Ten years ago we began discussions with legislators regarding the vague and erroneous language in the Louisiana law regarding victims of dogfighting.  You and 120,000 others signed our petition in favor of changing--or correcting--the law to ensure that dogs seized in investigations are evaluated before any decision is made regarding their disposition.  Now, this Thursday, revised language will be considered by the house in order to correct and clarify best practices in dogfighting investigations. Link to HB 231  

IF YOU LIVE IN LOUISIANA, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING YOUR SUPPORT KNOWN.  You can do this by attending the session in Baton Rouge this Thursday, April 23rd at 8:30 am in Room 6.  Due to the pandemic, you can also do so via email by following these procedures.  Your support email must be received by TOMORROW, Wednesday April 22nd at Noon CT.  Talking points follow these instructions. 

“Persons who do not feel comfortable giving testimony in person at this time may submit a prepared statement in accordance with House Rule 14.33 in lieu of appearing before the committee:

A. Any interested person or any committee member may file with the committee a prepared statement concerning a specific instrument or matter under consideration by the committee or concerning any matter within the committee's scope of authority, and the committee records shall reflect receipt of such statement and the date and time thereof.

B. Any person who files a prepared statement which contains data or statistical information shall include in such prepared statement sufficient information to identify the source of the data or statistical information. For the purposes of the Paragraph, the term "source" shall mean a publication, website, person, or other source from which the data or statistical information contained in the prepared statement was obtained by the person or persons who prepared the statement.

NOTE: Statements emailed to h-acrj@legis.la.gov and received prior to noon on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, will be distributed to the committee members prior to the meeting. All persons desiring to participate in the meeting shall utilize appropriate protective health measures.”

TALKING POINTS: 

An outdated LA law requires puppies and dogs seized from dog fighters to be declared “contraband” and killed as soon as possible.

Section 102.6 of R.S. 14:102.6 mandates the label of “contraband” to any dog seized in accordance with this section. An officer, animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian may cause them to be humanely euthanized as soon as possible by a licensed veterinarian or a qualified technician and they are not civilly or criminally liable for killing the dogs and puppies.

Under this requirement, local shelters are given no latitude to evaluate whether or not these canine victims actually pose any risk to public safety. It doesn’t matter if the victim is an eight-week-old puppy, a bait dog, a stolen pet, a breeding mother dog, or a dog who will thrive in a loving home.

The “contraband” declaration is a death sentence for these dogs.

All canine victims of cruelty deserve a second chance.

Many dogs seized in connection with animal fighting do not pose any risk to other dogs or humans and have gone on to live healthy, happy lives. In the high-profile case of the dogs seized from the property of NJL play Michael Vick, 48 of 49 dogs seized were evaluated positively-some becoming therapy or service dogs. None of those dogs have been involved in incidents where when unprovoked caused severe injury or death of a human.

In another large-scale seizure of more than 500 dogs and puppies in 2009, individual evaluations were performed, and a high percentage of the dogs were not found to pose risks and were adopted.

HB 231 allows Louisiana shelters to follow best practices to assess each dog as an individual.          

Animal shelters usually want to give a dog or puppy seized as a victim of cruelty an opportunity to live a cruelty-free life.  This is possible in 43 states, where all canine victims of animal fighting are subject to the same individual health and behavioral assessments as any dog brought into a shelter.

Trained shelter personnel routinely evaluate all incoming dogs for their suitability for adoption, placement with a rescue organization or another humane disposition. Stray dogs arrive at shelters with no known history and are not presumed to pose a risk--they are evaluated individually.  HB 231 would ensure that all canine victims of animal fighting receive the same individual health and behavioral assessments as other dogs taken in by Louisiana animal shelters.

In February of 2011, the American Bar Association adopted a resolution to urge laws and policies to protect seized animals including an evaluation and behavioral assessment with humane euthanasia being the last resort.  Seven states in the past 10 years have deleted similar provision with strong bi-partisan support. Louisiana is one of only 7 remaining states with similar inhumane requirements.

HB 231 will give canine victims of cruelty a second chance.

Please vote YES on HB 231