Animals; clarifies several standards of welfare. (HB673)

Introduced By

Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk)

Progress

√
 Introduced
√
 Passed Committee
√
 Passed House
√
 Passed Senate
√
 Signed by Governor
√
 Became Law

Description

Animal welfare standards. Clarifies several standards of animal welfare. The amount of time an animal must be deserted to be considered "abandoned" is shortened from five consecutive days to 24 consecutive hours. "Adequate shelter" for tethered animals will require an enclosure large enough to provide separate eating and sleeping areas, both of which shall be at least 10 feet from a toilet area. "Adequate space" for tether animals will require that the tether is no more than 1/8th the weight of the animal and at least 20 times the length of the animal. "Adequate water" will require refreshment at least once every 12 hours and a container that cannot be overturned. The definition of "adoption" is broadened to include transfers of ownership from dealers. View Full Text »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

  • 01/08/2008 Committee
  • 01/08/2008 Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 088708408
  • 01/08/2008 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
  • 01/16/2008 Impact statement from DPB (HB673)
  • 01/17/2008 Assigned ACNRsub: #1 Agriculture
  • 01/30/2008 Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
  • 01/30/2008 Committee substitute printed 083247408-H1
  • 01/31/2008 Read first time
  • 02/01/2008 Read second time
  • 02/01/2008 Committee substitute agreed to 083247408-H1
  • 02/01/2008 Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB673H1
  • 02/04/2008 Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
  • 02/04/2008 VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
  • 02/04/2008 Communicated to Senate
  • 02/05/2008 Constitutional reading dispensed
  • 02/05/2008 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
  • 02/18/2008 Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)
  • 02/19/2008 Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
  • 02/20/2008 Read third time
  • 02/20/2008 Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
  • 02/21/2008 Enrolled
  • 02/21/2008 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB673ER)
  • 02/22/2008 Impact statement from DPB (HB673ER)
  • 02/22/2008 Signed by Speaker
  • 02/25/2008 Signed by President
  • 03/02/2008 G Approved by Governor-Chapter 126 (effective 7/1/08)
  • 03/02/2008 G Approved by Governor-Chapter 127 (effective 7/1/08)
  • 03/05/2008 G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0127)

Comments

Bob Kane writes:

Any animal "not cared for," e.g. without daily freshen water or droppings removed, for a period of 24 hours is "abandoned" and the owner is subject to prosecution. A dog tether must be 60+ feet long and a horse tether must be 140-150 feet long. Virginia dogs and cats are no longer bought and sold, they're adopted and unadopted? Norfolk politician Alexander has introduced similar ill-considered bills each of the last three sessions.

Posted 65 months ago.
Robin Harrison writes:

A tether a whopping 20x the length of the animal, but no more than 1/8th its weight. Real slick way to BAN tethering without actually saying it's what you're doing!

Separate eating, resting, and toilet areas.
Uhhh... are folks in the habit of strictly toilet training their animals up to human standards over in Del Alexander's Norfolk? Our hillbilly horses and dogs over here on the Southside just eliminate where they please. Most of us who own them have a shovel for that. Should we ship them to Richmond so delegates will have a far more effective method for dealing with nonsense bills like this?

Posted 65 months ago.