Hawaii Senate Bill 609 would grant civil immunity to veterinarians who provide emergency care to an animal or render emergency treatment when there is no veterinarian-client-patient relationship in the absence of gross negligence. The bill would also require veterinarians to report animal injury or death to law enforcement when there is reasonable cause to believe that it relates to animal abuse or dog fighting.
Hawaii Considers Granting Civil Immunity to Veterinarians in Emergencies
Illinois Legislation Would Allow Courts to Ban Animal Custody for Repeat Cruelty Offenders
Illinois House Bill 168 would allow courts to prohibit a person convicted of two or more offenses of aggravated cruelty, violation of animals for entertainment, or dog fighting from having custody of any other animal.
Tennessee Considers Making Cockfighting a Felony
Tennessee Senate Bill 168 would elevate from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony the crimes of keeping a cock for the purposes of cockfighting, causing a cock to fight or injure another animal, and aiding and abetting such activities.
First Circuit Upholds Puerto Rico Cockfighting Ban
The First Circuit has upheld a Puerto Rico law banning cockfighting, finding that the prohibition violates neither the Commerce Clause nor the First Amendment.
New York Considers Establishing Standards for Care of Retired Race Horses
New York Senate Bill 1442 would prohibit the slaughter of retired race horses and breeding stock, require that race horses and breeding horses be microchipped, and increase access to funding for the care of retired racing and breeding horses.
New York Legislation Would Make Promoting Enterprise Animal Fighting a Felony
New York Senate Bill 90 and Assembly Bill 696 would introduce a new felony level offense for enterprise animal fighting and consolidate existing definitions.
New York Considers Increased Penalties for Animal Fighting
New York Senate Bill 229 would increase penalties for engaging in animal fighting and require psychiatric evaluation and possible treatment for those convicted of the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Louisiana Considers Change in Evaluation of Dogs Used in Fighting
Louisiana SB 425 proposes to change the treatment of dogs and other animals seized from animal fighting operations. Rather than requiring the euthanasia of all such animals as “dangerous dogs,” as they currently are, this legislation would require individual evaluation of each animal and provide for the placement of them if deemed appropriate.
New Jersey Proposes Ban on Trunk Fighting
New Jersey Assembly Bill 3231 proposes to ban “trunk fighting,” defined as “the practice of enclosing two or more animals in the trunk or any part of a motor vehicle for the purpose of the animals attacking each other, and possibly fighting until one or more of the animals are dead.” The legislation would make the act a crime of the third degree.
Connecticut Considers Ban on Animal Fighting Paraphernalia
Connecticut House Bill 5338 proposes to amend the state’s anti-cruelty statute to also criminalize the possession, sale, purchase, transfer, or manufacture of animal fighting paraphernalia, including unprescribed veterinary medicine. The offense would constitute a class E felony.