Statewide

CURRENT LEGISLATION

Devocalization Bill Reported Favorably by Judiciary Committee

On 10/21/09 the Judiciary reported the Devocalization Bill (HB344) favorably. It was then referred to the House Committee on Steering, Policy & Scheduling. It is on the list for the Informal House Session today, 10/28/09. Please be alert and ready to write/email based on today's outcome.

The MVMA position can be downloaded by clicking here: MVMA Devocalization Position 2009

SB2172 Dog Law Rewrite passed by Senate with Amendment

On 10/20/09 SB2172 (previousy SB406, SB2120 & SB2151) Updating the Animal Control Laws of MA was amended and passed by the Senate. We are in the process of analyzing the new text and amendment.

Anger, frustration as packed Judiciary hearing forces rushed remarks

By Kyle Cheney, GateHouse News Service
Posted Jul 14, 2009 @ 09:06 PM

Wellesley - When it comes to legislation involving justice, there is a logjam on Beacon Hill.

Outraged attendees of a Tuesday Judiciary Committee hearing are fuming over the committee's decision to hear 227 bills - many of them controversial - in a single day, forcing committee leaders to cut off testimony from speakers on a range of topics, from gun violence, to sexual assault and a bill to add gender identity to the state's non-discrimination statute. More than a few eyebrows were raised during a marathon hearing Tuesday when the Senate chair of the committee, Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), cut off Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke and asked him to hurry his testimony on an administration-backed bill aimed at preventing gun violence. "It's an old-school M.O. that has no place in a modern legislature," said Brian Condron, director of public affairs at the Home for Little Wanderers. "It's crazy and they do this every year ... It really has no place in a modern legislature in an age of transparency."

Click here to read the entire article: http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/town_info/government/x863181866/Anger-frustration-as-packed-Judiciary-hearing-forces-rushed-remarks

'Speed hearing' on new justice bills - 3-minute commentaries

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
jmonahan@telegram.com

BOSTON - When it comes to legislation involving justice, there is a logjam on Beacon Hill.

And yesterday more than 500 people got caught up in it, waiting for up to six hours to give their three-minute commentaries on more than 227 bills put up for a public hearing in a single afternoon session before the Judiciary Committee.

Click here to read the entire article: http://www.telegram.com/article/20090715/NEWS/907150487/1052

Municipalities Committee Hearing scheduled for 7/14/09 - 10am Room A-2

A hearing for the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government has been scheduled for Tuesday, 7/14 at 10am in State House Room A-2. There are 15 dog related bills scheduled to be heard. See the positions papers page for info.

Written testimony will be accepted via email if you cannot attend the hearing.

The AKC has also sent out an alert http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3990

Devocalization Bill Scheduled for 7/14/09 Hearing

Looking to ban the devocalization of dogs and cats
By David Ertischek
June 16, 2009

Do you ever get tired of hearing your mother talk? Would you pay for your mother to have her larynx cut? Sound inhumane? Well, that's what some people do to their meowing cats and barking dogs.

Even with most state, national and international animal organizations adamantly against the two procedures used to devocalize animals - some veterinarians still perform the procedure at the request of animal owners.

On July 14 there is a scheduled hearing on an act to prohibit the devocalization of cats and dogs in the Joint Committee on Judiciary. That hearing will decide whether the bill will live, dies, or is possibly added to the state's animal protection laws. State Reps. Mike Rush and Jeffrey Sanchez are co-sponsors of the bill, which has more than 40 co-sponsors.

Written testimony will be accepted via email if you cannot attend the hearing.

Click here to read the entire article: http://www.wickedlocal.com/roslindale/news/x986614388/Looking-to-ban-the-devocalization-of-dogs-and-cats

Hearing Scheduled 5/19/09 for SB186 - Pet Groomer Licensing & Regulation

A hearing for the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure has been scheduled for Tuesday, 5/19 at 10am in State House Room B-1.

SB186 is on the list of bills to be heard at that hearing.

This bill would set up a Board to license pet groomers and anyone who bathes or brushes a dog or cat for a fee. Set up tests for licensure, set fees for exams and licenses. Among other things, anyone who is licensed to bathe and brush a dog would have to have completed 80 hours in a bather/brusher program. Those who actually groom or clip animals would be required to complete many more hours of training at "Pet Grooming Schools." Anyone who grooms, bathes or brushes a dog for compensation without being licensed would be subject to a $1,000 fine! This will have a dramatic affect on professional pet groomers as well as professional handlers.

You can download the position paper with full bill text from the "Position Papers" page. Click on the Committee name on that page to download the complete committee contact list.

You can also download a sample letter from the right column of this page and find your State Senator or Representative by inputting your zip code in the "write your legislators" box just below the sample letter link.

"Puppy Mill" Bill filed

This bill states that it is setting standards for "puppy mills". The problem addressed in this legislation is unclear as there is no definition of "puppy mill". The AWA (Animal Welfare Act) does not define either "commercial kennel" or "puppy mill". The AKC (American Kennel Club) also avoids defining "puppy mill" but defines a commercial or high-volume breeder as one who "breeds dogs as a business, for profit" and a hobby breeder as "one who breeds purebred dogs to justifiably improve the breed, not for purposes of primary income." This bill attempts to specify requirements for kennel licenses and requires anyone with four or more dogs to obtain a kennel license, and, thereby be forced to comply with very restrictive requirements.

Click SD1448 "Puppy Mills" in the OPPOSE column to download MassFed's position statement and complete bill text.

Needham High School Freshman Files Bill to Ban 'Debarking' of Cats and Dogs

Click HD 653 "Devocalization" in the OPPOSE column to download MassFed's position statement, complete bill text and cosponsor list.

House Docket #653 makes debarking a dog illegal in Massachusetts. We have not been able to secure the actual text of the bill despite valiant efforts. What we have been able to find is the list of bill co-sponsors.

We urgently need help to persuade legislators to remove themselves as co-sponsors of the bill.

We were shocked to find that Rep Brad Hill was one of them. With some quick effort we were able to reach him today and educate him on the value of this procedure and the misconceptions of it as well. He has removed himself as a co-sponsor. We hope to be able to do the same with other co-sponsors. This is where we need your help. Is your legislator listed below as a co-sponsor? If yes, please let us know and call his/her office. The deadline for signing on or off as a co-sponsor was 2/4 but due to a computer glitch at the State House the deadline has been extended until Wednesday, February 11th.

The best points to make are:
1. Bark softening is a last resort that saves many dogs from being euthanized or turned into shelters by owners who must respond to and resolve nuisance complaints against their barking dogs.
2. Bark softening is a minor procedure. It properly involves a simple biopsy punch in the vocal chords. Vocal chords are not removed. The dog is not "mutilated" and it is up and barking within hours. The dog can bark, whine, vocalize, just more softly.
3. Bark softening is not cruel. The procedure is done under anesthesia. While spay and neuter are major surgeries, debark is a minor surgery. Dogs recover quickly.

Main sponsor: House Majority whip Lida Harkins (Dover and Sherborn)

Co-sponsors - download bill text to see updated sponsorship list.

Enter your zip code and click "go" to find your legislators!