RICHMOND VA: Stop gassing Virginia Pets! Support House Bill No. 3004

Animals in Disasters
Bill Number: VA S.B. 787
Bill Status: Passed
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Walter Stosch (R, 12)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/22/07: Passed House. 1/30/07: Passed Senate.

Requires the State Department of Emergency Management to develop an emergency response plan to address the needs of agricultural and companion animals.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/34p9dz)

Report Dogfighting
Bill Number: VA S.B. 1345
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Benjamin Lambert (D, 9)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 1/29/07: Failed to report in the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.

Requires public employees, employees of or volunteers at pounds and shelters, and veterinarians, to report to animal control or law-enforcement officers injuries to a dog when the injury is consistent with dogfighting.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/2j2tjy)

Tethering
Bill Number: VA H.B. 2098 and H.B. 2242
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Dels. Kenneth Alexander (D, 89) and Algie Howell (D, 90)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/6/07: Left in Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Agriculture Subcommittee.

These bills address the time limits and conditions under which a person can tether or chain a dog.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/39ppoz)

Sunday Hunting
Bill Number: VA H.B. 2303 & H.B. 1639
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Oppose
Bill Sponsor(s): Dels. Mark Cole (R, 88) and Daniel Marshall (R, 14)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 1/24/07: Left in the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee

Allows hunting on Sundays, which is currently illegal in Virginia.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/3a7c62)

Animals in Protective Orders
Bill Number: VA S.B. 932
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Patricia Ticer (D, 30)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/6/07: Left in Courts of Justice Committee.

Adds the protection of pets and livestock to court-issued protective orders.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/3clk3d)

Cross-Reporting of Abuse
Bill Number: VA S.B. 935
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Patricia Ticer (D, 30)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/2/2007: Stricken at the Request of Patron in Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.

Requires cross-reporting of animal cruelty and child/adult abuse by medical and education professionals, law enforcement, and animal control officers.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/2osue6)

Adopting Stray Animals
Bill Number: VA S.B. 951
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Frederick Quayle (R, 13)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/6/2007: Failed to Report in the Courts of Justice Committee.

Allows a person living in any county to adopt a stray animal. Currently, only persons residing in the county where a municipal animal sheltering facility is operated or in an adjacent county can adopt from that facility.  (Note: Some animal care advocates oppose this bill, because it allows dispersal of unsterilized pets.)

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/3b76dw)

Prohibits the Use of Gas Chambers
Bill Number: VA H.B. 2412 & H.B 3004
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Dels. Clifford Athey (R, 18) and James Scott (D, 53)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/6/07: Left in the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.

Prohibits the use of gas chambers for animal euthanasia.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/2tsyko)

Animal Adoption Tax Credit
Bill Number: VA H.B. 2686
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Del. Benjamin Cline (R, 24)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/6/2007: Left in Finance: Subcommittee #1.

Allows a nonrefundable credit to individuals who adopt animals from pounds or nonprofit shelters.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/38bc24)

Strengthen Cockfighting Penalties
Bill Number: VA S.B. 1190
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Wm. Roscoe Reynolds (D, 20)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/20/07: Left in House Appropriations Committee.

Strengthens penalties for cockfighting as well as possessing, owning, training, or selling any animal for the purpose of fighting.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/2n77yx)

License Fee on Non-Spayed/Neutered Pets
Bill Number: VA H.B. 2100
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Rober Orrock, Sr. (R, 54)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/6/07: Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.

Provides a financial disincentive for dog and cat owners who have not spayed or neutered their pets by allowing localities to charge a license fee of up to $20 for each animal.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/2tzuoy)

Spay and Neuter of Animals from Dealers
Bill Number: VA H.B. 1853
Bill Status: Died
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Robert J. Wittman (R, 99)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 1/17/2007: Tabled in the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.

Requires a person who is adopting or purchasing a dog or cat from a dealer to sign an agreement that the animal will be spayed or neutered within 30 days. This is already required of pounds, animal shelters, humane societies, animal welfare organizations, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and other similar entities or home-based rescue organizations that release companion animals for adoption. Exemptions are made for fancier breeders, breed improvers, and hobby breeders who are not breeding for any profitable means.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/2smosx)

Strengthen Animal Cruelty Law
Bill Number: VA H.B. 1900
Bill Status: Passed
HSUS Position: Support
Bill Sponsor(s): Del. David Albo (R, 42)
Legislature Status: Adjourned

Last Action: 2/13/07: Passed Senate.
2/6/07: Passed House.

Makes it a felony to intentionally deprive any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment. The bill was amended from a felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, http://tinyurl.com/3cuox3)