Ice says, "Life is good." by Glenda Taylor

The Arizona Legislature adjourned early this morning. Here is a brief recap of animal legislation. The info is provided (except for blogger’s notes) in an email from the Humane Society of the United States, Arizona update.

Bill Number/Issue: HB2137 – Dogs; cats; sterilization
This bill allows dogs and cats released by shelters to be sterilized by non-surgical sterilization, should the technology become available. Good “aggressive dogs” bill was added to HB2137 as a committee amendment.
Status: Passed House & Senate – will become law unless Gov vetoes (which is unlikely)
Read more about the bill.

Bill Number/Issue: SCR1057 – AZ spaying and neutering fund
Bill to simply express the Arizona State Legislature’s support for the promotion of the existing Arizona Spaying and Neutering of Animals Fund.
Status: Passed
Read more about the bill

Bill Number/Issue: 2536 – Dog tracks; live racing exception
Would have helped end dog racing in Arizona by freeing the dog track owners from the legal requirement to offer live racing each year. Passed full House 42 to 15 but did not get heard in Senate committee.
Status: Died
Read more about the bill

(Blogger’s note: Of course this is devastating to anti racing advocates especially since Tucson Greyhound Park was pushing for this bill to pass. For once in my life, TGP and I were on the same side of the fence. Thank you to members of the House who voted YES for HB 2536.

Bill Number/Issue: HB2539 – Public sale of animals
Would have extended the existing ban on the public sale of animals on streets and highways to the full state. (The current law only bans such sales in Maricopa and Pima Counties.) Passed full House 40 to 17. Was not heard in Senate committee, but was offered as an amendment to HB2137 on the Senate floor and was voted down 15-5.
Status: Died
Read more about the bill

(Blogger’s note: Rep. Frank Pratt sponsored the bill. The Animal Defense League of Arizona posts interesting commentary how one Senator with an abysmal animal welfare voting record brought this bill down.)

Bill Number/Issue: SB1517 – Animal abuse; reporting
Included several good provisions regarding animal abuse. Passed Senate committee by a vote of 5 to 1. An amendment added on the Senate floor changed the bill to the point where the AZ HSUS could not support it. It was then used as a “strike everything” for another issue.
Status: (the original version) Died

(Blogger’s note: How can we get animal abuse reporting passed when in this session domestic abuse loomed large for both a Phoenix Republic and a Tucson Democrat?)

There were lots of bad bills – some died and some passed. Here are just a couple of items of interest:

Bill Number/Issue: HCM2002 – remove gray wolf; endangered species
Memorial to Congress asking for the removal of protections for endangered wolves under the Endangered Species Act.
Status: Passed
Read more about the bill here

Bills negatively impacting the initiative process
The HSUS supports the use of issue-based initiatives after other means of effective reform have been exhausted. The initiative process is designed to allow voters to consider issues in a democratic fashion and this process should not be weakened.
Status: Died

(Blogger’s note: Thank DOG! The initiative process in Missouri has been bastardized as legislators repeal a voter initiative law to put restraints on backyard breeders and puppy mills.)

Here’s the original post regarding animal legislation.

(Photo by Glenda Taylor: Ice has been my faithful, loving companion since 2000. His previous owners would not allow him in the home and, when they moved to Florida , they returned him to the breeder. Lucky Ice, now he gets to sleep on the bed with me.)

Gordon loves his toys

Greyhound Racing – HB 2536 passes the Arizona House

This bill HB 2536 passed the House yesterday 42-15. For someone like me who has been anti-racing since I adopted my first greyhound in 1998 — I’m cautiously optimistic.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Vic Williams on behalf of Tucson Greyhound Park. And then was amended by J.D. Mesnard, a 30-year-old new politico kid on the block.

There has been no mention of animal cruelty during any of these hearings and readings. Whatever. As long as this bill passes is fine with me.

If you want to know about Arizona greyhound racing abuse, there are plenty of articles online that capture it, among them, the 140+ missing greyhounds, the dogs ongoing confinement in South Tucson, kennel filth, the 8 greyhounds who died while being transported from Oklahoma to Arizona, and most recently — this very graphic and painful-to-watch video of racing injuries at Tucson Greyhound Park.

Currently, there are 7 states where greyhounds still race. Arizona is one of them. To learn more about the plight of the racing greyhound and what is happening across the country and the efforts to end it, visit GREY2K USA.

How did your AZ legislators vote on HB 2536?

Can someone please explain to me what NV means? I know it means “no vote” by why does a legislator have the right to not vote?

Does it mean they a) don’t understand the bill, b) accepted contributions from both side of the fences and don’t want to offend anyone, c) lack courage, d) other?

(Photo is courtesy of Cindy Hall. She adopted Gordon from Arizona Greyhound Rescue. Cindy Hall says, “Gordon suffers from serious arthritis- the x-rays show significant trauma in his front wrists and the swelling leaves them the size of oranges. Sunny-D also has 2 broken & dislocated toes from racing. I hate what the track has done to my dogs.”)

Dena happily contemplates the end of dog racing.

Last week I participated in Arizona Humane Animal Lobby Day at the Capitol hosted by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). I also participated last year. On one hand it’s invigorating to be in a roomful of like-minded animal advocates but on the hand — it’s politics, Arizona politics.

Based on my 2010 experience, the two bills that I was primarily interested in 1)ban steroids for racing greyhounds and 2)decouple live dog racing from simulcast betting at Tucson Greyhound Park — never had a hearing so never got out of committee.

Some 2011 pro-animal bills have all fought their way out of the committees and now go to the AZ House and AZ Senate. As citizen lobbyists, some of us were scheduled to meet with our legislators and briefly talk about these bills.

Here are the bills we learned about:

dog tracks; live racing exception
HB 2536 removes the requirement that a dog racing permittee conduct a minimum number of races during a calendar year. Advocates were urged to ask lawmakers to support HB 2536.

(Blogger’s note: This bill was amended to include 100 racing days a year. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Vic Williams on behalf of Tucson Greyhound Park which initially mentioned lessening or eliminating the number of live racing days entirely.

Rep. J.D. Mesnard amended with the addition of 100 days. As an anti-dog-racing activist, I am furious about the 100 days but considering the DNA of our legislators, consider it a step in the right direction. One hundred days of racing is better than year around dog racing. With 100 days of racing, dogs won’t have to race when it’s 100-sizzling degrees. Also less time will be spent confined to small cages, eating raw 4D meat (from dead, dying, diseased, downer animals), less female dogs will be injected with steroids, less dogs will suffer broken hocks, broken skulls, paralysis, and heart attacks. Less dogs will die or be bred for racing. Yes, 100 days of racing is a step to end the cruelty of dog racing; seasonal dog racing tracks are on the skids as is the entire industry. According to my Phoenix friend Dave who attended the committee hearing for HB 2536, not one mention alluded to animal cruelty; it’s business as usual.)

dogs, cats, sterilization
HB 2137 allows the sterilization of a dog or cat by another procedure other than surgical sterilization. Advocates were asked to urge lawmakers to support this.

(Blogger’s note: I’m not convinced this is a good thing. One gentleman present who somehow may have been involved with the Flagstaff company behind this bill said they had a similar product to control the rat population in Asia. He also said that Arizona and Texas were considering this kind of sterilization. This was a red flag to me and others in the audience because historically Arizona and Texas are not animal-friendly. While I would like to see less over procreation of the pet population, the skeptic in me doesn’t think that better living through more chemicals for canines is the answer.)

public sale of animals
HB2539 prohibits the public sale of animals statewide, with certain exceptions. We were urged to support this law which faced opposition last year from the rural counties.

animal abuse, reporting
SB 1517 requires reports to be issued in certain instances of animal abuse and prohibits a person who has been convicted of animal abuse from adopting any animal while on probation. We were urged to ask our representatives for support.

statewide initiatives; periodic reauthorization
SCR 1027 – Upon voter approval, requires the reauthorization of statewide initiative measures that affect public monies after ten fiscal years. We were urged to OPPOSE this Frank Antenori bill. These are initiatives that already were voted on by the people and for the people and some lawmakers want to undo the done deals.

Historically, the majority of our legislators are not animal friendly, or people friendly, for that matter although there are exceptions. However, it’s the voters who support animal-friendly ballot initiatives.

You can view the 2010 legislative report card regarding animal issues compiled by the Humane Voters of Arizona.

If you care about any of the above animal bills, now would be the time to call or email your Arizona House and Senate representatives. If you don’t know who they are, go here.

(Photo is courtesy of Dawn Heinemann, animal care director for Arizona Greyhound Rescue. As a fostered dog, Dena is enjoying life in the slow lane.)

CoCo hams it up

On February 17, 2011, animal advocates from across Arizona will gather at the State Capitol for Arizona’s Humane Lobby Day.

This is your opportunity to meet one-to-one with your elected officials or their staff and talk about legislation that will significantly impact animals.  Face to face meetings are one of the most effective ways to get involved and make a  difference in the lives of animals. Register here.

In order to be prepared for the meetings, you  will receive tips for lobbying and an overview of pending animal legislation. Then, along with other animal advocates from your legislative district, you will be able to meet with your legislators to let them know that you support humane legislation.

“Each year Arizonans from across the state come to Humane Lobby Day to meet face to face with their legislators and their staff,” says Kari Nienstedt, Arizona State Director for the U.S. Humane Society.  “It is a great opportunity to learn about the legislative process and take action for animals.”

I participated last year and I’m going to participate again this year. It was energizing to be in a big room with other animal advocates. It was energizing to learn about the animal legislative bills that don’t always trickle down to us here in the Tucson news.

As a greyhound adopter and activist, this year I am particularly concerned about HB 2536 sponsored by Vic Williams, LD 26. Rep. Williams introduced a bill that could change the course of live dog racing in Arizona by shortening the number of live races or eliminating them altogether. You can read more about HB 2536 here.

Currently, I don’t know what bills will be on the table for us to discuss but when I do — will post that information here. In the meantime, don’t wait until the last minute to register as space is limited and legislative appointments need to be scheduled by Nienstedt’s staff on your behalf.

Arizona Humane Lobby Day
Thursday, February 17, 2011
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007

If you plan to attend, please let me know as I’d like to meet other Tucson animal advocates.

(Photo: courtesy of Kate Kaemerle) CoCo is a playful cattle-dog mix that winters in Tucson and summers in Seattle. Blogger’s note: I’m envious.