THREAT TO ALABAMA'S ANIMAL CRUELTY LAW
FEB 26 UPDATE:
The following is a copy of a Feb 26 email from Mindy Gilbert, Alabama State Director, Humane Society of the United States [emphasis added]:
Hello Everyone, and Happy Friday!
This has been an important week for animal issues in the state legislature and I am happy to say, a productive one.
ALABAMA HUMANE LOBBY DAY - was Tuesday and I couldn’t have been prouder of the folks that came to the capitol to participate. We had a very respectable presence; attendance was more than double that of last year. If you didn’t come this year, please consider next year’s lobby day.
Our Spay Day rally on the statehouse steps was very successful- apparently HUNDREDS of folks that were there to rally for and against the bingo bill attended and were seen on TV! A very special thanks to rally speakers: Rea Cord, Conan Devine, Donald Kendrick, Ronda Stecuik, Jacque Meyer, and Rachael Tears. I had several positive comments from State House Staff the following day, including a young lady who spoke with Rachael Tears about getting her dog spayed.
On Wednesday the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing on HB561- an agriculture bill that had some language problems. Scott Hill, HLE officer from Montgomery Humane, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Captain Byron Jackson, Jacque Meyer, Rea Cord and Beth Williams from the City of Mobile addressed the committee with their concerns. The bill was carried over to be amended which was no small feat. The amendments will clearly state that law enforcement agencies and animal control officers will be able to enforce code section 13A-11-14, the anti-cruelty law that currently protects all animals
The bonding bill is back from legislative review services and on the House Judiciary Committee Calendar for next Wednesday. No calls to legislators are needed at this time. We have done a great deal of work on this one to address concerns from legislators and opposition groups.
The cockfighting bill-We FINALLY have a commitment from House Agriculture Committee chair, Thomas Jackson to get this on the committee calendar. I will be pleading for outreach as soon as I know the date. If we can generate the same kind of calls with this one that we did on HB561, we can get some traction.
In a Feb 25th op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser, House bill Sponsor James Fields says,” Cockfighting is the absolute representation of every backward image the rest of the country has about Alabama.” When the time comes to make the calls, let’s be ready to change our image.
Representative Ison has set up a meeting with me and the Department of Agriculture and ALFA to explore developing a resource list for equine responses statewide. I am inviting Rea to represent the Humane Federation. As we put the committee together, I will be reaching out to many of you for input.
Finally, I have attached a flier about an important upcoming workshop. I plan on attending and hope that you will to.
Thank you all so much for what you do for animals in Alabama!
Mindy Gilbert
Alabama State Director
mgilbert@humanesociety.org
t 205-471-5541
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FEB 21 UPDATE:
Please read this- urgent action is needed-I am not kidding
The Senate bill that we all worked so hard to quell last week is back, this time in the house. The House version, HB561 will be heard in committee on Wed, February 24 at 1:30. We have requested a public hearing so that law enforcement can testify to their concerns about the way the way this bill is worded.
In essence, it strips local law enforcement from enforcing the anticruelty laws to livestock- this means horses!
It also prevents local city and county governments from enacting or continuing ordinances affecting livestock on private property. It’s almost like reversing home rule.
Think about it- right now every law enforcement agency can investigate cruelty to all animals, including livestock and horses. Under the proposed bill, the SOLE authority lies with the State Veterinarian and the Department of Agriculture and Industries and their investigations unit-less than 20 people. Remember they are also concerned about stolen farm equipment, stolen livestock and contagious disease. How will they ever have time to investigate, say, horse neglect?????
“I heard someone last evening make a great point, would you want a child or senior abuse investigation remanded to a more qualified person at the state office of DHR in Montgomery – a place ultimately supervised and led by an appointed official? Or an office and/or person more locally visible, accountable, and reachable? I think that analogy sums up the opposition’s perspective. Several vets also raised the issue that they are paid for being called in by animal control. There was concern that local vets will lose revenues and input in their community”
The above is an excerpt from an e mail I received Thursday from someone concerned about this bill I think it says a lot.
PLEASE take time to call the House Agriculture Committee Members and ask them to oppose HB561
The contact info for the House Agriculture Committee Members is:
Thomas Jackson- Choctaw, Clarke, Marengo, Conecuh, Monroe Counties 334-242-7738
Steve Hurst Calhoun, Talladega Counties 334-353-9215
Mike Hubbard-Lee County 334-242-7739
Robert Bentley-Tuscaloosa 334-242-7691
Spencer Collier- Mobile County 334-242-7719
Randy Davis- Baldwin, Mobile Counties 334-242-7724
Chad Fincher –Mobile County – 334-232-7778
Alan Harper Pickens, Tuscaloosa Counties 334-242-7732
Earl Hilliard-Jefferson County 334-242-7684
Ralph Howard-Hale, Perry, Bibb, Marengo Counties 334-232-7759
Jamie Ison-Mobile 334-242-7711
Benjamin Lewis –Houston County 334-242-7756
A.J. McCampbell -Green, Sumter, Marengo, Tuscaloosa Counties 334-242-7747
Henry White -Limestone County 334-242-7712
Phil Williams –Madison County 334-242-7600
Mindy Gilbert
Alabama State Director
mgilbert@humanesociety.org
t 205-471-5541
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037
humanesociety.org
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THREAT TO CRUELTY LAW:
(Feb 16, 2010)
The following is a copy of a Feb 16 email from Mindy Gilbert, Alabama State Director, Humane Society of the United States [emphasis added]:
From: Mindy Gilbert <mgilbert@humanesociety.org>
Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 6:43 PM
Subject: serious news
To: Mindy Gilbert <mgilbert@humanesociety.org>
Hello everyone-
There is a big problem in the Alabama legislature- that is, if you care about animals.
Today, SB413 passed Senate Government Affairs Committee. This bill prevents anyone-including law enforcement officers- from applying existing anti cruelty laws to any animal that is considered livestock. It puts the entire scope of law with the State Veterinarian, and the Department of Agriculture. So, for example, if a horse is cruelty neglected or abused, your local Sheriff would not be able to do anything about it. This bill CONSIDERABLY weakens an already not very strong law, and basically puts the fox in charge of the henhouse. What’s really interesting is that the Investigations unit of the Department of Agriculture sent a letter to all Alabama Sheriffs in 2008, telling them that the Agriculture investigators would no longer be responding to animal cruelty complaints- that it is up to local law enforcement to do the job.
From: Peterson, Venus <Venus.Peterson@agi.alabama.gov>
Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Subject: RE: Horse neglect cases in need of investigation
To: Jama Singley <jama@leecountyhumane.org>
Jama
We have recent sent a letter to all Alabama Sheriff's Offices that they should handle animal cruelty cases before calling this office.
Venus A. Peterson
Ala Dept of Ag & Ind
Ag Investigations
P.O. Box 3336
Montgomery, AL 36109
Phone 334/240-7208
Fax 334/240-7265
Fax 334/240-3813
Toll Free 800/642-7761
Email venus.peterson@agi.alabama.gov
TODAY, I received information that the agriculture investigators don’t even know anything about this bill. So, WHO exactly is responsible for investigating complaints of, say, horse abuse???? Well, if this bill passes, the authority responsible for this is the same one that told the Alabama Sheriffs that it would be up to local law enforcement. I am all for being reasonable, polite, saying please and thank you, especially when dealing with legislators. But, folks, the time is now to be firm. This bill cannot be allowed to pass the House Agriculture committee. The House version is HB 561. The contact info for the House Agriculture Committee Members is:
Thomas Jackson- Choctaw, Clarke, Marengo, Conecuh, Monroe Counties 334-242-7738.
Steve Hurst Calhoun, Talladega Counties 334-353-9215.
Mike Hubbard-Lee County 334-242-7739.
Robert Bentley-Tuscaloosa 334-242-7691.
Spencer Collier- Mobile County 334-242-7719.
Randy Davis- Baldwin, Mobile Counties 334-242-7724.
Chad Fincher –Mobile County – 334-232-7778.
Alan Harper Pickens, Tuscaloosa Counties 334-242-7732.
Earl Hilliard-Jefferson County 334-242-7684.
Ralph Howard-Hale, Perry, Bibb, Marengo Counties 334-232-7759.
Jamie Ison-Mobile 334-242-7711.
Benjamin Lewis –Houston County 334-242-7756.
A.J. McCampbell -Green, Sumter, Marengo, Tuscaloosa Counties 334-242-7747.
Henry White -Limestone County 334-242-7712.
Phil Williams –Madison County 334-242-7600.
The message is simple- if your representative is on this committee; tell them to kill HB 561. Be polite, but firm. Tell whoever answers the phone that you live in the legislator’s district and that you do not want this bill to pass. If we fail to move on this, we are failing living, breathing creatures that depend on us to alleviate suffering.
Alabama has simply got to lose the reputation that this is a terrible state for animals and the people who care about them. PLEASE SEND THE MESSAGE FAR AND WIDE.
And, yes, my blood pressure is up
Thanks for taking time to read and act on this e mail. If you prefer not to receive any emails in the future, please contact me privately.
Regards,
Mindy Gilbert
Alabama State Director
mgilbert@humanesociety.org
t 205-471-5541
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037
humanesociety.org
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