Governor Signs "Freddy's Law"
Governor Signs "Freddy's Law"
At 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 15 Governor Herbert signed Senate Bill 218 in the Governor’s Hall in the Utah State Capitol.
The bill, also known as “Freddy’s Law,” is the engine coolant bittering agent act sponsored by Senate President Michael G. Waddoups. As of January 1, 2011 all antifreeze sold in the State of Utah will be required to contain a bittering agent making engine coolant less palatable to animals & humans.
Antifreeze, which already contains the toxic chemical ethylene glycol, has a sweet taste which accounts for the death of 10,000 companion animals as well as thousands of children in the United States each year. SLCC automotive instructor Bill Breedlove championed this new legislation after his own dog “Freddy” died due to accidental antifreeze poisoning.
Breedlove, The Humane Society of Utah, and several HSU cats and dogs were on hand at the state capitol to witness the signing of Senate Bill 218. The HSU also distributed a video news release on DVD with footage and interviews about antifreeze poisoning and Bill Breedlove’s personal experience with the loss of his beloved “Freddy.”
SB 218, ANTIFREEZE BITTERING ACT, PASSES
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SB 218, ANTIFREEZE BITTERING ACT
The Utah Legislature has passed SB 218, the “Engine Coolant Bittering Act.” The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 60-14 after sailing through the Senate 25-0.
This legislation requires all antifreeze sold in Utah to include the bittering agent denatonium benzoate, which discourages pets and children from ingesting engine coolant. Normally, antifreeze has a sweet taste which entices kids and innocent animals. Even taken in small doses, antifreeze is most often lethal.
Each year in the United States, 10,000 dogs and cats suffer antifreeze poisoning. But due to passage of SB 218, Utah will become the 9th state in the country to require the addition of the bittering agent to all antifreeze sold in Utah as of January 1, 2011.
The Humane Society of Utah salutes Bill Breedlove, who lobbied Senate President Michael G. Waddoups to sponsor “Freddy’s Law,” which honors Breedlove’s beloved pet who tragically died 4 month ago due to antifreeze poisoning.
