pets. Officers now have more authority to find that a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious and impose corrective actions to protect the public. Owners can appeal to a hearing board. A "potentially dangerous" dog is one that has engaged in unprovoked, aggressive conduct. A "vicious" dog has caused unprovoked injury or death to a human or domestic animal. If a dog is found to be dangerous, the owner will have to agree to having an identifying microchip inserted in the animal, obtain professional training for the animal, reimburse medical expenses and property damage and install graphic warning signs where the animal lives. The additional requirements for vicious animals include expert behavioral testing, construction of an approved safety enclo sure, required use of an approved leash, collar and muzzle, spaying or neutering, proof of liability insurance and a prohibition of the dog living with minor children. Santa Barbara County - County Animal Services will be hosting two community forums to invite public comment regarding a proposed Pet Population Awareness Law (PetPAL). The proposed ordinance to reduce dog and cat overpopulation aims to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the county by targeting specific populations without imposing additional burdens on responsible pet owners, and seeks to provide assistance to pet owners seeking to alter their pets but unable to afford the service Santa Barbara County - Ordinance recognizes the responsibility of cat and dog owners to provide proper and humane care for their animals; and the need for mandatory sterilization of designated dogs and cats as a necessary means of addressing the problem of pet overpopulation UPDATE: County of Santa Barbara discussion regarding mandatory spay neuter have been postponed. Originally scheduled for February 27 (Santa Barbara) and February 28 (Santa Maria), the County Board of Supervisors has advised "POSTPONED TO APRIL (POSSIBLY MAY)." West Hollywood - City Council has voted to ban the sale of dogs from puppy mills COLORADO Home Page: http://www.leg.state.co.us/ HB1129 - A BILL FOR AN ACT concerning a prohibition on any requirements for participation in a Animal Identification System when exhibiting an animal at the Colorado State Fair and Industrial Exhibitions http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2008A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/94E78B8FE19743 7D872573C900542527?Open < http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2008A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/94E78B8FE197437D872573C900542527?Open&file=1129_01.pdf> & file=1129_01.pdf HB1185 - AN ACT concerning the mandatory sterilization of specified pet animals released to prospective owners from certain Pet Animal Facilities http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/F5A4B65B123E89 97872573B8005A8E5F?open < http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/F5A4B65B123E8997872573B8005A8E5F?open&file=1185_01.pdf> & file=1185_01.pdf Aurora - city council will have a review of their breed ban which began in February 2006 to determine its effectiveness. UPDATE: A spike in dog bites has some city council members wondering if a ban on "fighting dogs" is having the desired effect. Since city council banned pit bulls and other dangerous dogs in 2005, the number of reported dog bites from the restricted animals is down. But overall, the number of reported bites in Aurora is up, from 110 in 2005 to 157 last year. Council directed city staff to take a closer look at the statistics to try to determine how severe each bite has been and present the findings to council in the coming months. FLORIDA Home Page: <http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx> http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx HB101 - An Act relating to dangerous dogs; amending s 767.14,F.S,; Eliminates prohibition of breed-specific local government regulation of dangerous dogs; providing an effective date Use homepage to Search: <http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx> http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx HB219/SB1994 - Gertrude Maxwell Save a Pet Creates a direct-support organization for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Provides for the organization, operation, and purpose of the direct-support organization, etc. Use homepage to Search: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx SB444 - Sale of Dogs and Cats/DOACS [RPCC]: Redefines the term "pet dealer" for purposes of provisions authorizing a purchaser to return an animal to the pet dealer and receive a refund, exchange the animal, or receive a reimbursement of expenses. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to enforce statutory provisions related to the sale of dogs and cats, etc. Use homepage to search: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx Broward County - Commissioners are studying the Palm Beach County ordinance for possible passage in Broward County. Keystone Heights - At last Thursday's Keystone Heights City Council meeting, Mayor Mary Lou Hildreth and three councilmen said the town's pet ordinances are vague, out of date, and don't get enough enforcement. Bradley said the ordinances could stand some tweaking. After discussion, the council passed a motion which charges City Manager Ken Venables and Bradley to review the measures related to pets in the city. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19252125 < http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19252125&BRD=2150&PAG=461&dept_id=416089&rfi=6> &BRD=2150& PAG=461&dept_id=416089&rfi=6 Palm Beach County - West Palm Beach - commissioners gave initial approval to a controversial plan that will require all pet owners to spay and neuter their animals unless they pay for a more expensive license tag and sign an affidavit agreeing not to breed their pets. The rules would also prevent breeders from breeding more than two litters of puppies and kittens a year. Breeders would be required to obtain a breeding permit and would be forced to hand over the names, addresses and phone numbers of the people who buy their pets. A final hearing on the rules will be held Feb. 5. UPDATE: PASSED 2/5/08 Volousia County - commissioner notes indicate they have asked county attorneys to review the various MSN laws currently on the books to include Caifornia's and Palm Beach County's. The Volusia County Council likely will decide Thursday (2/7/08) whether to consider requiring pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. UPDATE: By a 4-3 vote, the County Council directed its attorneys to draft an ordinance requiring pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats. http://www.beacononlinenews.com/dailyitem.php?itemnum=579 ************** Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. 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