Yesterday, the Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee voted to advance House Bill 485. Minor committee amendments do not effectively address concerns about how this bill tramples the due process rights of innocent dog owners. Read more about HB 485, as introduced.
Dog Owners’ Concerns Are Acknowledged! Primary bill sponsor Rep. Dickie Drake said today that he is receptive to dog owners’ concerns about HB 485 and is willing to consider additionally amending the bill. American Kennel Club Government Relations (AKC GR) is presenting recommended amendments for his consideration.
While AKC agrees that owners should not allow their dogs to be at-large, we strongly believe that dog owners must be afforded substantive and procedural due process protections. AKC’s recommended amendments to HB 485 seek to ensure those protections.
Next Steps: The bill will next be voted on by the state House of Representatives. A floor amendment to HB 485, if agreed, could be made at that time. The Alabama legislature is on spring break March 21-25, and the House is scheduled to next convene on March 29.
For additional information, please contact AKC GR at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.