It is urgent — we have only a few days — for all of us to call Gov. Jan Brewer and implore her to reject House Bill 2780. Her telephone number is (602) 542-4331.
Regarding dogs involved in herding livestock, this terrible bill attempts to strip away from cities and counties much of the authority they have now to adopt or enforce cruelty laws.
According to HB 2780, such a dog could be punished or abused, and local laws could not be applied to help the dog if the act was supposedly “necessary” for the safety of livestock. This is only one instance of the exemptions from local cruelty laws the bill provides for abusers.
It is ranchers who are lobbying for the passage of this dreadful bill.
We must all call the governor immediately, to help defenseless dogs.
Jane Schwerin
President, People for Animals in the Prevention of Cruelty and Neglect, Inc., Tucson
Dale Whiting posted at 9:26 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Jane,
It would appear that VofReason, Rich and I are puzzled with the picture you draw about this law. I am a dog lover. And I have good friends who have been ranchers who have used dogs to herd, in my case, they were herding sheep and doing a darned good job of it.
The problem was the City Folk who abandoned their dogs leaving them in the country side. I had to take a .270 rifle with scope to shoot packs of these abandoned dogs which were killing my sheep for food!
So if you want me to phone Governor Jan, you'll have to explain why my sheep herder and cattle herder friends are abusing their trusty dogs. It just does not make sense!
Rich posted at 4:04 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Another dog law? Somebody needs to tell the politicos that 'it's none of their business' before it becomes complete anarchy. How are they going to enforce it? Ranch police? Government needs to handle a few basic services frugally, and leave our pets alone.
VofReason posted at 12:10 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Is their a trend of ranchers abusing the dogs that work for them hearding livestock? I thought they generally respected these dogs and looked at them as a valuable asset to their ranch?