The Indiana House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee is considering a bill on Wednesday, February 10, that provides further regulations to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
AKC GR encourages those who reside or participate in dog events in Indiana to contact the committee in support of this legislation. Scroll down for contact information.
Bill Summary:
House Bill 1268 as introduced would require local shelters to develop regulations to help “ensure that the animal care facility makes reasonable effort to quickly and reliably return a lost or stray companion animal to an owner.”
Recommended regulations include checking the animal for identification (including a microchip or tag) and notifying an owner within 48 hours after the animal was received, and if no owner can be readily identified, providing public notice within 48 hours. Other suggested regulations include allowing peace officers to directly return an animal is found at large and the owner can be easily identified, and having at least one weekend day where the shelter is open to reclaim lost pets.
What You Can Do:
Those who reside or participate in dog events in Indiana are encouraged to contact the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee in support of this bill which helps reunite lost pets more quickly with their owners. If you are a constituent of one of the members of the committee, click the link below and let them know you are a constituent.
All others, use the email addresses provided to reach the committee members:
Rep. Don Lehe, Chair (White County)
h25@iga.in.gov
Rep. Mike Aylesworth, Vice Chair (Lake and Porter Counties)
h11@iga.in.gov
Rep. Beau Baird (Putnam County)
h44@iga.in.gov
Rep. Brad Barrett (Wayne County)
h56@iga.in.gov
Rep. Steve Davisson (Washington County)
h73@iga.in.gov
Rep. Doug Gutwein (Pulaski County)
h16@iga.in.gov
Rep. Dave Heine (Eastern Allen County)
h85@iga.in.gov
Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (Pike, Spencer, and Warrick Counties)
h75@iga.in.gov
Rep. Craig Snow (Wabash County)
h18@iga.in.gov
Rep. Maureen Bauer (South Bend)
h6@iga.in.gov
Rep. John Bartlett (Indianapolis)
h95@iga.in.gov
Rep. Sheila Klinker (Lafayette)
h27@iga.in.gov
Rep. Justin Moed
h97@iga.in.gov
AKC GR will continue to closely monitor this legislation and provide information as it is available. For questions, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.