The Virginia full Senate ACNR Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 272 TOMORROW (Tuesday, February 4). This is the Senate version of House Bill 1552. Both bills seek to modify or include provisions that were not included in the tethering legislation that was just passed and became law last session. Unlike House Bill 1552, this bill has not been amended and continues to contain the language that increases the length of a tether to 15 feet, along with other language that is of great concern, including regulating the temperature in which it is appropriate for a dog to be outdoors (regardless of the dog’s breed, age, or other considerations), and a very concerning new provision that would allow local governments to arbitrarily pass new, stricter laws on basic standards of animal care including food, water, exercise and veterinary treatments.
Those who reside or participate in dog events in Virginia are strongly encouraged to contact the Committee members today. Tell them the bill will not actually help dogs in the Commonwealth and encourage them to allow Chapter 848 time to take effect and to not allow Senate Bill 272 to pass.
Along with Senate Bill 272, the ACNR Committee will also be considering other bill that were included in last week’s alert.
What You Can Do:
Contact the Virginia Senate ACNR Committee prior to its hearing TOMORROW, February 4, 2020 which will be conducted 30 minutes after the close of tomorrow’s session:
Sen. J. Chapman Petersen, Chair
Phone: (804) 698-7534
Email: district34@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Emmett W. Hanger, Jr.
Phone: (804) 698-7524
Email: district24@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Frank M. Ruff, Jr.
Phone (804) 698-7515
Email: district15@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Mark D. Obenshain
Phone: (804) 698-7526
Email: district26@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Richard H. Stuart
Phone: (804) 698-7528
Email: district28@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. David Marsden
Phone: (804) 698-7537
Email: district37@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. William M. Stanley, Jr.
Phone: (804) 698-7520
Email: district20@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr.
Phone: (804) 698-7506
Email: district06@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. David R. Suetterlein
Phone: (804) 698-7519
Email: district19@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. T. Montgomery “Monty” Mason
Phone: (804) 698-7501
Email: district01@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan
Phone: (804) 698-7509
Email: district09@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Barbara Favola
Phone: (804) 698-7531
Email: district31@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Joseph D. Morrissey
Phone: (804) 698-7516
Email: district16@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Todd Pillion
Phone: (804) 698-7540
Email: district40@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Ghazala F. Hashmi
Phone: (804) 698-7510
Email: district10@senate.virginia.gov
AKC Government Relations and the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders continue to closely monitor these and several other bills under consideration and communicate our concerns to the members of the General Assembly. For questions or more information, contact doglaw@akc.org.