I've known the heartbreaking loss of a beloved pet too early. On Sunday morning, 3/30, my 23-year-old deaf kitty, Tuxi, a member of my family and a joy in my life, was tragically killed by a loose neighborhood dog as she ate on my back patio...she never heard him coming. The dog's owner showed no regard for how their animal's actions affected other beings around them. They were only given a warning...no fine. And I have yet to hear from them. This unfortunate event is not an isolated one, but a reflection of a bigger, systematic issue. 

According to an extensive study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, free-roaming dogs have adverse effects that include causing injury or death to other animals (Gershman, Sacks & Wright, 1994). Dogs, left unchecked without proper discipline or control, can pose a risk to the harmony that should exist in our neighborhoods.

We believe that pet owners should be held legally and financially accountable for the actions of their pets. We propose that legislation be put into place that fines dog owners whose dogs harm or kill a neighbor's pet. By holding pet owners financially accountable, we hope to encourage responsible pet ownership, a more conscientious attitude towards the welfare of animals, and reduce avoidable pet fatalities.

It appears that there are at least 2 Arizona laws that were broken...Fabian's Law and the Arizona Leash Law, both of which I will be discussing with Animal Control and the Phoenix Police Department.

We need your support in turning this proposal into a reality. Stand with us in our fight for animal rights and neighborhood safety. Sign this petition and let's bring justice to all affected pet owners like ourselves.