Animals across Washington State need your help
The Washington State legislative session for 2007 began January 8 and will run through April 22. PAWS is monitoring activity on public policy affecting animals and will alert you of any urgent action needed to ensure protection for animals in our state. Below is a snapshot of the key animal-related bills pending in the legislature that you can act on now. Also included below are resources for educating yourself on the 2007 legislature and tips for easily contacting your legislators.
WA HB 1105 Homeowner’s insurance
This legislation seeks to stop discrimination for dog guardians based on breed type. An insurer licensed to write liability insurance—such as homeowner’s insurance—in Washington State may not deny, modify, cancel or refuse to renew any application for a homeowner’s insurance policy on the basis that the applicant or insured has a specific breed of dog on the property, unless the dog is a dangerous dog as defined in RCW 16.08.070. This bill will protect responsible dog guardians from being punished simply for sharing their lives with a four-legged friend.
PAWS’ position - Support
WA HB 1400 Excluding common mole and gopher traps from the definition of “body-gripping trap”
This legislation allows for a small exemption for traps used to catch gophers and moles in order to stop repeated attempts to repeal I-713—banning the use of leghold traps, other body-gripping traps, and snares for commerce in fur and recreation. Washington voters approved I-713 in 2000, yet it has been at risk of being overturned in the legislature ever since. In 2003, a rollback to this trapping ban made it as far as the governor’s office, yet was thankfully vetoed. Supporting this exemption will hopefully reduce the chances of I-713 being overturned in the future.
PAWS’ position - Support
WA HB 1418 & SB 5379 Protecting consumers from the keeping of dangerous wild animals
This legislation bans the possession and breeding of potentially dangerous animals, such as tigers or alligators. People who possess potentially dangerous animals before the bill’s effective date would be allowed to keep them for the remainder of the animals’ lives; however, animal control would still be allowed to seize these animals in certain circumstances. Washington is one of 13 states that currently have no regulations prohibiting private possession of dangerous exotic animals. PAWS has actively advocated for such regulations and played an integral part in getting bills introduced since 2001. Considering the community’s expanding knowledge of the serious dangers associated with keeping exotic animals as “pets,” it’s time to pass this bill in Washington.
PAWS’ position - Support
WA SB 5106 Emergency plans for animals
This legislation is Washington’s “Pets in Disasters” bill and requires that state and local emergency preparedness plans address the needs of individuals with household pets or service animals. The bill requires disaster plans to include provisions for the evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of animals, and holds the state accountable to compliance with federal mandates within a year. As members of both state and county committees on disaster planning for animals, PAWS advocates for mandating plans before disaster strikes.
PAWS’ position - Support
WA SB 5066 Animal protection orders
Allows the court to grant protection orders directing the care, custody, or control of any animal residing in a household in a domestic violence situation. When there is violence toward a person in a home, there is often also violence toward the animals, and abusers will use the animals to manipulate their human victims. This bill is an important step to helping end the cycle of violence.
PAWS’ position - Support
WA SB 5227 Animal abandonment
This legislation defines animal abandonment as the knowing, or reckless, desertion of an animal by its owner, in any place, without making provisions for the animal’s adequate care. Also, the penalty for animal abandonment is increased from "misdemeanor" to "gross misdemeanor."
PAWS’ position - Support
Contact your representative by letter, e-mail or phone, to voice your priorities.
It only takes a moment of your time, and it is vitally important because:
- It’s your representative’s duty to represent YOU and your local community.
- Representatives are bombarded by paid lobbyists when they should be hearing their constituent’s opinions.
To contact your representative by phone:
- Toll-free legislative hotline 1.800.562.6000
Hearing impaired: 1.800.635.9993
- Ask to speak with the aide handling the issue you are concerned about.
- Know what you want to say ahead of time. Be brief and be courteous.
- Leave your name, address, telephone number, and email address.
- Follow up on your phone call with an e-mail or letter of thanks for the conversation, a short summary of your position, and additional information if it has been requested.
To contact your representative by e-mail or letter:
Be sure to also contact Governor Christine Gregoire for every priority you voice with your representative.
Bookmark the Washington State Legislature’s official website so that you can:
You can also visit Washington Votes, a nonprofit organization that monitors legislation, provides historical information, and allows you to comment on legislation.
Abandoned rabbits in Seattle need your help
Unfortunately, over several years irresponsible people have abandoned their once-loved, now unwanted pet rabbits in the Green Lake, Meridian and Woodland Parks in Seattle. These abandoned rabbits are not wild animals, but domesticated pets lacking the skills that their wild cousins use for survival. They face many dangers: they are run over by cars, injured or killed by predators, and abused by unkind humans. Most don’t survive for very long. Many also contract parasites and diseases, or starve. In addition, in their large numbers at these parks, the abandoned rabbits destroy crucial habitat and food sources for native wild species.
In partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Friends of Park Rabbits—a local volunteer-based group—is leading the efforts to humanely trap these rabbits. Once safely trapped, they will receive medical care, be spayed or neutered, and then placed into appropriate, permanent homes. PAWS has been kept informed of these plans as they developed, and has participated in discussions about how to ensure a humane approach that keeps the rabbits’ best interests at the forefront. We encourage everyone who is concerned about the welfare of these rabbits to contact Friends of Park Rabbits and support their efforts through volunteering to care for the rabbits while they await their new homes. Find out how to help at http://www.parkrabbits.org.
Thank you for your compassion for our community’s animals!
|
