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ENLARGE
CAPS CORNER
Jennifer Williamson
Better stewardship of the animals entrusted to us is one of CAPS’s mantras. We feel that if everyone took responsibility for their dogs or cats, millions of pets wouldn’t be euthanized in our country’s shelters, and the abuse that is aimed at the pets in our everyday lives would be diminished.
There is a bill going before the State Senate that will help the dogs of Nevada. If you believe that this bill is important, please take the time to let your legislators know how you feel. The following information, taken from a flyer that the animal law coalition put together, describes what the law would entail.
“SB132 (Senate Bill 132) will go before the State Senate in the legislative session that began Feb. 2, 2009, and your help is needed to get it passed. This bill is sponsored by Senator Randolph Townsend, Washoe County District 4. His email address is rtownsend@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1450.
“This bill ... would prohibit tying, chaining, tethering or other restraint of a dog for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. No dog could be tied, chained or tethered unless the restraint used is at least 12-feet long.
“The bill would also prohibit owners from keeping dogs in outside pens for more than 9 hours each day unless (1) the dogs weighs 20 pounds or less and the pen is at least 60 square feet, (2) the dog weighs between 20–60 pounds and the pen is at least 120 square feet (3) the dog weighs between 60–100 pounds and the pen is at least 160 square feet and (4) the dog weighs more than 100 pounds and the pen is at least 200 square feet.
“The bill would not apply to dogs (1) kept by veterinarians or in a boarding facility or shelter or temporarily at a campsite or as part of a rescue operation, (2) being trained for hunting or used for hunting during hunting season, (3) entered in an exhibition, show, contest or the like, (4) living on land that is directly related to an active agricultural operation if the restraint is reasonably necessary to ensure the safety of the dog.
“‘[A]gricultural operation’ means ‘any activity necessary for the commercial growing and harvesting of crops or the raising of livestock and poultry.’
“This could become a STATE law . . . but it won’t pass without YOU! The first hurdle is getting SB132 out of the Senate Natural Resource Committee. Here is a list of the members along with their email addresses and office phone numbers: David R. Parks, District 7 Clark County – Chair dparks@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-6504; Allison Copening, District 1 Washoe County – Vice Chair acopening@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1475; Bernice Mathews, District 7 Clark County bmathews@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1433; Bob Coffin, District 10 Clark County bcoffin@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1427; Dean A. Rhoads, Rural County Districts Elko, Eureka, Humbolt, Lander, Lincoln, Pershing, White Pine and portions of Nye County drhoads@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1447; Mark E. Amodei, Capital District portions of Storey, Lyon, Douglas, portions of Carson City, mamodei@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1470; Dennis Nolan, District 97 Clark County dnolan@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1421.
“Email or write these senators and politely explain why this law is vital. If you reside in their district, let them know that you are their constituent and put your address on the email or letter.
“There will be a link on the Web site to look up your state senator. You can also write to them at 401 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV 89701.
“Why should Nevada legislators should vote yes on this bill?
“• CDC states that chained dogs are five times more likely to bite children and three times more likely to bite adults.
“• American Veterinarian Medical Association states that many fatal attacks and dog bites involve animals that have been restrained.
“• National Canine Research Council states almost 30 percent of all fatal attacks are from chained or penned dogs.
“• ASPCA states that 81 percent of fatal attacks were by dogs that were isolated.
“• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine states that both chained and penned dogs suffer from similar behavior problems.
“• HSUS states that dogs kept continuously outdoors, chained or penned, will suffer from the same boredom, loneliness [and] isolation leading to aggressive behavior.
“• Nicholas Dodman, Ph.D. in veterinary medicine at Tufts University states that ‘chaining dogs makes them more aggressive. They are natural social animals and it induces ‘isolation-induced aggression’ [and] creates a ‘junkyard’ dog effect. They basically go mad.’
“Please support SB132 and help make dogs’ lives better.”
Although Mike McGinness isn’t on this committee, you can certainly share your opinion with him. His email address is mmcginness@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1442. His service area is Churchill, Esmerelda and Mineral counties and portions of Clark, Douglas, Lyon and Nye counties.
For updates, check the Web site, www.animallawcoalition.com, or send an email to breakthechain@charter.net . If you would like to be put on the notification list for the hearing or if you have any questions or want to help, feel free to email Beth and Karen at breakthechain@charter.net. The senate hearing for this bill is on March 12, 2009, at 3:30 p.m.
Jennifer Williamson, a resident of Churchill County, is president of CAPS.
There is a bill going before the State Senate that will help the dogs of Nevada. If you believe that this bill is important, please take the time to let your legislators know how you feel. The following information, taken from a flyer that the animal law coalition put together, describes what the law would entail.
“SB132 (Senate Bill 132) will go before the State Senate in the legislative session that began Feb. 2, 2009, and your help is needed to get it passed. This bill is sponsored by Senator Randolph Townsend, Washoe County District 4. His email address is rtownsend@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1450.
“This bill ... would prohibit tying, chaining, tethering or other restraint of a dog for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. No dog could be tied, chained or tethered unless the restraint used is at least 12-feet long.
“The bill would also prohibit owners from keeping dogs in outside pens for more than 9 hours each day unless (1) the dogs weighs 20 pounds or less and the pen is at least 60 square feet, (2) the dog weighs between 20–60 pounds and the pen is at least 120 square feet (3) the dog weighs between 60–100 pounds and the pen is at least 160 square feet and (4) the dog weighs more than 100 pounds and the pen is at least 200 square feet.
“The bill would not apply to dogs (1) kept by veterinarians or in a boarding facility or shelter or temporarily at a campsite or as part of a rescue operation, (2) being trained for hunting or used for hunting during hunting season, (3) entered in an exhibition, show, contest or the like, (4) living on land that is directly related to an active agricultural operation if the restraint is reasonably necessary to ensure the safety of the dog.
“‘[A]gricultural operation’ means ‘any activity necessary for the commercial growing and harvesting of crops or the raising of livestock and poultry.’
“This could become a STATE law . . . but it won’t pass without YOU! The first hurdle is getting SB132 out of the Senate Natural Resource Committee. Here is a list of the members along with their email addresses and office phone numbers: David R. Parks, District 7 Clark County – Chair dparks@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-6504; Allison Copening, District 1 Washoe County – Vice Chair acopening@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1475; Bernice Mathews, District 7 Clark County bmathews@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1433; Bob Coffin, District 10 Clark County bcoffin@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1427; Dean A. Rhoads, Rural County Districts Elko, Eureka, Humbolt, Lander, Lincoln, Pershing, White Pine and portions of Nye County drhoads@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1447; Mark E. Amodei, Capital District portions of Storey, Lyon, Douglas, portions of Carson City, mamodei@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1470; Dennis Nolan, District 97 Clark County dnolan@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1421.
“Email or write these senators and politely explain why this law is vital. If you reside in their district, let them know that you are their constituent and put your address on the email or letter.
“There will be a link on the Web site to look up your state senator. You can also write to them at 401 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV 89701.
“Why should Nevada legislators should vote yes on this bill?
“• CDC states that chained dogs are five times more likely to bite children and three times more likely to bite adults.
“• American Veterinarian Medical Association states that many fatal attacks and dog bites involve animals that have been restrained.
“• National Canine Research Council states almost 30 percent of all fatal attacks are from chained or penned dogs.
“• ASPCA states that 81 percent of fatal attacks were by dogs that were isolated.
“• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine states that both chained and penned dogs suffer from similar behavior problems.
“• HSUS states that dogs kept continuously outdoors, chained or penned, will suffer from the same boredom, loneliness [and] isolation leading to aggressive behavior.
“• Nicholas Dodman, Ph.D. in veterinary medicine at Tufts University states that ‘chaining dogs makes them more aggressive. They are natural social animals and it induces ‘isolation-induced aggression’ [and] creates a ‘junkyard’ dog effect. They basically go mad.’
“Please support SB132 and help make dogs’ lives better.”
Although Mike McGinness isn’t on this committee, you can certainly share your opinion with him. His email address is mmcginness@sen.state.nv.us, (775) 684-1442. His service area is Churchill, Esmerelda and Mineral counties and portions of Clark, Douglas, Lyon and Nye counties.
For updates, check the Web site, www.animallawcoalition.com, or send an email to breakthechain@charter.net . If you would like to be put on the notification list for the hearing or if you have any questions or want to help, feel free to email Beth and Karen at breakthechain@charter.net. The senate hearing for this bill is on March 12, 2009, at 3:30 p.m.
Jennifer Williamson, a resident of Churchill County, is president of CAPS.
