Advocacy Alerts | Humane Society of Utah

2011-03-11

LEGISLATIVE ALERT - HB 210 DIES IN THE UTAH SENATE!

Thanks to everyone who responded to the Humane Society of Utahʼs call for action, House Bill 210 failed to come up for a vote and died in the Utah Senate as this years session of the legislature came to a close.

Sponsored by Representative Curtis Oda, HB 210 called for amendments to current animal cruelty laws, allowing citizens in unincorporated areas of Utah to use “reasonable” judgement in determining whether an animal is “feral.” The bill would then have permitted the “humane” disposal of such an animal.

While HB 210 was passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives, it failed in the Utah Senate...thanks in large part to people liike you. The Humane Society would like to thank you for taking time to contact your lawmaker and let him/her know where you stand on this issue. By doing so, you helped ensure the safety of all Utah animals...feral and domesticated.

The Humane Society of Utah would also like to thank State Senator Dennis Stowell of Parowan for sponsoring SB57, which was passed by the Senate and is now headed for the Governorʼs office for Gov. Gary Herbertʼs signature. This bill will address the issues of feral colonies in a humane and compassionate manner instead of a gun. We applaud Sen. Stowell & his colleagues in the legislature for taking an enlightened approach to this controversial issue.

Thanks again for all of your support...rest assured the Humane Society of Utah will keep you updated on future developments on Capitol Hill!

2011-02-25

Update We Still Need Your Help! Save Utah’s Feral Animals
House approves shooting feral animals

Last Friday, the Utah House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 210 and sent the legislation on to the Utah Senate for consideration and possibly a final vote. If passed and signed by Governor Herbert, this bill will allow anyone in the unincorporated areas of our state to determine whether an animal is feral and “humanely” dispose of said animal(s). The term “humanely” is not explicitly defined. The bill would also allow the disposal of an animal if someone determines that animal has damaged property (i.e. livestock) deemed to exceed fifty (50) dollars in value.

The Humane Society of Utah strongly opposes the bill, which has, for all intent and purposes had much of its original language restored. The HSU believes HB 210 will declare “open season” on not only Utah’s feral cat populations, but domestic animals (cats and dogs) that could be mistaken as “feral.”

This current legislative session is quickly drawing to a close but there’s still time to contact your state senator and express your opinion on H.B. 210.

To find out who your legislators are please click HERE

DONʼT WAIT...PLEASE ACT NOW AND TELL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 210!

Salt Lake Tribune

2011-02-11

HB 210

HB 210, the bill proposed by Rep. Curtis Oda (R-Clearfield) which would have allowed the virtually indiscriminate killing of stray or feral animals by any individual, was heard before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 9. At that time the Committee amended HB 210 to eliminate all references to “feral” animals, and the bill now essentially allows people to shoot an animal only in order to protect themselves from injury or death.

The bill will now go to the House floor for a vote. Even though it no longer contains the provisions that HSU and much of the public found so objectionable, we nevertheless ask that you still contact your Representatives and urge them to oppose HB 210 in any form, since it could theoretically be amended on the Floor to reinstate some or all of the previous language that would allow any person to decide that any animal is feral and allow that person to kill the animal by means that the Humane Society considers unacceptable.

Thank you for your input and support!

The Humane Society of Utah has been influential in getting many pieces of legislation passed that make the decent treatment of animals in our state legal requirements, and the important thing to remember is that we couldn't have done it without your help! That's what being an advocate means: using your voice to let our lawmakers know that animal issues matter to their constituents.

Legislative Alert!
Stop HB 210, "Animal Cruelty Amendments"

In the current session of the Utah State Legislature, Rep. Curtis Oda (R-Clearfield) has proposed a bill that will allow anyone to kill any cat, dog, pigeon, etc., that they believe to be feral, as long as the killing is done "humanely." (According to the bill, this includes blows to the head and decapitation.)

This is irresponsible legislation because it allows anyperson to determine whether or not any animal is feral and to define anymeans of killing the animal as "humane." People would, in effect, be exempt from any animal cruelty laws in the state of Utah. The proposed bill is archaic and inhumane.

We need you to contact your Representatives in the House NOW to let them know that you oppose HB 210!
Please send a short message to your House Representative asking him or her to oppose this bill. Be polite, respectful, and to the point. Tell them in one or two sentences why this bill should not pass.

Sincerely,