March 2010 Wolves at Risk Paws Down! To the Alaska Board of Game for allowing wolf trapping in Denali National Park and Preserve. According to news sources, “The Alaska Board of Game…approved opening the northeast periphery of the Denali National Park and Preserve for wolf trapping. The 4-3 vote, over vigorous opposition of those who wanted the wolves protected, eliminates the current ‘buffer zone’ outside of park lands in which wolf trapping was prohibited.” Take Action: Please write a polite note urging the Alaska Board of Game to reverse its decision to open the northeast periphery of Denali National Park and Preserve to wolf trapping. Cliff Judkins, Chair Ted Spraker, Vice Chair Alaska Board of Game c/o Alaska Department of Fish and Game Boards Support Section P.O. Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 Telephone: 907-465-4110 Fax: 907-465-6094 Source: www.adn.com/2010/03/05/1169822/area-around-denali-park-opened.html?story_link=email_msg # Support Animal Cruelty Laws Paws Up! To the Idaho Senate for approving additions to the state’s animal cruelty laws. According to news sources, “The Idaho Senate approved additions to the state animal cruelty laws…that would outlaw cockfighting and define and penalize the torture and neglect of animals.” SB 1317 passed 34-1. People convicted under this bill would face up to five years in prison and $50,000 in fines. The bill now goes to the Idaho House for deliberation. Take Action: Idaho residents, please write your representatives urging them to support SB 1317. Source: www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2010/mar/01/cockfighting-chicken-farming-bills-pass-senate www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/idaho_senator_on_cockfighting.html # Animal Felony Cruelty Bill Dies in Committee Paws Down! To the chairman of the Mississippi House Agriculture Committee for allowing a felony animal cruelty bill to die in committee. According to news sources, the chairman of the Mississippi House Agriculture Committee, Greg Ward, did not address Senate Bill 2623, which would have created a felony animal cruelty law. It was sent to his committee for a report out to the full House. Ward did not act on the bill, so it died in committee. The bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly. Mississippi remains one of four states in the nation that does not have a felony animal cruelty law against cats and dogs. Take Action: Mississippi residents, please write a polite letter to Ward requesting he reconsider this very important legislation to protect the cats and dogs of Mississippi. The Honorable Gary Ward Room 202 P.O. Box 1018 Jackson, MS 39215 Telephone: 601-359-3332 E-mail: gward@house.ms.gov Source: www.animalconcerns.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D12073212&itemid=201003022227560.628 # Paws Up A Home State Special Report The state of West Virginia—home base to NHES’s national office—has several important animal welfare bills before county and state legislators for the 2010 legislative year! From anti-dog fighting measures to increased spay/neuter efforts, each of these bills has the potential for huge positive change for companion animals in the mountain state. WV Residents: read more below and take action! Not in West Virginia? Please forward this webpage to any contacts you have in the mountain state—we thank you! Berkeley County: write the below county officials urging their support of a proposed ordinance to regulate dog tethering in the county. Click here to read the PDF (scroll down to Section II B. of the ordinance to read the proposed amendments to current law). The county commission is scheduled to vote on this measure April 1st, 2010. State-wide: write your legislators urging their support of the following bills currently before WV congress (please send separate comments for each bill. For more tips, click here): Anti-Animal Fighting SB 380 To amend current WV law against animal fighting by classifying the bloodsport as a felony offense and clarifying what activities constitute participation, to include wagering. Penalties for a felony conviction under this bill include fines, imprisonment, or both. SB 208 and HB 4216 To amend current WV law against animal fighting by making it a felony offense to wager in or manage wagers in animal fighting. Penalties for a felony conviction under this bill include fines, imprisonment, or both. Spay/Neuter Initiatives SB 231 To amend current WV tax law creating “a personal income tax credit for persons who choose to spay or neuter their pets.” Under this bill, WV taxpayers will be able to claim a tax credit for “up to three companion animals, dogs and cats, per household in a taxable year.” SB 225 and HB 4406 To amend current WV commercial law to fund the creation of a spay/neuter program. Under this bill, the commissioner will set “an additional commercial feed distributor permit fee of not less than $5 per year…for the purposes of funding the Spay Neuter Assistance Program of West Virginia.” Puppy Mill Regulations HB 4333 To amend current WV dog and cat welfare law by adding a section creating “regulations for the commercial dog breeding operations.” This important bill establishes vital criteria to include, but not limited to: mandatory licensing, housing and breeding standards of care, and yearly caps on dogs bred and sold. Penalties for violations under this bill will include fines, imprisonment, or both. |
