Amended Vermont Senate Bill 155, which would provide administrative support to the state’s Animal Cruelty Investigative Advisory Board (ACIAB), has been sent to the Senate calendar, providing notice of an upcoming vote. The amended bill, which is supported by both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs (VT Federation), has already been voted favorably by the Senate Committee on Government Operations and the Senate Appropriations Committee.
ANIMAL WELFARE PROVISIONS
Among numerous provisions that facilitate the transition of Vermont’s state Department of Public Safety into a state agency, SB 155 as amended, would provide administrative support to the ACIAB. Last session, the legislature authorized the ACIAB to establish uniform education and training for animal control officers responsible for enforcing state law. The VT Federation is an active participant on the ACIAB. In addition, the bill calls for a study and plan to unify animal welfare- and public safety-related functions.
AKC believes SB 155 represents a wonderful opportunity for improving domestic animal welfare protections in Vermont. The VT Federation and its President, as the Federation’s representative to the ACIAB, have been working to develop and advocate for these changes for several years. AKC and the VT Federation are grateful that the Senate Committee on Government Operations addressed this need and amended the bill to include ACIAB support before voting it favorably.
VOICE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY: AKC strongly encourages those who reside in Vermont to contact their state senator and ask them to vote for SB 155 as amended. First, find your state senator’s contact information by entering your senator’s name, or the town where you live to identify your senator, on this site. Second, send an email with your name and contact information asking them to vote “yes” on SB 155, as amended.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Vermont, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.