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2009 Missouri Legislative SessionLegislative SummaryThe Missouri General Assembly convened on Wednesay, January 7, 2009 and adjourned on Friday, May 15, 2009. Listed below is a summary of the animal welfare bills that were filed for this session. Dog Fighting Status: Failed Together these bills would seriously improve Missouri’s dog fighting law. Both SB 63, SB 201, and HB 889 would emphasize the welfare of the victimized animals, requiring a court hearing within 30 days to determine what happens to animals seized. Currently, seized dogs in Missouri are held in isolation for months or years before all of the criminal charges are resolved, often adding to their physical and mental hardships. This is also a financial hardship on the agencies that agree to house these poor animals. Providing a disposition hearing for dog fighting cases would make the procedure consistent with how all other animal abuse cases are handled in Missouri.
SB 63 would also toughen the law by increasing the criminal penalty to a felony, from a misdeanor, for being a repeat spectator offender at a dog fight. Both SB 63 and SB 201 were given a hearing in the Senate General Laws Committee. HB 724 would prohibit anyone from possessing dog fighting paraphernalia. This bill would also enhance the criminal penalties for all second or subsequent dog fighting offenses.
Dangerous Exotic Registry Status: Failed Missouri has one of the weakest law governing large carnivores in the country, weaker than all surrounding states. This situation has led to our state attracting individuals who do not always care for these animals in a safe and adequate manner. These bills have been proposed in hopes of discouraging less reputable owners from mistreating these magnificent creatures, and in reaction to tragic tiger attacks recently occurring in our state.
SB 227 would require annual registration of certain dangerous wild animals—notably large carnivores such as lions and tigers. It clarifies that only certain accredited institutions are exempt from the law. Each dangerous animal must be equipped with a microchip, or another reliable ID device, and no direct contact would be allowed between these animals and the public.
Rep. Sutherland has long championed a requirement to register large carnivores such as lions and tigers. HB 426 would have the Department of Agriculture regulate the ownership, transportation, and treatment of these animals. Owners would be required to provide an ID for their animals and to carry liability insurance. Barriers to Voter-Initiated Petitions Status: Failed These measures would limit the democratic process for promoting statewide initiatives, making it harder for the public to initiate changes in the law relating to animal welfare. HJR 3 would greatly increase the number signatures necessary to place such a proposal on the ballot. HJR 4 would require voters to pass any future initiatives by greater than a 60% supermajority, instead of the current simple majority. HJR 18 would require a 4/7ths "supermajority" vote for any future ballot initiatives relating to harvesting bird, fish, game wildlife or forestry resources. By comparison, the very popular anti-cockfighting initiative led by the Alliance received 63% of the vote and would not have passed a supermajority requirement. Like HJR 4, this measure would violate the concept of majority rule (one person, one vote). Animal Neglect Status: Failed These billsl would add simple clarification to the animal neglect statute, giving prosecutors more options in situations when an animal is allowed to escape and a person is injured. Similar improvements in the law have been endorsed by the Missouri Bar. Liability of Dog Attacks Status: Passed Creates penalties for owners of dogs that injure people or property and creates an absolute defense against civil liability or prosecution for killing a dog in certain circumstances. The Alliance has some concern about the message that this bill would send and will work to offer revisions. Horse Impoundment Status: Failed This bill would make it harder to remove horses or other large animals from a situation where they have suffered serious abuse or neglect. Currently, local law enforcement officers have the ability to seek a court order to impound abused animals, after seeking the advice of local veterinarian. This bill would create a new hurdle to the process, requiring the Department of Agriculture to conduct a review and delay the impoundment of horses even if they were visibly malnourished or suffering needlessly. Healthy Pet Act Status: Failed Sen. Bray has re-filed her legislation, providing better remedies to consumers who purchase a dog or cat from a pet shop and discover within 20 days that it was sold with a latent disease or that within 2 years it has a congenital or hereditary condition for which hospitalization or surgery was required. Sadly, Missouri puppy mills currently churn out far too many sick animals because of the deplorable conditions in which they are raised and consumers are left with only the remedy of replacement, which is unacceptable to the families that have already become attached to the pet. Rabies Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats Status: Failed Requires the owners of dogs and cats to keep the animals current on rabies vaccinations, administered by a licensed veterinarian. Spay/Neuter Status: Failed Requires persons adopting a dog or cat to pay a $50 fee which is refundable upon verification that the animal has been spayed or neutered. Any forfeited fees shall be used to promote programs that prevent pet overpopulation. Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act Status: Failed Adds new minimum standards for commercial dog breeding operations, including requirements for daily exercise and annual veterinary examinations. Violations of this act would be a misdemeanor. Write your legislators about your concerns for animal welfare. To find your state legislators, enter your 9 digit zip code (xxxxx-xxxx) below and click the Find button. If you don't know your 9 digit zip code, use the Zip Code Lookup. |
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