On Tuesday, January 30, a bill that would protect owners and pets during extreme weather situations is scheduled for a critical hearing in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee. The bill passed the House of Representatives in 2023 and now needs to pass the state Senate. Your support is needed!
Washington state residents are encouraged to support House Bill 1012. Scroll down for ways to help.
Summary:
House Bill 1012 was written in response to a severe heat wave in the state in 2021 that left many people and their pets without a safe place to go.
As stated in the findings, the legislature is concerned that, “pets are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions…and the inability for pet owners to find pet friendly accommodations is a major barrier to accessing heating and cooling centers and other resources and prevents individuals from evacuating to safety.”
House Bill 1012 would develop an “extreme weather grant program” to help localities and federally-recognized native tribes offset the costs of assisting their communities during severe weather if they do not have the resources to help those who are “socially vulnerable”. These grants would help with the establishment and operation of “warming and cooling centers” that are pet friendly.
AKC appreciates this bill, which will allow these individuals and their pets to be transported to safe facilities that will protect their health and safety if they have no other viable options.
What You Can Do:
House Bill 1012 is scheduled for consideration in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee on Tuesday, January 30, at 1:30 PM. Those who wish to register your support with the committee can do so by clicking HERE. After clicking the link, please select “State Government and Elections” from the first drop down menu and “01/30/2024 1:30 PM” from the second drop down menu. Then scroll through the list of bills and select “SHB 1012 Extreme Weather Events.”
There are two ways to register your support. If you can’t join the hearing, select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record” and fill out the contact information page to register your support.
If you can join the hearing, select the “I would like to testify remotely” option. Fill out the form and you will be emailed a link to join the hearing. This will allow you to register your support in the hearing.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in Washington impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.