AZ: Say no to animal cruelty laws

Update: Read the Arizona Republic’s opinion on HB 2780 “Animal Cruelty is Cruelty”

(From an alert by ADLA – Animal Defense League Arizona)

“The bill that would exempt ranch dogs from animal cruelty laws is nearing a final vote in the Arizona Legislature. Please contact your state senator today and ask him/her to oppose HB 2780!

HB 2780 is redundant, overly broad, and could cause significant problems for animal cruelty enforcement. There’s an amendment being added that improves the bill but does not address the problem that the measure could create broad exemptions under local ordinances. For example anyone could beat a dog to death, claiming it was chasing livestock, and may be exempted from local cruelty ordinances under the state agriculture statute.

HB 2780 is a potentially reckless solution to a non-existent problem, using a case that had nothing to do with tethering dogs, but in fact involved serious animal abuse.

The case that prompted this bill has been misrepresented to legislators by bill proponents claiming that they wanted to be able to tether ranching dogs to keep them safe.  However, the actual case involved a Pima County man who  abandoned several dogs for days last summer with no food and only green, slimy water to drink.  You can read the case file here. (PDF)

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Contact your state senator today and ask him or her to Vote NO on HB 2780, animal cruelty, ranching dogs, which even as amended is unnecessary and overly broad.  Be sure to mention that you are a resident in your senator’s district.

To contact your senator click here or call 1-800-352-8404 and ask for your senator’s office. If you’re not sure what district you are in visit the Vote Smart website.

Please share this information with your contacts and post on your social network pages.”

FYI: Here are the bill sponsors: Peggy Judd from Cochise County, David Gowan from Sierra Vista, David Stevens & Gail Griffin from District 25, Matt Heinz from Pima County/Tucson