House committee clears two key animal welfare bills
With stunning speed - and no opposition - the state House Agriculture committee approved two animal welfare bills on Monday.
House committee clears two key animal welfare bills
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
With stunning speed - and no opposition - the state House Agriculture committee approved two animal welfare bills on Monday.
House Bill 2630, sponsored by the committee's chairman Rep. John Maher (R., Allegheny), would ban the use of carbon monoxide gas chambers as a method euthanasia in animal shelters. A similar bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D., Chester), passed the Senate in the spring.
Only a handful of animal control facilities in Pennsylvania still use the practice which is banned in several states and municipalities and is widely viewed as a cruel way to destroy unwanted animals. The act will allow shelters across the Commonwealth to obtain drugs necessary to euthanize animals in a humane manner by injection.
Rep. Joe Petrarca (D., Westmoreland), the committee's ranking Democrat, called the use of carbon monoxide gas "dangerous and barbaric."
"If an animal is to be euthanized, the very least we can do is provide animals with a more gentle means," he said.
A second bill, House Bill 2409, would hold animal owners responsible for the costs of care of animals that are seized by authorities. That bill, sponsored by Rep.. Brian Ellis (R., Butler) establishes that owners have a financial obligation for the care for their pets and therefore will be held responsible for costs of care if their animals are seized for cruelty or neglect.
By shifting the burden for the cost of care to the alleged abuser, the bill will reduce the financial burdens on shelters and encourage the vigorous investigation of animal cruelty, supporters say.
“This legislation will remove the enormous burden of the costs of care of seized animals currently borne by shelters across the Commonwealth” said Ellis in a statement. “I hope that this legislation will assist local shelters in expanding and preserving their important work in protecting animals from cruelty.”
Both bills are expected to go to the House floor for a final vote as early as next week. It is unclear what the Senate will do in the remaining two weeks of the legislative session. If the bills do not get final approval before the General Assembly goes on break for the election, in mid-Oct. the process will have to start all over again with the new session next year.
You know maybe we should make the families of prisoners pay for their incarceration as well. does anyone understand the word "alleged"? Animals that are seized are now in the custody of the seizing authority. THEY are responsible for their care.. not the owner. How does the owner know what is being done to their animals when they are no longer in their care.. There is a case right now where horse were in great condition when seized.. only to show up a month later with abnormal blood work and looking VERY thin.
Forcing people to pay for care that they have no control over is wrong.— Alice in LALA LAND- shocking that Republican would stand for a law that denies due process for people and charges them BEFORE they are tried in a court of law— Alice in LALA LAND
- The first bill I support. The second was already proven unconstitutional in Louisville KY. WHY are our lawmakers so dense as to think they can legislate away our Constitutional rights? Accused does NOT equal guilty! Illegal animal seizures are on the rise, and this is only another way for gestapo-like groups to essentially STEAL the property of a citizen and exploit and sell it for their own profit. "You can't pay this outrageous fee? Then WE get your animals to do with as we please, no matter HOW innocent you are!" I can't believe supposed representatives of the people are this moronic.— Canine Professional
- The second bill doesn't deny due process for anyone. In order to seize an animal in a cruelty case, a search warrant has to be obtained and probable cause established by a magistrate. There are cases where pet owners are found guilty, appeal time after time and are still found guilty, and shelters cannot find new homes for their pets until all appeals are exhausted. This can take 3 years. Meanwhile a non-profit shelter, which gets no funding from govt. in Penna., bears the incredible cost of medical care for the pets (most of whom are in terrible shape) and desperately needed kennel space is lost. Meanwhile a pet who could be adopted to a good home languishes in a cage. No shelter "sells" an animal for profit.
Both of these bills are needed and have been a long time coming.
Shelter Representative— ngardner
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