ARL Advocacy testifies in variety of animal safety payments
The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Advocacy Division was busy this previous week on Beacon Hill, as ARL publicly supported a number of payments on the group’s legislative agenda.
The Joint Committee on the Atmosphere and Pure Assets held a listening to on plenty of ARL precedence payments, together with the ban of pet outlets, regulation of economic boarding and coaching services, funding for animal welfare and security programming, and a ban on the sale of recent fur.
Legislative guidelines permit that each invoice get a public listening to, with alternative for legislators and the general public to share their ideas.
Whereas testimony might solely be supplied in-person beforehand, the Legislature now has all hearings hybrid, making it so that individuals from across the Commonwealth (and the world!) can testify with out having to make their manner into Boston.
ARL Priorities:
Filed for plenty of periods, this yr the pet store invoice displays the instant considerations of recent pet outlets in Massachusetts.
An Act banning the retail sale of canines, cats, and rabbits in new pet outlets (H.826 sponsored by Representatives Natalie M. Higgins, Kimberly N. Ferguson; S.549 sponsored by Senator O’Connor) takes after the legislation handed in Maine in 2020, which might prohibit the opening of recent pet shops within the Commonwealth.
With the ban on pet shops in New York, Massachusetts might turn out to be a haven for these pet shops.
ARL additionally supplied testimony in assist of An Act banning the retail sale of canines, cats, and rabbits in pet outlets (S.550 sponsored by Senator O’Connor).
Throughout Massachusetts, 13 municipalities have handed native stage prohibitions on the sale of canines and cats, with many municipalities including further animals reminiscent of rabbits and guinea pigs.
Animals from pet shops usually journey lengthy distances to get to Massachusetts, and may harbor and unfold illnesses harmful to individuals and animals.
Small animals like rabbits are widespread in shelters, and the sale of them in pet outlets has contributed to to plenty of deserted animals over the previous few years.
ARL continues to assist native stage bans as effectively.
ARL has been supportive of efforts to guard animals at boarding and daycare services by way of elevated requirements for boarding and coaching kennels.
Filed once more this session, An Act defending canines at boarding kennels and daycare services (H.385 sponsored by Consultant Hannah Kane; S.548 sponsored by Senator Patrick O’Connor) would permit for uniform state requirements at these services, together with round workers to canine ratios, group sizes and supervision, and different essential protections.
At present, the one statewide customary for these services is that they’re “sanitary and humane”.
In search of some data on the way to vet a facility earlier than you guide your pet’s vacation keep? Take a look at ARL’s Board Safely ™ guidelines for what to search for and what inquiries to ask.
An Act to supply further funding for animal welfare and security programming (S.533 sponsored by Senator Mark Montigny) would take fines from animal welfare violations and, as an alternative of them going again into the Common Fund, would particularly put them into the Homeless Animal Fund, which offers for funding for spay/neuter, preventative care, and coaching for animal management officers.
For the second legislative session, the Massachusetts Legislature has thought of a ban on all new fur bought within the state.
An Act prohibiting the sale of fur merchandise (H.849 Sponsored by Representatives Jack Patrick Lewis and Josh S. Cutler; S.590 sponsored by Senator John Velis).
Except for the cruelty of fur farming, fur farming has contributed to the unfold of illnesses reminiscent of COVID-19, with outbreaks on mink farms that result in the culling of thousands and thousands of animals.
Need to be taught extra about the way to become involved with ARL’s advocacy efforts? Contact advocacy@arlboston.org