House Agriculture Committee Shows Contempt for Prop B

Action Alert #3 on Prop B

February 17, 2011

We need you to act now! You can make a difference!

On Tuesday, February 15, the House Agriculture Policy Committee unanimously approved a bill repealing all of the major provisions of Prop B and declared such bill to be a "happy medium." As the committee members boldly removed the humane standards of care approved by the voters this past November, members shockingly commented, "We respect the will of the people."

Unfortunately, "respecting the will of the people" meant deleting the following humane care provisions from Prop B:

• Veterinary exam for breeding dogs (currently a vet can visit and approve the animals' health without examining a single dog);

• Humane euthanasia by a veterinarian (currently breeders often shoot their old, infirm, and non-productive breeding stock);

• Access to an exercise run;

• Ample space (current law permits lifetime confinement in a cage only six inches longer than the dog itself);

• Protection from temperature extremes;

• Continuous access to water (frozen water satisfies current requirements);

• Prohibition of wire flooring and stacking of cages;

• Rest between breeding cycles.

Adding insult to injury, the Chair of the Committee stated, "We just made it better."

Not surprisingly, this bill is being touted by committee members as a "compromise" to their colleagues in the House. We urgently need your help to stop this travesty in the legislature and to protect the welfare of breeding dogs in Missouri. We need you to contact your legislators and let them know that HCS HB 131 is not a compromise bill but, in effect, a total repeal of Prop B. Even if you have contacted your state legislators previously, we urge you to contact them again and let them know that HCS HB 131 is nothing other than a repeal of Prop B.

Legislators are often very busy and don't always take time to read the actual bills. Many legislators rely on their colleagues to tell them about the bills prior to voting. It is imperative that your legislators hear from you so they know the truth about HCS HB 131 in advance, prior to a full vote on the House floor. Please ask your state representative to oppose the bills that have been passed in the House Agriculture Policy Committee in reference Prop B as they effectively repeal Prop B.

Your letters and calls about similar actions taken by the Senate Agriculture Committee have been very successful. Many senators had been assured by their colleagues that the committee's substitute was a true "compromise" bill until they began hearing differently from their constituents. We need you to do the same in reference to HCS HB 131 in the House. Please call, or write or email as soon as possible. Action on these bills in both the House and Senate could come as early as the first week of March.

TIPS FOR CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS

• Remember that you should only contact your state representative and state senator, not your federal legislators.

• Most legislators prefer to only hear from residents of their own district. So please go to the link below to find your state legislative district using your zip code. If you do not know your 4 digit zip code extension, please go to the USPS website to find that. There is a link below for this as well.

  CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.

  CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR ZIP CODE 4 DIGIT EXTENSION.

  CLICK HERE for STATE SENATORS.

  CLICK HERE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

If you have the time letters are more effective than emails and a personal visit is invaluable. The Senators all have offices in their districts so you don't need to drive to Jefferson City to meet with them. Many legislators sponsor town hall meetings or appear at public events in their districts on the weekends. Check your local paper and plan on attending such events and raising the issue of Prop B with your legislators.

Bob Baker
Executive Director
Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation
314-361-3944 (direct)
877-444-6225 (toll free)