Proposed Legislation -- Not in the best interest of Animals

A bill has been introduced in the 2011 Virginia legislative session that completely dismantles a series of protections that have been put in place to protect and help animals that are the subject of inadequate care and cruelty. HB 2482, which is presently before the House Agriculture Committee, is a complete overhaul of animal care standards and the enforcement procedures and standards related to animal cruelty,

It is not possible in this forum to describe in detail every aspect of the legislation as it is extremely voluminous. Suffice it to say that all the changes in the proposed legislation are objectionable and not in the best interest of the animals.

The following is a summary of the aspects of the legislation to which we strenuously object:

• This bill allows one charged with not caring for an animal or failing to provide vet care for injured or diseased animals to keep the animal during the time period of the court case. It further states that upon a conviction, the animals may be returned to such owner.
• Currently a court “may” restrict a person charged with animal cruelty from owning animals in the future. Under this bill there is a time limit and such ownership restriction cannot exceed two years.
• If an owner convicted of cruelty is ordered to dispose of animals in his care, he has 90 days to do so, which would mean animals that have already been cruelly treated may be subjected to continued cruelty for 90 additional days.
• By elimination of the bond provision, the bill places the financial burden to care for animals on the local government and thereby the taxpayer and not the person that failed to care for the animals.

You can read the bill in its entirety by clicking below: HB2482

Please take action now by emailing the members of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee. Although personal emails are always best, below is an example email. Please feel free to use this form or simply send a quick email letting the members of the Agriculture Committee know that you DO NOT support HB 2482.

Dear Delegate,

I am writing to you today to ask that you Vote No on HB 2482 regarding animal care standards and the enforcement procedures and standards related to animal cruelty, which is presently before your Committee. After reading the numerous changes in this bill, I find that the bill dismantles a series of protections designed to protect and help animals from the hands of those individuals charged with failing to care for them. The bill further places the financial burden on local jurisdictions and their taxpayers by removing the requirement of a bond to be posted by the accused for the cost of the animal's care, while the accused's case winds through the judicial system. I urge you to vote down this bill in its entirety as its provisions subject animals to inadequate care and cruelty, which I believe is an unacceptable standard for our Commonwealth.

Sincerely,


List of Delegates:

DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov
DelHMorgan@house.virginia.gov
DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
DelTWright@house.virginia.gov
DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov
DelEScott@house.virginia.gov
DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov
DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
DelDBell@house.virginia.gov
DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov
deltwilt@house.virginia.gov
DelJCox@house.virginia.gov
DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov
DelJShuler@house.virginia.gov
DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov
DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov
DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov
DelMJames@house.virginia.gov
DelDEnglin@house.virginia.gov
DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov