There’s not much about my state government that impresses me, I’m not impressed with the Governor with the exception he’s very good about signing bills regarding laws protecting animals.

On June 4th of this year he signed H.B. 5844:

“AN ACT CONCERNING THE OVERNIGHT TETHERING OF DOGS OUTDOORS AND THE TETHERING OF DOGS OUTDOORS UNDER CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS.

To prohibit the overnight tethering of dogs outdoors and to prohibit the tethering of dogs outdoors during certain weather conditions unless shelter is readily accessible to such dog.”

It’s not ideal, but it’s a start.

Tethered dogs are typically dogs that haven’t been socialized either with people or other dogs. They live their lives on a small length of chain.  They have nowhere to run should an animal or person threaten them and their world is limited only to what their chain allows.  Many times they are left outside in rain, heat and snow with inadequate veterinary care and many times they lack the necessary food and water needed to survive.

This little guy lives right on the edge of our park. He is always on tether and I worry that someday he will get loose and get hurt.

Recent studies show tethered dogs are 2.8% more likely to bite than non-tethered dogs with the majority of victims being children.  This is not a surprise considering their lack of socialization.

As I said, it’s not ideal but it is a start. Our current legislative office also passed:

• a bill expanding benefits to pets in low income households
• a bill requiring euthanasia to be performed by a licensed veterinarian
• legislation forbidding municipalities from enacting breed specific legislation
• a bill allowing students to opt out of viewing or participating in animal dissection
• shot down a lottery for bear hunting
• defeated a bill allowing bow hunting on Sundays

The bill most important to me, banning the sale of COMMERCIALLY bred puppies and kittens was tabled this session and instead a task force was assigned to investigate pet shops and the origins of the animals they sell.Hopefully the task force will present their findings to the legislative body and a bill will be introduced and passed in next year’s session.

Sadly banning the use of pig gestation crates and provisions for a volunteer to advocate for animals that are the victims of cruel and violent crimes were not brought up this session.  The goal is to reintroduce these for the next session in 2014.

One of the reasons CT is enacting tougher animal welfare laws is because of an organization called Connecticut Votes for Animals.  This is a not for profit organization that is really being the change for animals in CT.

Interested in getting some animal legislation passed in your state?  I bet CVA would help you get started.