Senate passes bill to prevent animal abuse, neglect
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania residents could see harsher penalties for animal abusers, among other measures, after the state Senate unanimously approved legislation which aims to prevent animal abuse and neglect.
According to a news release from Senator Richard Alloway II, R-Chambersburg, House Bill 869 was approved on Oct. 19 and includes several provisions, such as:
- The creation of a new definition of "aggravated cruelty to animals" in order to provide tougher penalties for crimes committed against animals. This provision mirrors Libre's Law, which Alloway introduced last month.
- A prohibition against tethering dogs for an extended period of time without basic needs, such as water and shelter.
- The addition of horses to Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws. This provision mirrors Cordelia's Law, which is a bill introduced by Senator John Eichelberger, R-30, and was approved by the Senate last year.
- A provision for the forfeiture of animals by abusers.
"Several recent heartbreaking cases of abuse and neglect have made it abundantly clear that we need to do more to protect defenseless animals," said Alloway, who wrote Libre's Law and the anti-tethering legislation. "This bill brings together some of the most important measures that have been introduced to prevent abuse and hold abusers accountable for their actions."
Jennifer Vanderau, director of communications for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, said she she likes how the bill defines the temperatures that are not acceptable to tether a dog and increases the penalties for people convicted of animal cruelty. She and Dawn Backer, president of Knick Knack Pittie Pack Dog Rescue, said they feel there should be stronger penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty.
"Sometimes I fear prior to this, and I think that's what started this whole entire thing, sometimes I fear folks that go in for animal cruelty, they end up walking away almost feeling like they won," she said. "When the fines are reduced, and the penalties aren't that strong, then they feel 'eh, no big deal.'"
Vanderau also feels the bill will give officers more power when they go to investigate cases of animal cruelty.
"A lot of times we would tell people we were very bound by the confines of the law," she said. "Now that they are seriously looking at the law and re-doing it, this will give Humane Society police officers much more backing behind them, so when they do go out and see something they can finally say, 'it's above 90 degrees, your dog should not be tied up here.'"
Although Backer said she thinks this law is a good step in protecting animals, she also believes other areas should be addressed. She said she works closely with dog law because she has a kennel license, and believes this area could use more funding.
"I know dog law is very understaffed, (and) I know they don't have the people to send out in the field to do all of those checks that need to be done. I think that's a good place to start," she said.
After being passed in the Senate, the bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives for approval. The bill must be passed in the House before the session ends next week, or the process will need to start again from the beginning. If approved by the House, it will be sent to the governor to be signed into law.
Alloway said he thinks "a large majority of the House members support this legislation" and he has allies in the House to help pass the bill.
"There are a lot of good supporters over there that are behind this bill," he said.
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