Bills We Opposed
Prohibits Lawsuits on Behalf of Animals -DEFEATED
HB 1463
Representative Schnelting
This bill seeks to prevent lawsuits from being filed on behalf of animal welfare and environmental concerns. The stated intent of the bill is to defend “Missouri Farms.”
Eliminates Disposition Process for Abused and Neglected Animals - DEFEATED
HB 2204 and SB 847
Representative Knight and Senator Eslinger
This bill would effectively eliminate the disposition process for abused and neglected animals and allow the animals to remain in the hands of their abusers until the conclusion of a criminal trial. It also eliminates the authority of animal control officers from rescuing abused and neglected animals.
Repeals the Prohibition on the Declawing of Cats in St. Louis City and St. Louis County - DEFEATED
HB 1586 and SB 1058
Representative Murphy and Senator Brown
This bill specifies that the General Assembly preempts any political subdivision from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any order, ordinance, rule, regulation, policy, or other similar measure that prohibits, restricts, limits, regulates, controls, directs, or interferes with the practice of veterinary medicine. The bill is intended to overturn the ordinances recently adopted in the City of St. Louis and in St. Louis County that prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats.
Bills We Support
Cross-Reporting - FAILED
SB 1182
Senator Gannon
This bill would create a list of professionals who are mandated to report animal abuse and add to the list of professionals mandated to report child and elder abuse. It details training requirements for a number of relevant professionals.
Incentive for Adoption of Animal - FAILED
HB 2237
Representative Applebaum
This bill would provide a tax credit to a person adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue.
Protects Animals in Hot Cars - FAILED
HB 2287
Representative Bangert
Provides immunity from civil liability for persons who render assistance to animals trapped in motor vehicles.
Ruby’s Law - FAILED HB 2344
HB 2344
Representative Derges
This bill would require a warning on pet food or pet food containing ingredients imported from a foreign nation.
Provides Transparency & Accountability for the Use of Animals in Research - FAILED
HB 2446 and SB 979
Representative Hicks and Senator Beck
Under the act, any public or private university or college which receives state funds and uses animals in research, whether for scientific research, testing, or experimentation purposes, shall post on its website a written report providing full transparency on such animal research on an annual basis.
Prohibits Cruelty to Dogs During Breeding - FAILED
HB 2446 and SB 980
Representative Hicks and Senator Beck
This act provides that a person commits the offense of animal abuse when a person causes injury or suffering to a female dog or causes injury to the sexual organs of a female dog, or during artificial insemination needlessly causes pain to a female dog. This legislation attempts to correct a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri who has encouraged inhumane practices during the breeding of animals.
Image on the right:
University of Missouri professor instructed dog breeders to “ram” the pipette into the female dogs and then mocked the sounds the dogs make when being assaulted in such a manner.
Bills We Support with Amendments
Eliminates Breed Specific Ordinances Including Spay/Neuter Ordinances - FAILED
HB 1588, HB 1657, SB 697
Representative Haden, Representative Hicks, Senator Gannon
This bill would nullify all ordinances and policies that are breed specific, including mandatory spay/neuter ordinances in Springfield and Kansas City that have dramatically reduced the shelter population of pit bulls in these two municipalities. The Alliance supports an amendment to allow municipalities to regulate the breeding of dogs.