Happy fall! The season of beautifully colored and falling leaves, crisp air, and - the resumption of the legislative session! With the return of our lawmakers to Harrisburg for the fall session, we have a lot of work before us!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Our work did not take a break during the summer. We worked hard to garner support of pending bills and assisted humane leaders who introduced new bills to gather co-sponsors and support. We are pleased to report that Act 24, the Animal Fighting Paraphernalia Law, went into effect last month, and now can be used to give law enforcement powerful tools to fight animal fighting. Additionally, HB 760, which gives veterinarians, veterinarian technicians and veterinary assistants immunity for reporting suspected cruelty passed the full House. This bill not only protects Pennsylvania's animal caretaking professionals for doing the right thing, but is a further tool to protect pets from ongoing cruelty.
SB 373, the anti-tethering Bill, remains in the House Judiciary Committee, with the House version - HB 481. With winter weather approaching, this is the perfect time to
contact your representative to ask them to support and help move SB 373. Also,
SB 977, which will amend the animal cruelty statute by allowing a police officer, public safety professional or humane officer to remove a dog or cat from an unattended motor vehicle in the heat if they believe the animal is suffering and endangered, and charging the vehicle owner or operator with a crime for leaving the animal was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. While the summer heat may be behind us, it is important to work to pass this bill or the House version -
HB 1516 before next summer, and prevent any more car/heat tragedies. There are over
30 animal related bills pending in our legislature this session! Please check out our
current legislation page on our website and follow our
Facebook page for up to date news as these bills move or your action is needed.
PIGEON SHOOTS IN THE NEWS
Pennsylvania's disgraceful and
cruel live pigeon shoots saw a
lot of news coverage over the last several months! Multiple editorials appeared in various media outlets denouncing these cruel shoots and requesting that they come to an end.
Pennsylvania polls clearly demonstrated that Pennsylvanians want these shoots to end.
SB 715, the bill to end live pigeon shoots, remains in the Senate Judiciary committee. If the legislature listens to what Pennsylvania citizens want, this should be the session that they act to end live pigeon shoots.
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!
Election day is November 3 -
don't forget to vote - and you have until tomorrow to register! This is our opportunity to elect judges and municipal and local officials. While Humane PA does not endorse in judicial and local elections, it is very important for each of us to get to the polls on election day. Not only does voting in every election give you important
super voter status, but getting to the polls for local elections is a great opportunity to talk about humane issues on a local level. If you have any doubt about the good that can be achieved on a local level, just look at Pittsburgh - where
two important anti-cruelty ordinances were just signed into law - an ordinance giving authority to law enforcement and animal care and control to enter a vehicle with an animal in danger contained within, AND, a law prohibiting the trapping, catching or harming of birds unless you are rescuing or licensed to rescue, preventing pigeon shoot suppliers from capturing birds off the street to be used in these cruel shoots.
THANK YOU!
The changing of the seasons is always a good time to say thank you:thank you for your calls and emails to your legislators; for meeting with your legislators; for your response to action alerts; for your commitment to the humane treatment of animals; and, thank you for your support of and belief in the importance of Humane PA and working with us to give animals a powerful voice in Harrisburg. And speaking of thank you, don't forget to thank
your legislators for their work and votes supporting animal related legislation. We certainly appreciate those legislators who work hard for the humane treatment of animals and it is so important to let them know that we do.
Sincerely,
Your friends at Humane PA
Pennsylvania's Political Voice for Animals
