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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 a variety of ARL precedence payments, together with the ban of pet outlets, regulation of economic boarding and coaching amenities, funding for animal welfare and security programming, and a ban on the sale of recent fur.
Legislative guidelines enable 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 folks from across the Commonwealth (and the world!) can testify with out having to make their approach into Boston.
ARL Priorities:
Filed for a variety of periods, this yr the pet store invoice displays the quick issues 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 develop into 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 extra animals similar to rabbits and guinea pigs.
Animals from pet shops typically journey lengthy distances to get to Massachusetts, and might harbor and unfold ailments harmful to folks and animals.
Small animals like rabbits are widespread in shelters, and the sale of them in pet outlets has contributed to to a variety of deserted animals over the previous few years.
ARL continues to assist native stage bans as nicely.
ARL has been supportive of efforts to guard animals at boarding and daycare amenities by elevated requirements for boarding and coaching kennels.
Filed once more this session, An Act defending canines at boarding kennels and daycare amenities (H.385 sponsored by Consultant Hannah Kane; S.548 sponsored by Senator Patrick O’Connor) would enable for uniform state requirements at these amenities, together with round employees to canine ratios, group sizes and supervision, and different necessary protections.
At present, the one statewide normal for these amenities is that they’re “sanitary and humane”.
On the lookout for some info on methods to vet a facility earlier than you guide your pet’s vacation keep? Try ARL’s Board Safely ™ guidelines for what to search for and what inquiries to ask.
An Act to offer extra 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 Basic 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 ailments similar to COVID-19, with outbreaks on mink farms that result in the culling of tens of millions of animals.
Need to study extra about methods to become involved with ARL’s advocacy efforts? Contact advocacy@arlboston.org
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