A Connecticut committee is considering a bill tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4), that in part would establish a working group to study and develop recommendations regarding the state’s animal population control program. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is concerned with the proposed composition of the working group, and encourages the bill be amended to ensure balanced workgroup membership. Scroll down for information on how to contact the committee prior to tomorrow’s hearing.
Summary:
Connecticut Raised Senate Bill 318 seeks to do the following:
- Identify resources for persons needed to place their companion animal in another person’s care due to a domestic violence situation,
- Clarify the State Veterinarian’s authority to combat disease among companion animals, and
- Establish a working group to study ways to improve the funding of the state’s animal population control program.
AKC’s Specific Concern – Talking Points
Section 3 of SB 318 requires the Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture to convene a working group to study and develop recommendations about ways to increase and stabilize funding for the state’s animal population control program, which seeks to provide for spaying and neutering services to dogs and cats of eligible owners. The bill also lists those who must be part of the workgroup, including, “a representative of an animal rights organization”. This is of grave concern.
Animal rights is a radical philosophy that posits that humans should not use or own animals in any way and seeks to ultimately make that grim agenda a reality. The goal of the animal rights agenda is not to improve the wellbeing of animals, but to stop breeding and human interaction with them. In its view, no one should own pets and there should be no animal-sourced foods.
AKC believes that their anti-animal ownership bias must preclude a representative of an animal rights organization from being a required member of the SB 318 workgroup. If an alternative is needed, a better option would read, “a representative of an animal welfare organization.”
Animal welfare is pro-animal ownership. It is a middle-of-the-road approach to animal-related legislation that recognizes the human-animal bond, recognizes the value of quality animal care and purposeful breeding, and supports advancing science to ensure the health and wellbeing of animals.
What You Can Do
Contact the members of the Joint Environment Committee today! They will meet to consider SB 318 tomorrow, March 4, 2026, at 10AM.
- Go to https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=ENV.
- Fill in the required information, and select 03/04/26 11:00 AM from the Hearing Date and Time drop down menu.
- Select SB00318 – AAC ANIMAL WELFARE. from the options.
- Using the talking points above, type or upload your comments.
- Click the checkbox to indicate you are not a robot, then click Submit Testimony.
Contact Information
AKC Government Relations will continue to track and report on pending Connecticut legislation, including on SB 318. For more information, contact doglaw@akc.org.