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PA HOUSE BILL 1065
LIMITED TETHERING
NEW!!
- View The Face of Chaining in Pennsylvania - Click HERE
After successfully
passing through the PA Judiciary Committee by a vote of 24 to 4 on
September 25, 2007, HB-1065 made its way to the Appropriations
Committee (it's final committee stop before heading to the General
Assembly for a vote) and
there it has sat SINCE OCTOBER 15, 2007. All
House Bills, prior to being released to the General Assembly for a
vote, must be evaluated by the Appropriations Committee to determine
the financial impact the legislation may have on the state's
budget. In
the case of HB-1065, there is no fiscal note attached to the Bill
because there is NO negative financial impact on the budget. In
fact, were HB-1065 to pass UNAMENDED and be implemented, the
Commonwealth might very well realize a financial savings since law
enforcement across the state would no longer have to spend valuable man
hours answering and investigating nuisance calls about chained barking
dogs! So
what, exactly, is the hold up? Why has HB-1065 been sitting in
Appropriations FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS? Let's Get Answers!!
ACTION
REQUESTED
1. Read the
Bill - Click HERE 2.
Contact Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans (D-203rd
District) and request the UNAMENDED
passage of HB-1065 by the Appropriations Committee. TALKING POINTS: If
you call, please remember to be polite and remind Representative Evans
that: 1.
House Bill 1065 has the potential to SAVE the Commonwealth money by
reducing the hours currently spent by police officers answering and
investigating nuisance calls about chained barking dogs; 2.
That this simple piece of legislation DOES
NOT BAN TETHERING but seeks to LIMIT
the number of hours in a day a dog may be tethered outside. 3.
Pennsylvania's current criminal code DOES NOT protect or afford any
relief to any dog abused or neglected due to tethering; 4.
It has been scientifically proven that dogs ARE pack animals and that
life on the end of a chain is detrimental to their well-being; 5.
Dogs placed on the end of a chain fall victim to the out of sight/out
of mind mentality and frequently do not receive regular feedings or the
replenishment of fresh water along with necessary veterinary care; 6.
Chained dogs are subject to many more health risks than dogs who live
as part of the family including worms, fleas, ticks, rabies, attacks
from other animals and even humans; 7.
Chaining actually increases the possibility for any dog to become
aggressive and/or territorial and can ultimately pose a danger to
those, including children, who wander into their territory; 8.
24/7 chaining is a dog
fighter's best friend. The prohibition of perpetual
chaining will absolutely throw a wrench into any dog fighter's
enterprise. Dog fighting rings
encourage illegal gambling, drugs, guns and other unsavory and unwanted
elements in our communities; and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, 9.
HB-1065 is a TOOL to
help protect animals. Individuals who chain or tether
their dogs for short periods of time throughout the day or briefly
before 6AM or after 10PM, will not have to fear having their dogs
confiscated. The enactment of HB-1065 WILL NOT create a special
team of anti-tether humane officers and no humane police officer will
be permitted to enter onto private property and seize a dog simply
because of tethering. Instead, HB-1065 will offer humane officers
the ability to fine individuals and/or remove dogs who are obviously
being neglected or abused DUE TO CHAINING. Contact
Representative Dwight Evans at his District Office: 7174 Ogontz Avenue Philadelphia, PA
19138
Phone: (215) 549-0220
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
Animal abuse, cruelty and neglect is VERY REAL in Pennsylvania. The
Philadelphia Inquirer recently ran the story: PSPCA: Animal
Cruelty is EPIDEMIC in the City. To read the article, click HERE.
