Animal advocates urge lawmakers to pass three bills
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By ANDREA WILSON
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX (Thursday, Feb. 26) _ Allowing county animal control officers more flexibility to investigate kennels would help combat hoarding and so-called “puppy mills” that house many more dogs than their licenses allow, a state lawmaker said Thursday.
As groups that advocate for animals came to the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers, Rep. Nancy Young Wright, D-Tucson, said her inspiration for HB 2517 was the March 2008 discovery of 800 dogs, most in poor health, on a property in Avra Valley.
“This is something that has to stop,” Young Wright told those attending Humane Lobby Day.
More than 100 people participated in the event, which included briefings on three bills The Humane Society of the United States says would protect animals.
“This is an opportunity for us to educate legislators about issues close to our hearts,” said Kelley Durham, executive director of Second Chance Center for Animals in Flagstaff.
“Animals are innocent and cannot speak for themselves. Any kind of animal cruelty just breaks my heart,” said Peoria resident Carol Gossard, a Human Society volunteer and owner of three rescued Boston terriers.
Young Wright’s bill would make licensed kennels subject to inspections by county enforcement agents at any time during regular business hours and would require agents to inspect kennels upon receiving a written complaint.
A Humane Society release said the bill would be a step forward in combating puppy mills and hoarding.
HB 2458, sponsored by Rep. Steve Court, R-Mesa, would require the owner of an unlicensed cat or dog that has to bitten someone or is found wandering the streets to pay to have the animal sterilized and microchipped.
“It would make people be more responsible for their pets,” said Reyna Rodriguez, 16, of Phoenix, who skipped school to join the lobbying efforts.
HB 2150, sponsored by Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, would change laws prohibiting dogfighting and cockfighting to ban any staged animal fights.
Durham, from Flagstaff, said that fights arranged between dogs and javelinas are popular in her area.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Durham said. “We need to educate people about what is happening.”
Durham and other advocates from Flagstaff, Prescott, Camp Verde and Williams met with Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott, who lauded their efforts.
“You guys are great; you do important work,” Mason said.
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CAPTION FOR ANIMALS-LAWMAKERS: Kelly Durham, executive director of Second Chance Center for Animals in Flagstaff, poses with Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, during Humane Lobby Day at the State Capitol. Advocates chatted with lawmakers about bills they say are important to the humane treatment of animals. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Andrea Wilson)